Avoiding Spam Flags in Email Content | Predictive Response

Avoiding Spam Flags in Email Content

Tips To Avoid Email Spam Filters and Reach Your Subscribers’ Inbox

Have you ever wondered why your open rate suddenly drops into the single digits?

It could be the result of updated filters now sending your brand’s emails to your subscribers’ spam folders. But you don’t have to surrender to those spam filters.

Here’s what you need to know to help your emails avoid those troublemakers that dump the good with the bad in spam filters.

What is an email spam filter?

A spam filter generally uses technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning to detect unsolicited, unwanted, virus-infected messages (usually known as spam) and prevent them from reaching the primary inbox.

While it affects where the email goes inside the recipient’s system, it does not impact your email delivery rate, which is based on how many emails are delivered. Since the spam-identified emails are delivered, the diminished access to them usually affects your overall email open rate.

The spam filter evaluates one or more factors to determine if the email should go to the primary inbox or the junk folder, including:

• Subject lines that appear false or suspicious
• Senders with blacklisted IP addresses
• Spam-related words or phrases
• Input from recipients who define rules that eliminate spam emails from the others

You can’t totally escape spam filters, but you can follow these 10 steps to lower your spam scores and enhance email deliverability.

Avoid trigger words or misleading subject lines

Your words can trigger spam filters no matter what your original intention was. Phrases like “earn extra cash” or “increase sales” often get caught by email filters. Pay careful attention to every word and phrase you use, from the subject line to the body copy.

A 2016 study from Litmus found 54% of those surveyed reported being deceived by misleading subject lines to open a promotional email. When deceived, recipients also are more likely to flag your emails for the spam folder.

Your best bet is to craft strong headlines and sidestep spam words.

A List of Common Spam Words

4U	Claims you are a winner	For instant access
Accept credit cards	Claims you registered	For just $.$$
Act now! Don’t hesitate!	Click below	Free access
Additional income	Click here link	Free cell phone
Addresses on CD	Click to remove	Free consultation
All natural	Click to remove mailto	Free DVD
Amazing	Compare rates	Free grant money
Apply Online	Compete for your business	Free hosting
As seen on	Confidentially on all orders	Free installation
Auto email removal	Congratulations	Free investment
Avoid bankruptcy	Consolidate debt and credit	Free leads
Be amazed	Copy accurately	Free membership
Be your own boss	Copy DVDs	Free money
Being a member	Credit bureaus	Free offer
Big bucks	Credit card offers	Free preview
Bill 1618	Cures baldness	Free priority mail
Billing address	Dear email	Free quote
Billion dollars	Dear friend	Free sample
Brand new pager	Dear somebody	Free trial
Bulk email	Different reply to	Free website
Buy direct	Dig up dirt on friends	Full refund
Buying judgments	Direct email	Get It Now
Cable converter	Direct marketing	Get paid
Call free	Discusses search engine listings	Get started now
Call now	Do it today	Gift certificate
Calling creditors	Don’t delete	Great offer
Can’t live without	Drastically reduced	Guarantee
Cancel at any time	Earn per week	Have you been turned down?
Cannot be combined	Easy terms	Hidden assets
Cash bonus	Eliminate bad credit	Home employment
Cashcashcash	Email harvest	Human growth hormone
Casino	Email marketing	If only it were that easy
Cell phone cancer scam	Expect to earn	In accordance with laws
Cents on the dollar	Fantastic deal	Increase sales
Check or money order	Fast Viagra delivery	Increase traffic
Claims not to be selling anything	Financial freedom	Insurance
Claims to be in accordance with some spam law	Find out anything	Investment decision
Claims to be legal	For free	It’s effective
Join millions of Americans	No questions asked	Reverses aging
Laser printer	No selling	Risk free
Limited time only	No strings attached	Round the world
Long distance phone offer	Not intended	S 1618
Lose weight spam	Off shore	Safeguard notice
Lower interest rates	Offer expires	Satisfaction guaranteed
Lower monthly payment	Offers coupon	Save $.$$
Lowest price	Offers extra cash	Save big money
Luxury car	Offers free passwords	Save up to
Mail in order form	Once in lifetime	Score with babes
Marketing solutions	100% free	Section 301
Mass email	100% guaranteed	See for yourself
Meet singles	One time mailing	Sent in compliance
Member stuff	Online biz opportunity	Serious cash
Message contains disclaimer	Online pharmacy	Serious only
MLM	Only $.$$	Shopping spree
Money back	Opportunity	Sign up free today
Money making	Opt in	Social security number
Month trial offer	Order now	Special promotion
More Internet traffic	Order status	Stainless steel
Mortgage rates	Orders shipped by priority mail	Stock alert
Multi level marketing	Outstanding values	Stock disclaimer statement
Name brand	Pennies a day	Stock pick
New customers only	People just leave money laying around	Stop snoring
New domain extensions	Please read	Strong buy
Nigerian	Potential earnings	Stuff on sale
No age restrictions	Print form signature	Subject to credit
No catch	Print out and fax	Supplies are limited
No claim forms	Produced and sent out	Take action now
No cost	Profits	Talks about hidden charges
No credit check	Promise you …!	Talks about prizes
No disappointment	Pure profit	Tells you it’s an ad
No experience	Real thing	Terms and conditions
No fees	Refinance home	The best rates
No gimmick	Removal instructions	The following form
No inventory	Remove in quotes	They keep your money — no refund!
No investment	Remove subject	They’re just giving it away
No medical exams	Removes wrinkles	This isn’t junk
No middleman	Reply remove subject	This isn’t spam
No obligation	Requires initial investment	University diplomas
No purchase necessary	Reserves the right	Unlimited
Unsecured credit/debt	We honor all	Will not believe your eyes
Urgent	Weekend getaway	Winner
US dollars	What are you waiting for?	Winning
Vacation offers	While supplies last	Work at home
Viagra and other drugs	While you sleep	You have been selected
Wants credit card	Who really wins?	Your income
We hate spam	Why pay more?

Ask your subscribers to add you

When they sign up, ask your subscribers to add your email address in their approved contact list (i.e., primary tab).

If they do add you to their contacts, it helps them and other subscribers see your emails. Including you on their OK-to-receive list, a trust signal automatically gets sent to service providers like Gmail or Apple Mail, which reduces your email spam score.

Send value-packed content

You’ve taken steps so your content is more likely to appear in the inbox, but the job isn’t done. Now you need to wow your subscribers every time they open your email.

Email service providers like Gmail look closely at the engagement your emails receive from your subscribers. If your emails have low open and read rates, subsequent outreach might get sent to the promotions tab or even end up in their junk folders.

Forego attachments

If you’re inclined to attach a document with more information, a special coupon, etc., don’t do it. Attachments not only mean it takes longer to download the email, they often lead the email directly to a bounce or the spam folder.

Instead, send subscribers to a landing page with that content by including a link or call-to-action button in the email.

Article source: Content Marketing Institute, Author Bernard Meyer