Each electronic mail marketer’s worst nightmare: the spam folder.
Practically one in 5 emails get caught by a spam filter and despatched to the spam folder.
Spam filters examine for purple flags like:
- The usage of sure phrases
- Hyperlinks to sketchy web sites
- Messages in ALL CAPS
- Colourful and different-sized fonts
- Damaged HTML code
- Emails with out an unsubscribe button
On this article, we’re specializing in the primary one: using sure phrases and phrases, aka spam set off phrases.
Hold studying to study:
- What are spam set off phrases?
- 188 spam phrases and phrases to keep away from
- 6 deliverability tricks to keep out of the spam folder
What are electronic mail spam folder set off phrases?
Spam set off phrases are key phrases or phrases that electronic mail suppliers see as purple flags. You’ll typically discover these phrases in emails that individuals mark as spam.
Because the saying goes, “If it sounds too good to be true, it most likely is.” Spam filters catch suspicious phrases and phrases related to:
- Scams
- Gimmicks
- Schemes
- Guarantees
- Free items

Gmail’s spam filter caught all of those promotional emails. Now they’re left to languish in my spam folder for eternity. (Or till Gmail routinely deletes them after 30 days.)
An essential word earlier than we share the record of phrases: Context issues.
Spam filters have turn into extra superior in recent times. They received’t routinely ship you to spam for saying “restricted time” or “get began now” — if you happen to’re utilizing these phrases responsibly.
In the event you…
- Stuff a ton of spam key phrases into your electronic mail
- Use all caps, vibrant purple font, and plenty of exclamation factors
- Have already got a low supply price
…you’re going to be in bother.
In the event you…
- Use one or two of the phrases and phrases in context
- Code your emails properly
- Have a low bounce price
…you’ll be high quality.
188 spam phrases and phrases to keep away from in your electronic mail advertising
With all the above in thoughts, right here’s the record of spam phrases.
Keep away from spam phrases that make exaggerated claims and guarantees
- #1
- 100% extra
- 100% free
- 100% glad
- Extra earnings
- Be your individual boss
- Greatest value
- Massive bucks
- Billion
- Money bonus
- Cents on the greenback
- Consolidate debt
- Double your money
- Double your earnings
- Earn additional money
- Earn cash
- Remove spotty credit
- Further money
- Further earnings
- Anticipate to earn
- Quick money
- Monetary freedom
- Free entry
- Free session
- Free present
- Free internet hosting
- Free information
- Free funding
- Free membership
- Free cash
- Free preview
- Free quote
- Free trial
- Full refund
- Get out of debt
- Receives a commission
- Giveaway
- Assured
- Enhance gross sales
- Enhance site visitors
- Unimaginable deal
- Decrease charges
- Lowest value
- Earn money
- Million {dollars}
- Miracle
- A reimbursement
- As soon as in a lifetime
- One time
- Pennies a day
- Potential earnings
- Prize
- Promise
- Pure revenue
- Danger-free
- Satisfaction assured
- Save massive cash
- Save as much as
- Particular promotion
Keep away from spam phrases that create pointless urgency and stress
- Act now
- Apply now
- Grow to be a member
- Name now
- Click on beneath
- Click on right here
- Get it now
- Do it in the present day
- Don’t delete
- Unique deal
- Get began now
- Vital data concerning
- Info you requested
- On the spot
- Restricted time
- New prospects solely
- Order now
- Please learn
- See for your self
- Join free
- Take motion
- This received’t final
- Pressing
- What are you ready for?
- Whereas provides final
- Is not going to imagine your eyes
- Winner
- Profitable
- You’re a winner
- You may have been chosen
Keep away from spam phrases that appear like shady, spammy, or unethical habits
- Bulk electronic mail
- Purchase direct
- Cancel at any time
- Test or cash order
- Congratulations
- Confidentiality
- Cures
- Expensive good friend
- Direct electronic mail
- Direct advertising
- Hidden fees
- Human development hormone
- Web advertising
- Shed extra pounds
- Mass electronic mail
- Meet singles
- Multi-level advertising
- No catch
- No value
- No credit score examine
- No charges
- No gimmick
- No hidden prices
- No hidden charges
- No curiosity
- No funding
- No obligation
- No buy mandatory
- No questions requested
- No strings connected
- Not junk
- Notspam
- Obligation
- Passwords
- Requires preliminary funding
- Social safety quantity
- This isn’t a rip-off
- This isn’t junk
- This isn’t spam
- Undisclosed
- Unsecured credit score
- Unsecured debt
- Unsolicited
- Valium
- Viagra
- Vicodin
- We hate spam
- Weight reduction
- Xanax
Keep away from spam phrases which are jargon or legalese (and every part else)
- Settle for bank cards
- Advert
- All new
- As seen on
- Discount
- Beneficiary
- Billing
- Bonus
- Playing cards accepted
- Money
- Licensed
- Low cost
- Claims
- Clearance
- Evaluate charges
- Bank card gives
- Deal
- Debt
- Low cost
- Improbable
- In accordance with legal guidelines
- Earnings
- Funding
- Be part of hundreds of thousands
- Lifetime
- Loans
- Luxurious
- Advertising resolution
- Message comprises
- Mortgage charges
- Title model
- Supply
- On-line advertising
- Decide in
- Pre-approved
- Quote
- Charges
- Refinance
- Elimination
- Reserves the best
- Rating
- Search engine
- Despatched in compliance
- Topic to…
- Phrases and situations
- Trial
- Limitless
- Guarantee
- Internet site visitors
- Do business from home
6 deliverability tricks to keep out of the e-mail spam folder
Listed here are extra methods for enhancing electronic mail deliverability and making it into your subscribers’ inboxes.
1. Run a spam examine
Spam checkers scan your electronic mail content material to examine for… properly… spamminess.
ActiveCampaign runs a Spam Test on each marketing campaign and automation electronic mail you create. Our Spam Test instrument scans the content material of your message and offers you an inventory of points that triggered no less than one rule for “spamminess.”
As a result of electronic mail content material will be nuanced — particularly with regards to spam phrases — Spam Test received’t cease you from sending your electronic mail. Plus, Spam Test solely scans the content material of your message. It doesn’t know something concerning the repute of your area or the make-up of your record.
Study extra about Spam Test on this article.
2. Observe good electronic mail record hygiene
Good electronic mail hygiene means repeatedly cleansing out inactive electronic mail subscribers.
How does good knowledge hygiene assist your deliverability?
- When you’ve got plenty of unengaged subscribers, your open charges will likely be decrease
- Your open charges and engagement charges have an effect on your sender repute
- Your sender repute impacts your deliverability
- Low deliverability means your emails may very well be marked as spam — no spam phrases mandatory
When you take away unengaged subscribers, hold your remaining record engaged (and your deliverability excessive) with constant, high-quality campaigns.
How are you going to clear your electronic mail record?
- Use engagement automations to trace who opens your messages (and who ignores them)
- When a contact hasn’t engaged for 60 days (or the time interval that is smart for you), set off a “final likelihood” engagement electronic mail
- Take away contacts who don’t work together with the “final likelihood” electronic mail marketing campaign
You’ll be able to study extra about the way to arrange re-engagement emails on this put up (And if you happen to use ActiveCampaign, you’ll be able to set all of this as much as run routinely).
3. Don’t break the legislation
The CAN-SPAM Act governs business electronic mail, aka any electronic mail despatched by a enterprise attempting to advertise or promote a services or products.
The principles of CAN-SPAM:
- Don’t use false or deceptive data
- Don’t use a misleading topic line
- Inform subscribers the place you’re positioned
- Give subscribers a easy option to choose out of your emails
- Honor all opt-outs rapidly
Penalties for not following the legislation can add as much as $16,000 per electronic mail, so it’s essential to comply with the foundations. To study extra concerning the CAN-SPAM Act, go to the Federal Commerce Fee web site.
4. Contemplate a double opt-in
To remain un-spammy, solely ship emails to individuals who give consent to obtain your campaigns. Double opt-in requires new subscribers to confirm their electronic mail tackle, to allow them to’t provide you with a pretend one.
A typical double opt-in course of appears to be like like this:
- A possible subscriber visits your web site
- A kind in your web site gives a lead magnet in trade for his or her electronic mail tackle
- After your new subscriber provides you their electronic mail tackle, they get a affirmation electronic mail
- In the event that they verify their electronic mail tackle, they get their lead magnet – and have formally gone by double opt-in
This helps decrease your bounce price and hold your supply charges excessive.
5. Make your emails extra partaking
The extra individuals who open and interact together with your electronic mail marketing campaign, the higher your sender repute and deliverability. Two fast suggestions for creating extra partaking emails:
- Write higher topic traces. (In the event you want some assist, try our topic line generator.)
- Use segmentation and dynamic content material. Serving up totally different messaging to totally different recipients can get extra contacts to have interaction together with your emails.

