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Deliverability
Boost your email deliverability & sidestep the spam filter pitfalls
lemlist team
January 23, 2024
|
7 min. read
lemlist team
LAST UPDATED
September 5, 2024
READING TIME
7 min.
Over 20% of emails never reach the inbox due to being flagged as spam.
This is bad news because landing in your recipient's inbox is more crucial than ever.
Not getting through to your prospects means losing money.
In this guide, we'll help you improve your email deliverability and avoid spam filters.
Understanding the intricacies of spam detection and how to navigate them can be the difference between a successful campaign and a digital dead end. 💀
What are email spam filters?
Understanding Spam Filters is crucial in ensuring your emails reach their intended inboxes.
These filters are the gatekeepers, designed to protect users from unsolicited and potentially harmful content.
At its core, a spam filter's job is to scrutinize incoming emails against a set of criteria, which can include the sender's reputation, the email's content, and its engagement with recipients.
Spam filters use artificial intelligence and machine learning. These technologies have revolutionized spam detection. By learning from patterns in vast datasets, they can adapt to new spam tactics, making filters more effective over time
You can tailor your email campaigns to be more aligned with the criteria set by these intelligent systems, thus enhancing your chances of achieving impeccable email deliverability.
When it comes to avoiding the spam folder, the words you choose can be just as important as the message you're trying to convey.
Understanding spam trigger words can effectively refine your content to ensure your messages resonate with your audience while maintaining a pristine path to their inboxes.
The use of certain Spam Trigger Words can raise red flags for spam filters, causing your well-crafted emails to be automatically categorized as unwanted.
Here's how to approach them:
What are spam trigger words? These are words and phrases commonly associated with deceptive or promotional content. They can range from aggressive sales terms to sensitive topics that are often exploited by spammers.
Examples and categories: In this article on spam words to avoid, we'll dive into various categories such as 'Urgency', 'Financial', and 'Hyperbole' to illustrate how certain words within these realms can be problematic.
The effects of using these words: An overreliance on trigger words can not only harm your deliverability rates but also damage your sender reputation in the long run.
Optimizing your email content is not just about avoiding spam trigger words; it's about crafting a message that is both authentic and engaging.
This balance is key to ensuring your emails are valued by recipients and treated favorably by spam filters.
Here's how to fine-tune your approach:
Developing authentic and engaging email content: Authenticity resonates with readers. Your emails should reflect your brand's voice and provide real value to the recipient, which in turn can lead to higher engagement and better deliverability.
Tips on personalization: Personalizing your emails can drastically increase their relevance to each recipient. Use data responsibly to tailor your message, addressing your recipients by name and referencing their interests or past interactions with your brand.
Mindful usage of sensitive expressions: It's important to use potentially sensitive words and phrases in the right context. Ensure that your message is clear and your use of such expressions is justified within the context of your email's purpose.
By optimizing your email content with these techniques, you not only sidestep spam filters but also cultivate a more meaningful relationship with your audience. This leads to an overall improvement in email deliverability and campaign success.
Technical adjustments for boosting email deliverability
To further enhance your email deliverability, technical adjustments can play a significant role. These adjustments go beyond content creation and delve into the structural and authentication aspects of your email campaigns.
Let's explore the technical side:
Professional email design principles: A well-designed email not only captures the attention of your audience but also adheres to best practices that prevent it from being flagged as spam. Utilize clean, responsive design and avoid overloading your email with too many images or excessively flashy HTML elements.
Stable sending frequency and sender reputation: Consistency in your sending frequency can build a positive sender reputation. Sudden spikes or irregularities in email volume can trigger spam filters. Aim for a balanced schedule that keeps your audience engaged without overwhelming them. Use an email deliverability tool like lemwarm to gradually increase your sending volume.
Introduction to email authentication methods: Implementing email authentication protocols like SPF (Sender Policy Framework), DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail), and DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance) is crucial. These methods validate your emails, proving to ISPs that they are legitimate and should be delivered to the recipient's inbox.
These technical adjustments are essential for improving email deliverability. By paying attention to design, maintaining a consistent sending frequency, and ensuring proper email authentication, you're setting the stage for successful email campaigns that reach their intended targets.
