We are frequently asked by customers why their domain is flagged as being "in a bad neighborhood" by certain host check services like Zulu. Here is a brief explanation.
What Does Zulu Check?
Services like Zulu examine which other domains are hosted on the same IP address. If one of these domains is on a blacklist, the entire IP is classified as being "in a bad neighborhood."
How Meaningful Is This?
The informational value of such checks is limited:
- Shared Hosting: On a shared hosting server, hundreds of domains share a single IP address. The fact that one of them is problematic says nothing about your domain.
- Dynamic Situation: Blacklist entries change constantly. A negative check today may already be positive tomorrow.
- Lack of Context: The check does not consider why a neighboring domain is listed.
What Can You Do?
- Dedicated IP: If you need your own IP address for your domain, we can assign you a dedicated IP.
- Dedicated Server: A dedicated server guarantees that only your domains run on the IP.
For questions about IP reputation, please contact info@ingate.de.