80% of customers usually tend to make a purchase order when manufacturers supply personalised experiences. Right here’s how dynamic content material personalizes your emails.
6. Be sensible about your chilly electronic mail advertising
Chilly electronic mail advertising promotes your enterprise, product, or service to somebody that you just don’t have an current relationship with.
Individuals who obtain your electronic mail advertising count on your emails as a result of they’ve opted in. Nobody indicators as much as obtain chilly emails, so it is advisable to be sure your chilly electronic mail advertising is:
- Focused
- Customized
- Related
- 1-to-1

That is the distinction between chilly electronic mail advertising and electronic mail advertising spam.
In contrast to typical electronic mail advertising to opted-in contacts, you’ll be able to’t blast chilly emails to an inventory of prospects. In the event you do, you’re not sending chilly emails. You’re sending spam.
You’ll be able to’t blast chilly emails to an inventory of prospects. In the event you do, you’re not sending chilly emails. You’re sending spam. Click on To Tweet
The important thing to avoiding spam filters and junk mailbox
You’re not sending spam on objective. I belief you. However a spam filter can nonetheless snatch your electronic mail earlier than it might land in your subscriber’s inbox.
Right here’s a recap of spam phrases and phrases to make use of with warning:
- Phrases that make exaggerated claims and guarantees
- Phrases that create pointless urgency and stress
- Phrases that appear like shady, spammy, or unethical habits
- Phrases which are jargon or legalese
Keep away from spam phrases and hold your deliverability excessive with the ideas on this put up, and also you’ll be properly in your option to steering away from spam filters.
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