Imagine spending hours crafting the perfect email, only for it to land in the spam folder—never to be seen by your subscribers. Frustrating, right?
Spam filters are becoming more advanced, and avoiding them is critical if you want high email deliverability and engagement.
In this guide, you’ll learn why emails go to spam, how spam filters work, and proven ways to ensure your emails land in the inbox.
Why Do Emails End Up in Spam?
📌 Email service providers (Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook) use spam filters to block unwanted or suspicious emails.
Here’s what triggers spam filters:
❌ Misleading subject lines (“You’ve Won a Free iPhone!” 🚩)
❌ Using spammy words (“Guaranteed! Limited Time Offer! 100% Free!”)
❌ Too many images, too little text (spam filters prefer text-heavy emails)
❌ Sending emails from a free email domain (e.g., yourname@gmail.com)
❌ No unsubscribe link (CAN-SPAM compliance issue)
❌ Low engagement rates (if too many people ignore your emails)
📊 Fact: 85% of all emails sent daily are classified as spam (Statista).
👉 Related Article: How to Increase Email Open Rates
1. Use a Professional Email Address
📌 DO NOT send marketing emails from free email services like @gmail.com or @yahoo.com.
✔ Instead, use a business email address from your domain:
✅ yourname@yourwebsite.com
✅ support@yourbusiness.com
💡 Example: If your blog is bloggingmastery.com, your email should be hello@bloggingmastery.com.
🔗 External Resource: How to Set Up a Business Email with Google Workspace
2. Authenticate Your Emails (SPF, DKIM, DMARC)
📌 Email authentication proves that your emails are legitimate and not spam.
✅ Set up these authentication records in your domain’s DNS settings:
✔ SPF (Sender Policy Framework) – Prevents spammers from faking your email.
✔ DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) – Adds a unique signature to your emails.
✔ DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication) – Tells email providers how to handle unauthenticated emails.
💡 Example: Gmail blocks emails from unauthenticated domains 80% more often (Google).
🔗 External Resource: Google’s Guide to SPF, DKIM, and DMARC
👉 Related Article: Best Email Marketing Tools for Bloggers
3. Avoid Spam Trigger Words in Subject Lines
📌 Spam filters scan subject lines for keywords that indicate scams or clickbait.
❌ Avoid these spam trigger words:
- “Act Now”
- “Win Money”
- “100% Free”
- “Guaranteed”
- “Click Below”
- “Make Money Fast”
✔ Instead, write natural, engaging subject lines:
✅ Bad: “Make Money Fast! Guaranteed Results!” 🚩
✅ Good: “How I Made $1,000/Month from Blogging (Without Ads)” 🎯
🔗 External Resource: Full List of Spam Trigger Words (HubSpot)
4. Balance Text & Images in Your Email
📌 Emails with too many images and little text often get flagged as spam.
✔ Follow these best practices:
✅ Use a 60/40 text-to-image ratio (more text than images).
✅ Avoid sending single-image emails (common spam tactic).
✅ Optimize images (compress them for fast loading).
📌 Pro Tip: Always include alt text for images, so even if images don’t load, readers see a description.
5. Add an Unsubscribe Link (It’s the Law!)
📌 All marketing emails must include an easy-to-find unsubscribe link to comply with:
✅ CAN-SPAM Act (USA)
✅ GDPR (Europe)
✅ CASL (Canada)
✔ Where to place the unsubscribe link:
✅ At the bottom of every email
✅ In a clear, visible font
✅ Use simple language (“Click here to unsubscribe”)
📌 Pro Tip: Instead of losing subscribers, offer a “Manage Preferences” option to let them receive fewer emails.
👉 Related Article: Best Practices for Email List Segmentation
6. Send Emails at the Right Frequency
📌 Sending too many emails can lead to spam complaints.
✔ Best Email Sending Frequency:
✅ Bloggers & Content Creators: 1–2 emails per week
✅ E-commerce Stores: 2–3 emails per week
✅ Newsletters & Updates: 1 email per week
📌 Pro Tip: Monitor unsubscribe rates—if people are leaving, reduce email frequency.
🔗 External Resource: The Science Behind Email Frequency (MarketingSherpa)
7. Keep Your Email List Clean
📌 Regularly clean your email list to remove:
❌ Inactive subscribers – People who haven’t opened an email in 6 months.
❌ Fake or spam emails – Use email verification tools to detect them.
❌ Bounce emails – Remove email addresses that no longer exist.
✔ Tools for Email List Cleaning:
📌 Pro Tip: Run a re-engagement campaign before removing inactive subscribers.
👉 Related Article: How to Build an Email List from Scratch
8. Monitor Your Email Reputation (Sender Score)
📌 Your sender reputation affects email deliverability.
✔ Check your email reputation using:
📌 Pro Tip: If your sender score is below 80, your emails are likely hitting spam—improve it by sending high-quality, engaging emails.
🔗 External Resource: How to Improve Your Email Sender Reputation (SendGrid)
Final Thoughts
Avoiding spam filters ensures your emails land in the inbox and get opened. Follow these best practices to increase deliverability and engagement.
💡 Key Takeaways:
✔ Use a professional email address (@yourwebsite.com).
✔ Authenticate emails with SPF, DKIM, and DMARC.
✔ Avoid spam trigger words in subject lines.
✔ Balance text & images in your emails.
✔ Include an unsubscribe link (to comply with laws).
✔ Keep your email list clean and monitor your sender score.
Now, check your email setup and optimize for better inbox placement! 🚀
