Why Are My Emails Going to Spam? (Eight Easy Fixes)

Nothing is quite as annoying as your carefully crafted emails landing up in the recipient’s spam folder.

If you’re on a shared hosting plan, all it takes is for one of the other websites on the same IP address to get marked as spam, and it will impact your email score.

In this article, I’ll discuss why emails end up in spam folders and share eight practical solutions for ensuring your messages reach their intended audience.

How Do Spam Filters Work?

Spam filters analyze incoming messages based on a bunch of set criteria, such as email content, the domain’s sender reputation, and authentication protocols. Emails that meet certain filter criteria are flagged as spam and redirected to the spam folder.

But spam filters are not perfect. In reality, they sometimes flag genuine emails as spam due to overly aggressive filtering or misinterpretation of your email’s content.

Some Reasons Why Your Emails Are Getting Marked As Spam

#1. Permission Issues

One reason emails typically go to spam is a lack of proper permission from recipients. Make sure you’re sending emails to people who have actually subscribed to your newsletters.

#2. Content and Formatting Issues

Your email’s content and formatting can also trigger spam filters. Doing things like using excessive exclamation marks, writing in all caps, or adding certain spam words [Eg, biz opportunity, free sales, lottery] can make your email appear suspicious.

Poor HTML coding and a lack of responsive design can also sometimes contribute to this issue.

#3. Authentication Issues

If your email address or domain isn’t properly authenticated, spam filters may flag your emails. Authentication protocols like DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) and SPF (Sender Policy Framework) help verify that your emails are coming from a legitimate source.

#4. Engagement Issues

If your emails have low engagement rates, such as low open or click-through rates, they can negatively impact your sender reputation.

Also, If many recipients mark your emails as spam, it signals to email providers that your messages may not be relevant or wanted.

Eight Solutions To Prevent Your Emails Going To Spam

#1. Use A Reliable ESP (Email Service Provider)

Choosing a reliable email service provider (ESP) will help improve email deliverability. A good ESP can help you manage your email campaigns effectively and ensure your emails land in the intended inbox.

Check Deliverability Rates

When selecting an ESP, look for one with high deliverability rates and a good reputation. I would advise researching user reviews and industry ratings, such as TrustPilot, to identify reliable providers.

For example, NameHero’s Trustpilot score is a solid 4.9 with 1896 reviews!

Look for Advanced Features

Email service providers offer advanced features like list segmentation, A/B testing, and automation. These features will help you create more targeted and effective email campaigns.

Ensure Compliance with Regulations

A good ESP will make sure that you comply with email marketing regulations like CAN-SPAM and GDPR. NameHero’s business email hosting offers built-in compliance features to keep your email campaigns on the right side of the law.

#2. Add A Double Opt-In Process For Subscribers

Implementing a double opt-in process ensures that only genuinely interested people subscribe to your email list. This reduces the risk of spam complaints and improves your sender reputation.

Double opt-in requires subscribers to confirm their subscription via email, making it less likely for bots or uninterested parties to join your list.

Opt-in Monster is one such product that is used and loved by businesses worldwide.

#3. Add Email Authentication Protocols

Email authentication standards like DKIM and SPF are important because these protocols verify that your emails are genuinely from your domain. By aligning your domain with these standards, you ensure that spammers cannot misuse your identity, thus protecting your sender’s reputation.

We’ve got a handy free tutorial on how to add DKIM and SPF email authentication records that you can check out here.

#4. Clean Up Your Email List

Remove inactive subscribers regularly. I’m referring to those users who have not engaged with your emails for a while. This practice, known as list hygiene, helps improve your engagement rates and reduces the chances of your emails being marked as spam.

And never, and I repeat, never buy paid email lists. You have no idea what kind of emails you’re purchasing, and these users never signed up for your service in the first place.

Additionally, regularly segment your list based on engagement levels and preferences to send more targeted and relevant content.

#5. Follow Best Practices For Email Design and Copy

Following some best practices for email design and copy can help your emails avoid spam filters.

Use a balanced ratio of text to images, avoid using too many exclamation marks or all caps, and avoid words that trigger spam filters and are commonly associated with spam.

#6. Get An Email Marketing Service

Dedicated email marketing services are optimized for email delivery and often include additional features like analytics and A/B testing. Some top email services include Klaviyo, Sendgrid, and Mailchimp.

We recently published a free in-depth comparison guide between Klaviyo and Mailchimp, and you can also check this Sendgrid review to help you evaluate all major players.

#7. Use An Email Testing Tool

Mail Tester analyzes your emails and provides a detailed report on areas that need improvement. This includes checking for proper authentication, spammy content, and overall email health.

Mail Tester gives you a score between 1-10 based on how spammy it thinks your email is and how likely it is to land in your recipient’s inbox.

We’ve shared how to hit a score of 10/10 with mail-tester.com in this video here.

#8. Get Added To Subscribers’ Email Contacts/ Safelists

Asking your recipients to whitelist your email address can massively help your email marketing. Make sure to share instructions on how to add your email address to subscribers’ safe sender list when they sign up. This simple step will improve your email deliverability.

Additionally, I suggest asking your subscribers for feedback and rating your content. You’ll know if your marketing emails resonate with your audience.

Conclusion: To Wrap Up

I hope that this article helped you understand spam folders better. The eight solutions shared in this post can definitely improve your email deliverability.

One quick tip before we wrap up? Don’t leave email success to chance. NameHero’s business email hosting offers robust solutions to keep your emails out of spam folders. Click here to learn more!