What Is a Spam Filter?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nSpam filters intercept spam emails, preventing them from reaching the intended recipient’s inbox<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThey analyze different elements of your email, such as its content, sender information, and formatting, to determine if it is legitimate or spam. How? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
By using a combination of different patterns and algorithms to assign scores to different characteristics<\/strong> of an email. If the score exceeds the benchmark, the email is flagged as spam and sent to your email provider’s junk folder.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow Do Email Spam Filters Work?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nEmail Service Providers (ESPs) like Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, etc., place filters in their systems <\/strong>in an effort to protect their users from unsolicited emails. <\/p>\n\n\n\nAlso known as email spam filters, these filters are basically algorithms such as Na\u00efve Bayes, Bayesian algorithms, transformers, etc., that review incoming mail to prevent junk<\/strong> from reaching a user\u2019s inbox. They use a rating system to judge if a mail is worth delivering to the primary inbox.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSpam filters weigh several parameters<\/strong> like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Sender reputation<\/strong>: Your sender reputation is your email rating. It is based on your domain authority and the size and quality of your email campaigns. A good sender reputation is one of the best ways to avoid the spam filter.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n- The volume of emails sent<\/strong>: The number of your emails also affects where they land, especially when you’re shooting them to multiple prospects at once. So, instead of sending emails in bulk, send them in batches. This signals the ESP that you’re sending legitimate emails, improving your email deliverability.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n- Email engagement rate: <\/strong>Your email engagement rate is how your recipients interact with your emails. A good user engagement rate helps you avoid the spam filter. This is because it indicates your emails are not only making it to your prospects’ inboxes but also capturing their attention. On the flip side, a low user engagement rate affects your sender reputation negatively.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Spam filters assign a spam score. Based on this, they decide whether to pass an email through the filter and land it in the inbox. Since there are different approaches to catching spam traps and each filter has unique criteria to judge an email, it can be difficult to avoid spam filters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don’t worry. We\u2019ll show you how to circumvent these spam filters and land in your prospect’s primary inbox.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nAvoid the Spam Filters With These 9 Steps<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nJust like how Rome wasn\u2019t built in a day, you shouldn\u2019t start sending your email campaigns from day 1. You have to set things in motion for your domain and email in order to start sending cold emails at scale<\/a> and get higher open rates.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\nOtherwise, the sudden and large volume of activity with your email account signals the ESP of suspicious activity. If this happens, your email address stands the chance of ending up on the blacklist. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, here\u2019s how to avoid spam filters when sending emails.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n1. Configure Your Technical Settings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Start by building a good domain reputation. Spam filters use your domain reputation to determine whether your emails land in the primary inbox or the spam folder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your domain reputation<\/a> depends on the following factors:<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Spam rate:<\/strong> The percentage of emails sent from a particular domain that were filtered out and landed in the spam folder directly. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Bounce rate: <\/strong>This refers to the percentage of emails sent from a domain that was rejected by the prospect\u2019s email server and returned to the sender.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Spam report: <\/strong>If a prospect particularly marks you as spam, it is considered a spam report. Spam reports are the last thing you\u2019d want as an email sender\u2014they immediately set off spam filters and severely affect your email deliverability. Regularly tracking these metrics and keeping them minimal is the best way to build your domain reputation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Next, authenticate the domain that you will use to send the emails. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Domain Authentication<\/strong> is a technical standard that helps the email recipient\u2019s server confirm your identity<\/strong>. In simple words, it verifies that it\u2019s really you who\u2019s sending the email. This significantly reduces your chances of being marked as spam. <\/p>\n\n\n\nHow do you authenticate your domain? By setting up three protocols:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\na. Sender Policy Framework (SPF): <\/strong>This standard validates your identity by checking if your mail is sent from an authorized IP address of a particular domain. <\/p>\n\n\n\nb<\/strong>. Domain Keys Identified Mail (DKIM): <\/strong>This email authentication protocol affixes a digital signature to every outgoing email<\/strong> from a particular domain name, which is then verified by the prospect\u2019s system. Meeting this standard ensures that an email is not tampered with during transmission.