Email After Hours: Episode 80

The Hidden World of ISP Relations: Reputation, Removals, and Inbox Trust

ISP relations explained

What actually happens when your emails suddenly stop landing in the inbox?

In this episode of Email After Hours, Guy Hanson and Danielle Gallant sit down with Tara Natanson, Manager of ISP Relations at Constant Contact. They pull back the curtain on one of the least understood—but most important—areas of email deliverability: Internet service provider (ISP) relations.

Drawing on more than two decades of experience working directly with mailbox providers, Tara outlines the realities of working with Gmail, Yahoo, and Microsoft, the right way to approach delisting requests, and why humility and accountability matter more than most marketers realize. Tara also shares practical guidance on authentication, postmaster tools, list hygiene, and adapting to a future where open rates and traditional feedback signals continue to disappear.

If you’ve ever wondered what mailbox providers actually expect from senders, or why reputation is so difficult to rebuild once it’s damaged, this episode is for you.

What you’ll learn:

Why legitimate senders still end up on blocklists and how to avoid it
How insecure signup forms and poor bounce management damage reputation
What mailbox providers expect before responding to delivery issues
How to approach Gmail, Yahoo, and Microsoft without hurting your chances of resolution
How to think about sender reputation as something easy to lose and difficult to rebuild

…and more!

Are you an email marketing expert with bold opinions on the industry? Come chat with Guy and Danielle on a future episode! Drop a comment, ping us on LinkedIn, or simply fill out this guest form.

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