Best Practices To Prevent Your Emails from Ending up in Spam

Modified on Thu, 26 Oct, 2023 at 12:27 PM

In this article, we will review some best practices for email deliverability. There are several factors that can affect how mailbox providers (such as Google, Yahoo, etc.) make decisions to either flag your email as spam, or allow them to arrive at inboxes.


Check out the terms and tips below for best practices for your emails:

Sending Internal Mail


If you are sending a message to the same domain that the message is coming from (i.e. sending from [email protected] to [email protected]), it may go to spam. That is because a mailbox provider can see that it appears to be receiving a message from itself. This could mean the mailbox provider thinks it is being spoofed, and thus the message will be sent to spam.


Solution: If you must send internal mail to test your messages, you may want to use a free service, like gmail. If you’re sending internal mail outside of testing purpose, the manager of the domain will need to whitelist the IP address of your SMTP provider.


DMARC


Does the domain you use for sending mail have a DMARC policy? (DMARC stands for “Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance”. It is an email authentication, policy, and reporting protocol used to improve protection of a domain from fraudulent emails. You can learn more about DMARC here: https://dmarc.org/)

If your domain uses a DMARC policy but you haven’t verified the domain with your SMTP provider, your messages could be marked as spam.

Solution: Check with your SMTP provider for instructions on how to ensure your messages pass DMARC.



Sending From a Public Domain


If you’re sending messages from a free domain such as gmail.com, yahoo.com, or outlook.com, your messages may end up in spam.


Solution: Send email from a domain that you own which matches your branding. E.g. instead of sending from [email protected], send from [email protected]



Best Practices for Words to Consider Before Using

Below are some words and phrases that spam filters often view as red flags. Context will also assist, if you utilize only one or two of the words or phrases below, have a low bounce rate, and take other actions to ensure your emails comply with non-spam policies, you’ll be all set. 

Words that make promises too good to be true:

  • #1

  • 100% more

  • 100% free

  • 100% satisfied

  • Additional income

  • Be your own boss

  • Best price

  • Big bucks

  • Billion

  • Cash bonus

  • Cents on the dollar

  • Consolidate debt

  • Double your cash

  • Double your income

  • Earn extra cash

  • Earn money

  • Eliminate bad credit

  • Extra cash

  • Extra income

  • Expect to earn

  • Fast cash

  • Financial freedom

  • Free access

  • Free consultation

  • Free gift

  • Free hosting

  • Free info

  • Free investment

  • Free membership

  • Free money

  • Free preview

  • Free quote

  • Free trial

  • Full refund

  • Get out of debt

  • Get paid

  • Giveaway

  • Guaranteed

  • Increase sales

  • Increase traffic

  • Incredible deal

  • Lower rates

  • Lowest price

  • Make money

  • Million dollars

  • Miracle

  • Money back

  • Once in a lifetime

  • One time

  • Pennies a day

  • Potential earnings

  • Prize

  • Promise

  • Pure profit

  • Risk-free

  • Satisfaction guaranteed

  • Save big money

  • Save up to

  • Special promotion

Words that may pressure or create urgency for your leads:

  • Act now

  • Apply now

  • Become a member

  • Call now

  • Click below

  • Click here

  • Get it now

  • Do it today

  • Don’t delete

  • Exclusive deal

  • Get started now

  • Important information regarding

  • Information you requested

  • Instant

  • Limited time

  • New customers only

  • Order now

  • Please read

  • See for yourself

  • Sign up free

  • Take action

  • This won’t last

  • Urgent

  • What are you waiting for?

  • While supplies last

  • Will not believe your eyes

  • Winner

  • Winning

  • You are a winner

  • You have been selected

Words that may seem shady or lead to unethical behavior:

  • Bulk email

  • Buy direct

  • Cancel at any time

  • Check or money order

  • Congratulations

  • Confidentiality

  • Cures

  • Dear friend

  • Direct email

  • Direct marketing

  • Hidden charges

  • Human growth hormone

  • Internet marketing

  • Lose weight

  • Mass email

  • Meet singles

  • Multi-level marketing

  • No catch

  • No cost

  • No credit check

  • No fees

  • No gimmick

  • No hidden costs

  • No hidden fees

  • No interest

  • No investment

  • No obligation

  • No purchase necessary

  • No questions asked

  • No strings attached

  • Not junk

  • Not spam

  • Obligation

  • Passwords

  • Requires initial investment

  • Social security number

  • This isn’t a scam

  • This isn’t junk

  • This isn’t spam

  • Undisclosed

  • Unsecured credit

  • Unsecured debt

  • Unsolicited

  • Valium

  • Viagra

  • Vicodin

  • We hate spam

  • Weight loss

  • Xanax

Words that are often seen as jargon or legalese:

  • Accept credit cards

  • Ad

  • All new

  • As seen on

  • Bargain

  • Beneficiary

  • Billing

  • Bonus

  • Cards accepted

  • Cash

  • Certified

  • Cheap

  • Claims

  • Clearance

  • Compare rates

  • Credit card offers

  • Deal

  • Debt

  • Discount

  • Fantastic

  • In accordance with laws

  • Income

  • Investment

  • Join millions

  • Lifetime

  • Loans

  • Luxury

  • Marketing solution

  • Message contains

  • Mortgage rates

  • Name brand

  • Offer

  • Online marketing

  • Opt in

  • Pre-approved

  • Quote

  • Rates

  • Refinance

  • Removal

  • Reserves the right

  • Score

  • Search engine

  • Sent in compliance

  • Subject to…

  • Terms and conditions

  • Trial

  • Unlimited

  • Warranty

  • Web traffic

  • Work from home

Check out our “Best Practice On Your Email Deliverability” article for more tips and best practices on email deliverability.


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