How annoying it is, when you invest time, energy and love on creating and crafting your newsletters for your database, only to find them not getting delivered, going to spam, promotions, or the images aren't appearing for the receiver?!!! Arrghhh! SO ANNOYING!!
Your newsletters going straight to spam is definitely one of the FRUSTRATIONS and big challenges for all marketers and business owners.
Why are your emails going to spam?
1. Using too many spam trigger words
Always remember before sending your email to check for spam trigger words. These are words that are manipulative, sleazy, pushy, needy, or evoking negative emotions.
Examples are:
- %
- Save
- Discount
- Deal
- OFF
- Now
- Bargain
- Buy
- Call
- Call free
- Increase your sales
- Guaranteed
- Get it now
- Do it today
- Don't delete
- Deal
- ... and so many more!
2. Too many whoopsy spelling or grammar mistakes
One of the strange tactics of scammers is sending emails that are poorly written. Supposedly, only those who are super gullible get tricked into clicking their links and buying from them. Apparently that's the reason why some emails land up in the spam folder, even if they're from a legit source (like you and me!) because you haven't spell checked or grammarly checked ... so do that!
Make sure that before you press send, you have already proofread your email and you're using a grammar checker like Grammarly to avoid mistakes as much as possible. 
This was recorded via Grammarly's website.
3. Using all capital letters is SHOUTY
If you're writing in all caps (LIKE THIS!) it is viewed as shouting and denoting negative emotion. Make sure that you only bold and capitalise those words that you want to highlight, but not everything.
4. Using links that are flagged as suspicious or fraudulent
If you're a quoting a website in your email, make sure that the URL of the website is secure and is not flagged as suspicious. Otherwise, your email will likely end up in the SPAM folder, too! Look out for the https:// not http:// if you can!
5. Using too many exclamations marks!!!! (that's me 100%%)
I can't say much about that ... because I'm a chronic overuser of !!!. When ! will never be enough ... why can't I use !!! or even !!!!!!?!
OK ...
So now you've got a clearer idea of why some emails are getting thrown into SPAM, now I'll share how you can avoid it from happening ever again (ok, that might be an exaggeration, it can potentially keep happening, but you definitely want to LESSEN it happening!)
1. Only send emails to those who've double-opted in
Don't buy a list! Don't trick people into handing over their emails. Sending promotional emails to those who didn't voluntarily subscribe to your mailing list is a big NO NO! It's annoying and definitely a BIG factor in getting into the SPAM folder. Even if your email makes it into their inbox, they could report you as SPAM!
2. Ask your subscribers to add you into their whitelist
Ask your subscribers to Whitelist your email, or add you as a contact.
How?
- Just go to settings
- Choose "Filters and blocked addresses"
- Create a new filter
- Add the email address you wish to Whitelist or add in your contact list
- Tick "Never send to Spam"
- Then click "Create filter"
Now, the email address is whitelisted. Phew! 😅
3. Familiarise yourself with the SPAM Act
Everyone who sends emails to other people must know the laws governing digital marketing communications.
According to Spam Act, an email is considered spam if:
- The email was sent without the receiver's permission
- The email was sent without including a mailing address
- The email was sent with a deceptive subject line
- The email was sent without including a way for the receiver to unsubscribe
4. Use a legit and trusted email marketing programme
There are a lot of email marketing programmes out there that want to host your email, but then it's your job to double check and investigate if they really can deliver your online promotional materials straight into the primary inbox of your email subscribers.
Some email providers are already flagged as spam, so don't sign up with them! Do your research! Don't pay $$ to your email marketing programme if your emails aren't actually reaching the inboxes they're intended for. We use KEAP (a full blown CRM) for Hello Media, and Mailchimp for Positive, Passionate Business Women. We love Mailchimp - super user friendly, loads of new things being added regularly. Try that one, you'll like it too, I'm sure!
5. Regularly remove inactive email addresses from your database
One of the key identifiers of spam filters from tagging an email as spam is when you're sending frequent emails to inactive accounts or accounts that just abandon your emails. Ewww. 🤨
To prevent this from happening, make sure that you regularly check your insights after sending each email, and remove inactive accounts from your list. You'll not only save yourself from getting flagged as spam, you could also save a lot of space and money!
Found that helpful? Yep, thought so! Join our Hello Media Facebook group where I'm sharing new digital marketing and social media updates at a speed that feels like as often as I put on a clean tee-shirt! CRAAAAZY how fast this digital marketing game changes ... but we help you with all that inside our group. Join here!