Using Power Automate to send Bulk emails - Blacklist possibility

Question

Instead of making follow up calls, I used Power Automate to take a list of 76 recipients and send them a personalized email. The response was quicker than making phone calls and more people responded to the question that was asked in the email.

What are the chances of getting blacklisted for doing this? I know 76 isn't a large number but some of my projects will have a larger data set.

If there is a possibility of getting blacklisted, why would MSFT allow me to do this in Power Automate?

Answer 1

Sending bulk emails using Power Automate can indeed raise concerns about getting blacklisted, especially if the emails are perceived as spam. While sending 76 emails is not a large number, it is important to adhere to best practices to minimize the risk of being blacklisted. Here are some considerations:

1. Volume and Rate: Microsoft 365 has sending limits in place to protect against spam. If your email volume increases significantly in future projects, you should be aware of these limits to avoid triggering spam filters.
2. Email Authentication: Ensure that you have proper email authentication set up (like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC) for your sending domain. This helps improve deliverability and reduces the chances of your emails being marked as spam.
3. Unsubscribe Options: Always include a way for recipients to unsubscribe from future emails. This is not only a best practice but also a legal requirement in many jurisdictions.
4. Recipient Engagement: Monitor how recipients interact with your emails. High engagement rates (opens, clicks) can positively influence your sender reputation.
5. Microsoft's Policies: Microsoft allows the use of Power Automate for sending emails, but they also have mechanisms to protect their services from abuse. If your sending practices are deemed abusive, they may take action against your account.

In summary, while the risk of being blacklisted exists, following best practices can significantly mitigate this risk. Microsoft provides the tools, but it's up to users to utilize them responsibly.

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References:

• Outbound spam protection for cloud mailboxes
• Email activity tables

Answer 2

Hi @Ryan Marx, 

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A forum.   

Thank you for sharing your approach. Using Power Automate to send personalized emails is a great way to improve efficiency and engagement.  

Regarding your concern: 

1/ Risk of being blacklisted: 

Sending 76 emails is generally safe, especially if the messages are personalized and relevant. However, the risk increases when sending a very large volume of emails in a short time, using identical content, or not following your organization’s email policies. Email systems and spam filters monitor patterns like bulk sending and repetitive content. 

2/ Why Microsoft allows this: 

Power Automate is designed for legitimate business workflows, such as notifications and internal communications. Microsoft includes safeguards like daily sending limits, spam detection, and authentication requirements to prevent misuse. As long as you stay within these guidelines, the tool is safe to use. 

You can refer to the following articles, which I hope will be helpful to you. 

• Limits of automated, scheduled, and instant flows - Power Automate 
• Mail connector limits and guidance 
• Create flows for popular email scenarios 
• Mail Merge feature in Power Automate to Send Bulk Emails 

 

Note: Microsoft is providing the above information as a convenience to you. Some of the websites are not under Microsoft's control. Microsoft cannot make any representations regarding the quality, safety, or suitability of any software or information found there. Please make sure that you completely understand the risk before retrieving any suggestions from the above link    

 

Additionally, if you have more questions related to Power Automate, I’d recommend posting your query in the Microsoft Power Automate Community. This is a dedicated channel for Power Automate discussions. The reason I suggest posting a new topic there is that in the general Q&A Forum, resources and expertise on Power Automate are limited. In the Microsoft Power Platform Community Forum, you’ll find the most qualified group of respondents, and other partners who regularly read the forums can share their knowledge or learn from your interaction. 

I hope this information is helpful. Please follow these steps and let me know if it works for you. If not, feel free to share them in the comments on this post so I can continue to assist you.   

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