<\/p>\n\n\n\nc. Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance (DMARC):<\/strong> <\/a>DMARC policies<\/a> verify if the sender\u2019s domain is authenticated with SPF and DKIM protocols and provide information on what can be done if the sender is not verified (such as sending to the spam folder, rejecting the mail, etc.). Contact your IT team to check if your SPF and DKIM are set properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Google](\"https:\/\/www.klenty.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/google-workspace-guidelines-for-dmarc-record-1024x584.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSource:<\/strong> Google Workspace<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nFinally, set up your IP address. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
An IP address<\/strong> is a number registered in your domain that is authorized to send emails\/messages<\/strong> on behalf of the domain. Use a reliable IP address to send emails. <\/p>\n\n\n\nEvery IP address has a rating and if it is low, your emails will likely be considered spam and might be at risk of not being delivered. That is why it\u2019s crucial to maintain a good IP reputation. Use tools like Sender Score<\/a> by Validity or Barracuda Central<\/a> to check if your domain or IP\u2019s reputation is moving up or down over a period of time. If you see your reputation going downhill, it might be time to reduce the email volume.<\/p>\n\n\n\n2. Monitor the Engagement Metrics<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Engagement metrics like reply rate, click rate, etc. indicate your prospects\u2019 interest in your emails.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nWhen a prospect positively engages with your mail by replying to it or downloading a resource, it signals the spam checker that you\u2019re a legitimate sender. This, in turn, shoots up your email reputation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can increase your engagement rate by only contacting prospects who have a real need for your product and are likely to benefit from it<\/strong>. This will improve their chances of replying to your email and boost your engagement rate. The best way to target the right prospects is to first build an Ideal Customer Profile (ICP)<\/a> for your product\/service. You can do this by listing your top customers and identifying shared attributes.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThen, constantly monitor and review your bounce rate to keep it at a minimum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tracking bounce rate<\/strong> helps you evaluate the risk of being blacklisted by spam filters. <\/p>\n\n\n\nAn email is considered bounced when it is not delivered for permanent reasons such as fake email addresses or your prospect\u2019s domain not being verified<\/strong>. This is something you\u2019d want to avoid. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe more bounces you get, the more your reputation suffers and the more difficult it is to avoid spam filters. It is a vicious cycle that is tough to get out of and your email deliverability will suffer for a long time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also, review your bounces regularly. The best way to minimize bounces? Keep your mailing list fresh, regularly cleaned, and verified from time to time. A \u201cclean\u201d email list has a bounce rate of less than 1%. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nAnything above that will alert the spam email filters that you\u2019re sending emails to stale email addresses. You can also take the help of email validation services<\/a> like Klenty<\/a> or Hunter to validate your email addresses and track your future emails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"monitor](\"https:\/\/www.klenty.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/monitor-engagement-metrics-1024x584.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSource:<\/strong> Feathr<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n3. Personalize Your Emails<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Personalizing your emails<\/a> tells your prospects that you know who they are. It shows them that you\u2019ve put some effort into messaging them. This makes your prospects receptive to your emails and increases the chances of engaging with them, which will improve your engagement metrics.<\/p>\n\n\n\nYour recipient\u2019s ESPs are also constantly tracking your email activity\u2013if you repeatedly keep sending the same email copy, you might alert the spam filters. So, switch between different cold email templates<\/a> and try experimenting with the different components of your email<\/a> like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- The subject lines, <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The email body copy, <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The call-to-action,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Or even the email signature.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
