Spam filters are dreaded in the email marketing business. Granted, no one likes spam, but today’s filters often reel in legit permission-based email. After all the hard work you’ve put in building up your list, making sure that everyone has properly opted-in, it’s disheartening to find out that all your work has simply ended up in the virtual garbage can. So the question becomes, why, if you’ve done everything right, colored within the lines so to speak, do your emails get treated like spam? Often, legitimate emails get tossed into the spam folder because there is something that the filters deem spammy about it. Here are some tips you can use to avoid the spam box.
Watch Your Wording: Many advanced spam filtering systems use something called a ‘point system’ whereby phrases used commonly in spam are targeted. If an email contains these point words, it is filtered out and the intended recipient never receives it. Some such words to avoid include Free!, Million Dollars, Loans, Credit, Serious Cash, Lose Weight, Discount!, Eliminate Debt, Reverses Aging, New and Improved, and other similar market jargon. These words scream spam, so try to stay away from them if possible. Other filters Token Multisender will look for the word unsubscribe or removal requests which indicate mass email distribution.Graphics: Many webmail services don’t automatically display graphics. The reader has to press a button to be able to see them. Moreover, spam filters will often calculate the ratio of graphics to text within an email and determine from there if it is spam; emails laden with images will get filtered out. Although you may be tempted to use images to give your emails a fresh design, try to go image light. Only use images that add real value to your message.
Carefully Choose Your Contacts: Be sure to target your email campaigns to those who want to receive your emails. Do not send the same email to 30 people within the same group or company. Spam filters will go all out on such messages, labeling them bulk sender, and thus preventing any future messages to go through. If you do want to send messages to companies, limit the number of recipients and don’t send your emails out all at once.Timing: If an ISP spam filter detects an inundation of emails, they will think it is a spammer. So while these mails may be accepted, they will probably be relegated to the spam folder. To avoid this situation, send your messages at different intervals. Slow down your mailing speed.Update Your Lists: Check your lists often. Get rid of bounce backs. Immediately unsubscribe users who have chosen to unsubscribe. If you don’t manage your lists, you could be blacklisted by various ISPs.Personalize the ‘To’ Field: ISPs will filter out mail that doesn’t contain the recipient’s name. Don’t BCC .