The majority of Internet users won't mind a few unsolicited emails now and then, but it's a pain when they miss those emails that are actually more than important than the spam. This is when you need a whitelist - a list of emails that are allowed to reach your inbox - to ensure that the most important emails are found by you.

How to whitelist emails

Spam filters implemented by your email provider will try their best to flag up the emails that are considered spam so that you don't see them, but these filters are never perfect and unwanted mail will land in your inbox. These filters will then, from time to time, flag the more important emails that you need to see as spam. Setting up a whitelist will fix this issue, by allocating the emails you want to see that have been automatically blacklisted by your email provider. 

Email Providers

Aside from Gmail and Outlook, there are several email services both online and offline that you can use. Here are the email providers and the ways you can whitelist your emails.

​Don't miss out on your emails from Ardor SEO! We deliver top quality guides, tips, white papers and more to your inbox every week. Here's how to whitelist our emails so you get the best content in your inbox.

Online (web-based) 

Gmail

  1. Open an email from an email that you want to whitelist
  2. Next to the email, select "Add to Contacts".
Reputation Engineering, Whitelist

AOL Mail

  1. Select "Options" from your account
  2. Select "Mail Settings"
  3. Under "Spam settings", select the option "allow mail only from the addresses I specify" and add the emails you want to add to your list.
Reputation Engineering, Whitelist

Windows Live/Outlook/Hotmail

  1. Under "Settings", select "Options"
  2. Under the "Preventing Junk Mail" section, select "Safe and blocked senders"
  3. Enter the email addresses you want to whitelist under the "Safe senders" section.
Live/Hotmail/MSN whitelisting

Yahoo! Mail

  1. Select "Settings" in your account
  2. Under "Filters" you create a filter.
  3. Enter the email you want to whitelist in the "Sender:" field
  4. Under the dropdown menu named, "Then deliver the email to the following folder," select "Inbox" for all emails from that address to be found in your inbox.
Whitelist your email for Yahoo

Comcast

  1. Select "Address Book"
  2. Select "New", then "New Contact"
  3. Add the email address you want to whitelist and save.
Whitelisting your emails for Comcast

Earthlink

  1. Click "Add"
  2. Enter the domain name of the email address, for example @ardorseo.com
  3. Click "Save".
Whitelist our emails from Earthlink

Mail.com

  1. Under "Settings" select "Whitelist"
  2. Add the email to the text field
  3. Click "Save".
Mail.com whitelist

Offline (desktop-based) 

Outlook 2003 and higher

  1. Right click on the email address you want to whitelist
  2. Select "Add Sender to Safe Senders List"
Whitelist your emails with Outlook

Mozilla Thunderbird for Windows/Mac

  1. Check if your emails are going into your Junk folder
  2. Add the contact to your Address Book
  3. Select "Tools", then "Account Settings"
  4. Under "Junk Settings", select the Address Book
  5. Highlight the Personal Address Book and select "New Card"
  6. 3 tabs will appear: Contact, Addresses & Other. Select "Contact" and enter the email you want to whitelist
  7. Select "OK".
Mozilla Thunderbird Whitelisting emails

Apple/Mac Mail​

  1. Select "Preferences" from the "Mail" tab
  2. Select "Rules" and then "Add Rule"
  3. Name your new rule in the "Description" field, then add the email address you want to whitelist next to the "Contains" field
  4. Select "Move Message" and "Inbox" from the dropdown menu
  5. Select "OK" to save.
Apple Mail whitelist

Mobile

The number of people accessing their emails by mobile varies depending on the demographic, product and email type - from 15 - a staggering 70% according to eMailmonday. These days, mobile email is slowly becoming easier and faster to access, which is why now you can whitelist emails from your phone or tablet.

iPhone/iPad/iPod

  1. Tap the email address you want to whitelist
  2. Add the email as a new contact or as an existing contact.
Whitelist our emails with iOD

Android

  1. Tap the picture or the email address you want to whitelist
  2. Select "OK" when prompted to add the email to your contacts.
Whitelist your emails for Android Smartphones

Make sure you don't miss out on our emails - from top tips, SEO hacks and all the intel you need on your success in the SEO world.

​

About the author 

Kris Reid

Kris Reid, the Coolest Guy in SEO, is the CEO of Ardor SEO. His expertise lies in helping real estate professionals get more leads and customers to predictably grow their business. Get to know Kris and learn more about our team here.

You may also like

{"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}

Template: Real Estate Marketing Strategy

Need a marketing plan for your real estate business?

Download our free template to help you plan and execute a successful real estate marketing strategy.