A\/B testing<\/a> these components will help you understand which email template can help you avoid spam, and you can tweak your strategy accordingly. With Klenty, you can set up multiple A\/B testing options that will help you pick subject lines that record the most opens, email copies that push prospects to reply, and CTAs that drive action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n4. Follow Spam Laws<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Different countries and regions have different spam laws to protect the interest of their citizens. Understanding and complying with the laws will limit the number of complaints against your domain, ensuring your emails land where you want them to\u2013in the inbox. Make sure your emails comply with the standards set by the CAN-SPAM act<\/a>, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Provide a physical mailing address.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Don\u2019t use any deceptive subject lines.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Honor opt-out requests promptly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Accurately identify the person you\u2019re messaging.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Following anti-spam laws also include making it easy for your prospects to unsubscribe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Provide unsubscribe links<\/a> at the top or bottom of your commercial emails, so if your prospect is not interested in hearing from you, they can quickly and painlessly opt out\u2013without having to mark you as spam. If your prospect chooses to opt-out, make it frictionless. Don\u2019t ask them to re-enter their email address or username or pass additional hoops\u2013it shows that you respect their preferences. Adding a compulsory opt-out isn\u2019t just a deliverability factor\u2014it\u2019s also required by the cold emailing rules in different countries<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"avoid](\"https:\/\/www.klenty.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/add-unsuscribelink-to-your-email-1024x584.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSource: <\/strong>HubSpot<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n5. Avoid Spam Triggering Words<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If it sounds too good to be true, it\u2019s probably spammy email. Words that trigger spam filters such as \u2018Free\u2019, \u2018Order Now\u2019, \u2018Make $$$\u2019, or multiple exclamation points, strange formatting, and different colors<\/strong> are all big red flags. Email spam filters words that contain unnecessary capital letters, any color other than black and blue, and too many punctuations that convey you’re desperately trying to get attention, just like spammers.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIn a snapshot, if your email is <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Manipulative, <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Cheap, <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Talks about fantasy land,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Unethical, <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
They\u2019re going to land in spam. The fix? Avoid email spam trigger words<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow? Put your email copy through a spam trigger word checker such as Mail Tester<\/a> to check if your template has spammy words that can decrease your chances of deliverability. <\/p>\n\n\n\nHere are some common spam words you should start avoiding<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Symbols and numerical:<\/strong><\/a> 0%, 0% risk, 99%, #1, $$$, 100% free, 100% satisfied, 50% off, !!!!!.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- About Money & Promotions:<\/strong> Affordable deal, Amazing stuff, At no cost, Amazing offer, Avoid bankruptcy, Best price, Billion dollars, Bonus, Certified, Claim your discount, Deal, Explode your business, Free, Free access, Free bonus, Great deal, Congratulations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Exclusive offers:<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong>Limited time, Get it now, Once in a lifetime, For new customers only, Offer expires, Deal ending soon, You are a winner!, etc. are some spam trigger words to avoid.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Telling instead of showing:<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong>Avoid using phrases like \u201cThe best\u201d or \u201cFantastic\u201d without explaining why something is the best or fantastic in your email subject lines to avoid spam.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
![\"avoid](\"https:\/\/www.klenty.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/avoid-using-spam-trigger-words-1024x584.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSource: <\/strong>Buzz Fixer<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n6. Do Not Send Your Cold Emails in Bulk<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Spacing out the time period between individual emails<\/strong>, instead of blasting them all in one go, helps improve email deliverability. If you are using an outbound sales automation software<\/a> to send mail merges or cadences, set it up to have a reasonable interval between emails. <\/p>\n\n\n\nFor example, at Klenty, we use a random interval of approximately 2 minutes between each email sent by you. Sending 100 emails in a minute is a signal to the email service provider that you may be a bulk emailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"avoid](\"https:\/\/www.klenty.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/avoid-sending-bulk-email-to-avoid-spam-folder-5-1024x584.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSource:<\/strong> GMass<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n7. Use Open Tracking Sparingly<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
It is recommended to limit the number of links added to your email copy <\/strong>as they tend to have a negative impact if your prospect has advanced content filters. For the really sophisticated prospects, you may even want to turn off email open tracking as it could trigger their spam filters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Limit](\"https:\/\/www.klenty.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/limit-the-number-of-links-in-email-copy-1024x584.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSource:<\/strong> Mailmonitor<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n8. Do Not Follow-up Aggressively<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
