Avoid the Spam Folder and Slide into the Inbox
Brands spend a lot of time crafting the right email marketing message. Graphics are designed with intense thought and consideration for the customer personas. The call-to-action is clear and the timing for when an email should hit the inbox has been identified down to the minute. What so many marketing managers fail to realize is the best-designed email isn't worth a thing unless the recipient clicks to open the message.
While subject lines play a big role in your open rate, there are several dos and don'ts of email marketing that will help you avoid the spam folder. Your goal is to slide into the recipient's primary inbox. Follow our tips to boost your email engagement.
Are you making the primary inbox?
Before you hit send on your next marketing email, review these questions. Answering yes to any of the queries below may mean your messages are going to straight to the spam folder.
- Did you purchase your email list? Surprisingly, it's totally legal to buy an email list, but it's not a great way to get new customers. These people have not signed up to receive your emails nor can you be sure they're within your target audience. Stick with strategic, organic email list growth.
- Is your email subject line IN ALL CAPS? Not only is it considered digitally shouting, but all caps are also a red flag to spam filters. Switch to all lowercase, even if you're excited.
- Do you embed forms in your emails? Forms can give you great info on your customers, but don't include them in your emails. Not all email platforms support the form, which may create a blank or skewed message. Build an attention-grabbing landing page and embed your form.
- Are you adding email attachments? Send a clear message and get your recipient to click through to your website. Never send an attachment with a marketing email.
Make simple changes to your marketing email tactics to increase your chances of reaching the primary inbox. Once you've mastered the email techniques above, remove these spam trigger words from your email.
Spam Trigger Words
It's important to note that no single word is the full extent of a spam filter's ability to weed out the scam messages. Spam filters will look for a multitude of questionable features, like numerous misspellings, questionable sender emails, or multiple exclamation points in the subject line. Keep your content fresh and spam-free by avoiding these trigger words:
- Earn $
- $$$$
- Extra income
- Make money from home
- Cash
- Collection
- Cheap
- Credit
- Discount
- Hidden charges
- Investment
- Loans
- Refinance
- Quote
While this is in no way an exhaustive list, it certainly reveals a theme that spam filters will jump on. Find unique ways to promote your services or products without excessively mentioning the price.
3 Actions to Avoid the Spam-Folder
Adjusting your content and being aware of spam filter trigger words are great ways to ensure your email marketing message arrives in the recipient's primary inbox. Next, add these three actions to your email strategy to avoid the digital trashcan.
- Grow your email list organically with valuable content and an authentic connection with your target audience. When your recipients are expecting your emails, your open rates increase and deletes or bounce rates decrease.
- Use a responsive email design platform that allows you to reach recipients on any device. If a customer can't read your email or view the images properly, they're likely to file your message in the spam folder. Explore the Admail HTML responsive email designer.
- Include your recipient's name in the "to" field. Spam filters are less likely to flag your message if they feel you know the recipient. By personalizing your email, you're more likely to make it to the primary inbox.
Put all this new info to good use. Try the Admail responsive email designer now and see how easy it is to design a branded, visual email with a simple drag-and-drop method. Contact the Admail team now to start your free trial.