101 Spam-Trigger Words Destroying Your Email Marketing Campaigns (And How to Fix It)
We all hate spam. The last thing we want is for our emails to end up in the dreaded spam folder, never to be seen again. But unfortunately, that happens all too often. Why?Spam filters.
These automated programs are constantly scanning emails for "spam trigger words" that hint at questionable content.
With the right knowledge, you can steer clear of dangerous terms and keep your emails out of the spam folder.
In this blog post guide, we'll cover:
- How email spam filters work
- What is a spam score and why it matters
- The complete list of 101 common spam trigger words
- Actionable tips to avoid spam words and improve deliverability
The words you choose can sabotage your carefully planned email campaigns, look what happened to DockAtot, a global brand with 1 million subscribers that was sending every email directly to the spam folder.
We helped them get 100% deliverability right before Black Friday, saving months of work.Read the DockAtot case study here.
Let’s dive into it!
How Email Spam Filters Work
Spam filters analyze each incoming email and assign a "spam score" based on various factors:
Sender Reputation
One of the main things spam filters look for are blacklisted IP addresses and domains. Senders with poor reputations are more likely to be flagged as spam.
You can check your current IP and domain reputation using tools like MxToolbox and Talos Intelligence.
To build up a good sender reputation, be sure to use email authentication systems like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. These help verify your identity as a legitimate sender.
Other tips include:
- Monitoring spam reports and unsubscribes
- Being transparent in your unsubscribe process
- Sending from a dedicated IP used only for email
- Follow best practices like list segmentation and personalization
User Engagement
Providers also look at user interaction metrics like open and click rates. If many users delete or ignore your emails, it can hurt your sender's reputation.
Link Quality
Too many links to low-quality sites raise spam flags. Only link to relevant, high-authority resources.
Image-to-Text Ratio
Too many images and little text is a common spam technique. Maintain an appropriate balance in your emails.
Spam Words
And of course, spam filters look for specific words and phrases commonly used in spam emails. Avoiding these "spam trigger" terms is key.
Advanced spam filters go beyond keywords and analyze writing style, tone, and context as well. The focus should be crafting emails that engage subscribers and provide value.
What is a Spam Score?
Spam scores are calculated by email providers to determine the "spamminess" of an email, ranging from 1 to 10.
- 0 to 2 - Very good, likely to reach the inbox
- 3 to 5 - Borderline, may go to inbox or spam
- 6+ - Likely to be marked as spam
*this is how email providers rank your emails
You can check your spam score using a free tool like Mail-Tester. It will rank your email based on your reputation as a sender.
Maintaining a good spam score is crucial for ensuring your emails reach the inbox, safeguarding your sender reputation, and boosting the engagement rates.
A good spam score helps avoid being blacklisted by ISPs and protects your brand image.
List of 101 Common Spam Trigger Words
- Act now
- Apply now
- As seen on
- Buy direct
- Call now
- Click below
- Click here
- Deal
- Do it today
- Exclusive deal
- Get it now
- Important information regarding
- Instant
- Limited time
- New customers only
- Offer expires
- Order now
- Please read
- See for yourself
- Sign up free
- Take action
- This won’t last
- Urgent
- While supplies last
- Winner
- Winning
- You are a winner
- You have been selected
- 100% free
- 100% satisfied
- Additional income
- Be your own boss
- Best price
- Big bucks
- Billion
- Cash bonus
- Cents on the dollar
- Consolidate debt
- Double your income
- Earn Money
- Eliminate bad credit
- Extra income
- Expect to earn
- Fast cash
- Financial freedom
- Free access
- Free Consultation
- Free Gift
- Free hosting
- Free info
- Free Investment
- Free Membership
- Free Money
- Free preview
- Free Quote
- Free trial
- Full refund
- Get out of debt
- Get paid
- Giveaway
- Guaranteed
- Increase sales
- Increase traffic
- Incredible deal
- Lower rates
- Lowest price
- Make Money
- Million dollars
- Miracle
- Money back
- Once in a lifetime
- One time
- Pennies a day
- Potential earnings
- Prize
- Promise
- Pure profit
- Risk-free
- Satisfaction guaranteed
- Save big money
- Save up to
- Special Promotion
- Bulk email
- Direct email
- Direct marketing
- Email harvest
- Email marketing
- Mass email
- Multi-level marketing
- No catch
- No cost
- No credit check
- No fees
- No gimmick
- No hidden costs
- No hidden fees
- No interest
- No investment
- No obligation
- No purchase necessary
- No questions asked
Tips to Avoid Spam Words in Your Emails
- Segment your lists based on user engagement to focus on highly engaged subscribers.
- Monitor spam reports and inbox placement tests to identify issues early.
- Avoid ALL CAPS and excessive punctuation like !!! which raises red flags.
- Limit links to high-quality, relevant resources to avoid low-quality flags.
- Send from a reputable domain to build up a good sender reputation.
- Carefully review all copies for hidden spam triggers before sending.
- Use double opt-in signup flows to verify subscriber consent.
For more details and examples on optimizing your email campaigns, check out this article on the best practices for Email Deliverability Success
Frequently Asked Questions
- What happens if my email gets marked as spam?
If your emails get flagged as spam, engagement metrics like open and click rates will drop. Subscribers may also unsubscribe or report your messages, hurting the sender's reputation. Continued issues can lead to blacklisting.
- How often should I monitor my spam score and reports?
Check your spam score at least monthly, or more often if sending large campaigns. Review spam reports after each significant email sent to catch problems early.
- What's the best way to avoid landing in the spam folder?
Combining tactics like list segmentation, authentication, monitoring metrics, avoiding spam words, and sending valuable content are most effective to maximize inbox placement.
Use a tool like Mission Inbox to maximize your email deliverability with automated warm-up processes and intelligent email verification.
We will be posting more about these topics on our LinkedIn Account, make sure to follow us there and we will keep you posted!
Wrapping Up
Spam filtering can significantly impact email marketing results if not handled properly. By understanding how spam filters work and optimizing your campaigns, your emails will consistently reach the inbox.
To discuss improving deliverability or leveraging AI to scale your marketing team, book a call here. We're happy to help analyze your current campaigns and provide strategic recommendations.