No denying. Follow-up emails<\/a> are extremely important to stay on top of your prospects\u2019 minds. But if you\u2019re aggressively following up with too many emails in a short span of time, you\u2019re likely to irritate prospects, and they might even end up reporting you spam\u2013the last thing you\u2019d want as a mail sender. <\/p>\n\n\n\nMaintain a reasonable time gap<\/strong> between each of your follow-ups. Structure your cadence<\/a> in such a way that your follow-ups provide value to your prospects while not being too frequent.<\/p>\n\n\n\nPro Tip:<\/strong> On sending break-up emails in her sequences, top-performing SDR manager, Ashley Dees<\/a>,<\/strong> told us that she doesn\u2019t send them. She adds that prospects who did not respond to the sequences get added to a nurture sequence filled with useful bits of information that is helpful to the prospect, kind of like a newsletter. Give it a try and let us know if it works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n9. Avoid Too Many Attachments and Images<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A lot of spammers are known for their spammy attachments. Hence, there\u2019s a high chance that email service could mark your email as spam if it notices heavy email attachments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s why attachments have a negative impact on deliverability. It would be a good idea to hold off on sending attachments unless you really need to.<\/strong> But we understand the need for attachments, in a bid to keep your cold emails short and sweet, we might need to send large bits of information via email attachments. So, if it\u2019s absolutely required, then upload to a cloud storage service like Google or Dropbox, <\/strong>and send the link over. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe image to text ratio in your mail also plays a salient role in avoiding spam filters. Spam filters block any email that doesn\u2019t maintain a healthy balance of text and images. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, as a general guideline, it is recommended to<\/strong> maintain a ratio of 80% text to 20% images <\/strong>and use alt-text with the images in your email marketing campaigns if you have to use images. We know how important it is to break the pattern of your recipient\u2019s email reading experience. An image that is relevant to their pain point or work would do wonders to your reply rates, but maintain the 80-20 rule when doing so to avoid upsetting the spam gods. <\/p>\n\n\n\nHere is an example of what your email should not look like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"avoid](\"https:\/\/www.klenty.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/avoid-too-many-attachments-and-images-1024x584.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSource:<\/strong> Intelligent Contacts<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nIt All Boils Down to This: Stay on the Right Side<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nAvoiding the spam filter is not a hard nut to crack. By following best practices, you can carry out your outreaches without an iota of worry about the junk email folder. At Klenty, we take this further and help you avoid the spam filter by:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- checking and validating the list of email addresses<\/a> involved in your cold outreach<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- helping you track your domain and keeping the domain reputation high<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Ensuring you send the right amount of emails per day and not exceed the optimum<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Customizing the unsubscribe link to suit your brand<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Spam filters do serve a great purpose.<\/strong> Life will indeed be harder without them. But given the sheer volume of emails they need to classify, they\u2019re just not fair all the time. They do filter out important emails once in a while. The only way to consistently get past them is always to do the right thing. <\/p>\n\n\n\nDifficult? Maybe. But doable. Target the right prospects. Comply with the spam law guidelines. Send personalized emails. Avoid spam trigger words. Craft a professional-looking mail. It\u2019s all about getting the basics right. As long as you get them right, you\u2019re good to go. And we hope this article gets you there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\nResources You’ll Love<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n- 11 Best Email Warm-up Tools in 2024 (Free + Paid)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 6 Klenty Features You Can Use To Boost Your Email Deliverability<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 7 Real-life Bad Email Examples We Received (& Top Cold Email Mistakes)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- How To Warm Up Your Email Account To Run Cold Email Campaigns?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
FAQs<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\nHow Do I Stop Getting Sent to the Spam Folder?<\/h3>\n\n\nYou can stop getting sent to the spam folder by following some best practices like:<\/strong><\/p>\n– Configuring your technical settings
– Monitoring the engagement metrics
– Email personalisation
– Following spam laws
– Avoiding spam triggering words
– Not sending your cold emails in bulk
– Using open tracking sparingly
– Not following up aggressively
– Avoiding too many attachments and images<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\nWhat Causes Emails To Go to the Spam Folder?<\/h3>\n