At lemlist we strive to make your make your life easier. So we'll leave you a couple of tools that will save your email deliverability.
DMARC generator
SPF generator
Guidelines for adhering to legal procedures & implementing clean email marketing
Adherence to legal procedures in email marketing is not only a matter of compliance but also an ethical practice.
By following regulations, you build trust with your audience and ensure the longevity of your marketing efforts.
Here are key legal guidelines to follow:
Explanation on CAN-SPAM Act, GDPR, and other regulations: Familiarize yourself with the CAN-SPAM Act, which sets rules for commercial email in the United States, and the GDPR for handling European citizens' data. These regulations outline requirements for consent, privacy, and the rights of individuals to control their personal information.
Advocating ethical email marketing strategies to build trust and boost engagement: Ethical email marketing goes beyond legal requirements. It's about respecting your audience, providing value, and engaging them with transparency and honesty. This approach not only fosters trust but also encourages higher engagement rates.
By adhering to legal procedures and implementing clean email marketing practices, you not only protect your business from potential fines but also establish a brand that is trustworthy and respected in the marketplace.
Check for spam alerts before initiating a campaign ✔️
Before you launch any email campaign, it's imperative to ensure that your message won't end up in the spam folder. This preemptive measure can save you from the disappointment of low engagement and the negative impact on your sender reputation.
Here's how you can stay ahead of spam filters:
Tools available for running spam tests on your emails: Utilize specialized tools that simulate how different email providers view your message. These tools can provide invaluable feedback on whether your email is likely to be marked as spam.
Understanding spam test outcomes and refining your email content: Analyze the results from spam tests to identify which aspects of your email could trigger filters. Look for feedback on subject lines, content, and even email formatting. Use this information to refine your email, ensuring it's optimized for deliverability.
By conducting spam tests and interpreting the results to improve your emails, you significantly increase the chances of your campaigns reaching your audience's inboxes. It's a crucial step in a comprehensive email deliverability strategy.
Email list maintenance
Maintaining a healthy email list is crucial for ensuring high engagement rates and preserving your sender reputation. A well-managed email list can be the difference between a successful campaign and one that falters due to poor deliverability.
Here are the best practices for email list maintenance and management:
Methods for effective email list segmentation: Segment your email list based on demographics, behavior, or engagement levels. This allows for more targeted and relevant communication, which can lead to better open rates and fewer spam complaints.
Detailed procedures for routine list cleaning and the importance of double opt-in system: Regularly clean your email list to remove inactive subscribers, incorrect email addresses, and those who have opted out. Employing a double opt-in system ensures that you're only sending emails to people who have explicitly given their permission, thereby reducing the likelihood of being flagged as spam.
By implementing these strategies, you can keep your email list in top condition and maintain a strong connection with your audience.
A clean and well-segmented list is a key component in achieving superior email deliverability and engagement.
Conclusion
We cannot overstate the importance of evading spam trigger words and other strategies to improve deliverability.
Ensuring your emails reach the inbox rather than the spam folder can significantly impact your campaign's success.
Remember, the landscape of email marketing is ever-evolving. Staying informed and adapting to new best practices is non-negotiable.
As such, staying current with email marketing best practices is not just a recommendation—it's a requirement for success!
Continuing education and tools
To aid in your ongoing education, here's a selection of resources and tools that can help you maintain optimal email deliverability:
Industry blogs and webinars from thought leaders in email marketing.
Advanced email analytics platforms for tracking deliverability and engagement metrics.
Spam testing tools that provide insights before you launch your campaigns.
Cleaning your email list should be a routine process, typically done every 3-6 months, to ensure it remains up-to-date and free of inactive subscribers.
What are the best practices for avoiding spam filters?
Avoid using known spam trigger words, ensure proper email authentication, maintain a consistent sending frequency, and focus on creating valuable and relevant content for your subscribers.
Can I use "spammy" words if they're relevant to my content?
While it's best to avoid known spam trigger words, if they are essential to your content, use them sparingly and within a context that clearly communicates their relevance to your audience.
lemlist team
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