They analyze different elements of your email, such as its content, sender information, and formatting, to determine if it is legitimate or spam. How? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
By using a combination of different patterns and algorithms to assign scores to different characteristics<\/strong> of an email. If the score exceeds the benchmark, the email is flagged as spam and sent to your email provider’s junk folder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Email Service Providers (ESPs) like Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, etc., place filters in their systems <\/strong>in an effort to protect their users from unsolicited emails. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also known as email spam filters, these filters are basically algorithms such as Na\u00efve Bayes, Bayesian algorithms, transformers, etc., that review incoming mail to prevent junk<\/strong> from reaching a user\u2019s inbox. They use a rating system to judge if a mail is worth delivering to the primary inbox.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Spam filters weigh several parameters<\/strong> like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Spam filters assign a spam score. Based on this, they decide whether to pass an email through the filter and land it in the inbox. Since there are different approaches to catching spam traps and each filter has unique criteria to judge an email, it can be difficult to avoid spam filters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Don’t worry. We\u2019ll show you how to circumvent these spam filters and land in your prospect’s primary inbox.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Just like how Rome wasn\u2019t built in a day, you shouldn\u2019t start sending your email campaigns from day 1. You have to set things in motion for your domain and email in order to start sending cold emails at scale<\/a> and get higher open rates.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Otherwise, the sudden and large volume of activity with your email account signals the ESP of suspicious activity. If this happens, your email address stands the chance of ending up on the blacklist. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, here\u2019s how to avoid spam filters when sending emails.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Start by building a good domain reputation. Spam filters use your domain reputation to determine whether your emails land in the primary inbox or the spam folder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your domain reputation<\/a> depends on the following factors:<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Next, authenticate the domain that you will use to send the emails. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Domain Authentication<\/strong> is a technical standard that helps the email recipient\u2019s server confirm your identity<\/strong>. In simple words, it verifies that it\u2019s really you who\u2019s sending the email. This significantly reduces your chances of being marked as spam. <\/p>\n\n\n\n How do you authenticate your domain? By setting up three protocols:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n a. Sender Policy Framework (SPF): <\/strong>This standard validates your identity by checking if your mail is sent from an authorized IP address of a particular domain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n b<\/strong>. Domain Keys Identified Mail (DKIM): <\/strong>This email authentication protocol affixes a digital signature to every outgoing email<\/strong> from a particular domain name, which is then verified by the prospect\u2019s system. Meeting this standard ensures that an email is not tampered with during transmission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n c. Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance (DMARC):<\/strong> <\/a>DMARC policies<\/a> verify if the sender\u2019s domain is authenticated with SPF and DKIM protocols and provide information on what can be done if the sender is not verified (such as sending to the spam folder, rejecting the mail, etc.). Contact your IT team to check if your SPF and DKIM are set properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Source:<\/strong> Google Workspace<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, set up your IP address. <\/p>\n\n\n\n An IP address<\/strong> is a number registered in your domain that is authorized to send emails\/messages<\/strong> on behalf of the domain. Use a reliable IP address to send emails. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Every IP address has a rating and if it is low, your emails will likely be considered spam and might be at risk of not being delivered. That is why it\u2019s crucial to maintain a good IP reputation. Use tools like Sender Score<\/a> by Validity or Barracuda Central<\/a> to check if your domain or IP\u2019s reputation is moving up or down over a period of time. If you see your reputation going downhill, it might be time to reduce the email volume.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Engagement metrics like reply rate, click rate, etc. indicate your prospects\u2019 interest in your emails.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When a prospect positively engages with your mail by replying to it or downloading a resource, it signals the spam checker that you\u2019re a legitimate sender. This, in turn, shoots up your email reputation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can increase your engagement rate by only contacting prospects who have a real need for your product and are likely to benefit from it<\/strong>. This will improve their chances of replying to your email and boost your engagement rate. The best way to target the right prospects is to first build an Ideal Customer Profile (ICP)<\/a> for your product\/service. You can do this by listing your top customers and identifying shared attributes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then, constantly monitor and review your bounce rate to keep it at a minimum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tracking bounce rate<\/strong> helps you evaluate the risk of being blacklisted by spam filters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n An email is considered bounced when it is not delivered for permanent reasons such as fake email addresses or your prospect\u2019s domain not being verified<\/strong>. This is something you\u2019d want to avoid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The more bounces you get, the more your reputation suffers and the more difficult it is to avoid spam filters. It is a vicious cycle that is tough to get out of and your email deliverability will suffer for a long time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, review your bounces regularly. The best way to minimize bounces? Keep your mailing list fresh, regularly cleaned, and verified from time to time. A \u201cclean\u201d email list has a bounce rate of less than 1%. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Anything above that will alert the spam email filters that you\u2019re sending emails to stale email addresses. You can also take the help of email validation services<\/a> like Klenty<\/a> or Hunter to validate your email addresses and track your future emails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Source:<\/strong> Feathr<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Personalizing your emails<\/a> tells your prospects that you know who they are. It shows them that you\u2019ve put some effort into messaging them. This makes your prospects receptive to your emails and increases the chances of engaging with them, which will improve your engagement metrics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your recipient\u2019s ESPs are also constantly tracking your email activity\u2013if you repeatedly keep sending the same email copy, you might alert the spam filters. So, switch between different cold email templates<\/a> and try experimenting with the different components of your email<\/a> like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n A\/B testing<\/a> these components will help you understand which email template can help you avoid spam, and you can tweak your strategy accordingly. With Klenty, you can set up multiple A\/B testing options that will help you pick subject lines that record the most opens, email copies that push prospects to reply, and CTAs that drive action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Different countries and regions have different spam laws to protect the interest of their citizens. Understanding and complying with the laws will limit the number of complaints against your domain, ensuring your emails land where you want them to\u2013in the inbox. Make sure your emails comply with the standards set by the CAN-SPAM act<\/a>, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Following anti-spam laws also include making it easy for your prospects to unsubscribe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Provide unsubscribe links<\/a> at the top or bottom of your commercial emails, so if your prospect is not interested in hearing from you, they can quickly and painlessly opt out\u2013without having to mark you as spam. If your prospect chooses to opt-out, make it frictionless. Don\u2019t ask them to re-enter their email address or username or pass additional hoops\u2013it shows that you respect their preferences. Adding a compulsory opt-out isn\u2019t just a deliverability factor\u2014it\u2019s also required by the cold emailing rules in different countries<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Source: <\/strong>HubSpot<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n If it sounds too good to be true, it\u2019s probably spammy email. Words that trigger spam filters such as \u2018Free\u2019, \u2018Order Now\u2019, \u2018Make $$$\u2019, or multiple exclamation points, strange formatting, and different colors<\/strong> are all big red flags. Email spam filters words that contain unnecessary capital letters, any color other than black and blue, and too many punctuations that convey you’re desperately trying to get attention, just like spammers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a snapshot, if your email is <\/p>\n\n\n\n They\u2019re going to land in spam. The fix? Avoid email spam trigger words<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How? Put your email copy through a spam trigger word checker such as Mail Tester<\/a> to check if your template has spammy words that can decrease your chances of deliverability. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some common spam words you should start avoiding<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Source: <\/strong>Buzz Fixer<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Spacing out the time period between individual emails<\/strong>, instead of blasting them all in one go, helps improve email deliverability. If you are using an outbound sales automation software<\/a> to send mail merges or cadences, set it up to have a reasonable interval between emails. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, at Klenty, we use a random interval of approximately 2 minutes between each email sent by you. Sending 100 emails in a minute is a signal to the email service provider that you may be a bulk emailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Source:<\/strong> GMass<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n It is recommended to limit the number of links added to your email copy <\/strong>as they tend to have a negative impact if your prospect has advanced content filters. For the really sophisticated prospects, you may even want to turn off email open tracking as it could trigger their spam filters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Source:<\/strong> Mailmonitor<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n No denying. Follow-up emails<\/a> are extremely important to stay on top of your prospects\u2019 minds. But if you\u2019re aggressively following up with too many emails in a short span of time, you\u2019re likely to irritate prospects, and they might even end up reporting you spam\u2013the last thing you\u2019d want as a mail sender. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Maintain a reasonable time gap<\/strong> between each of your follow-ups. Structure your cadence<\/a> in such a way that your follow-ups provide value to your prospects while not being too frequent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pro Tip:<\/strong> On sending break-up emails in her sequences, top-performing SDR manager, Ashley Dees<\/a>,<\/strong> told us that she doesn\u2019t send them. She adds that prospects who did not respond to the sequences get added to a nurture sequence filled with useful bits of information that is helpful to the prospect, kind of like a newsletter. Give it a try and let us know if it works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A lot of spammers are known for their spammy attachments. Hence, there\u2019s a high chance that email service could mark your email as spam if it notices heavy email attachments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s why attachments have a negative impact on deliverability. It would be a good idea to hold off on sending attachments unless you really need to.<\/strong> But we understand the need for attachments, in a bid to keep your cold emails short and sweet, we might need to send large bits of information via email attachments. So, if it\u2019s absolutely required, then upload to a cloud storage service like Google or Dropbox, <\/strong>and send the link over. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The image to text ratio in your mail also plays a salient role in avoiding spam filters. Spam filters block any email that doesn\u2019t maintain a healthy balance of text and images. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, as a general guideline, it is recommended to<\/strong> maintain a ratio of 80% text to 20% images <\/strong>and use alt-text with the images in your email marketing campaigns if you have to use images. We know how important it is to break the pattern of your recipient\u2019s email reading experience. An image that is relevant to their pain point or work would do wonders to your reply rates, but maintain the 80-20 rule when doing so to avoid upsetting the spam gods. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Here is an example of what your email should not look like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Source:<\/strong> Intelligent Contacts<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Avoiding the spam filter is not a hard nut to crack. By following best practices, you can carry out your outreaches without an iota of worry about the junk email folder. At Klenty, we take this further and help you avoid the spam filter by:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Spam filters do serve a great purpose.<\/strong> Life will indeed be harder without them. But given the sheer volume of emails they need to classify, they\u2019re just not fair all the time. They do filter out important emails once in a while. The only way to consistently get past them is always to do the right thing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Difficult? Maybe. But doable. Target the right prospects. Comply with the spam law guidelines. Send personalized emails. Avoid spam trigger words. Craft a professional-looking mail. It\u2019s all about getting the basics right. As long as you get them right, you\u2019re good to go. And we hope this article gets you there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can stop getting sent to the spam folder by following some best practices like:<\/strong><\/p>\n – Configuring your technical settingsHow Do Email Spam Filters Work?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Avoid the Spam Filters With These 9 Steps<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Configure Your Technical Settings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\n2. Monitor the Engagement Metrics<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n3. Personalize Your Emails<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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4. Follow Spam Laws<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\n5. Avoid Spam Triggering Words<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\n6. Do Not Send Your Cold Emails in Bulk<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n7. Use Open Tracking Sparingly<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n8. Do Not Follow-up Aggressively<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
9. Avoid Too Many Attachments and Images<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nIt All Boils Down to This: Stay on the Right Side<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Resources You’ll Love<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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FAQs<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
How Do I Stop Getting Sent to the Spam Folder?<\/h3>\n
– Monitoring the engagement metrics
– Email personalisation
– Following spam laws
– Avoiding spam triggering words
– Not sending your cold emails in bulk
– Using open tracking sparingly
– Not following up aggressively
– Avoiding too many attachments and images<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nWhat Causes Emails To Go to the Spam Folder?<\/h3>\n