Even when you're sending an email campaign to subscribers who opted-in, your email can still be flagged as spam by overzealous spam filters which seem to be getting more and more aggressive with their spam flagging analyses. Simply using the word "free" in an email message can often land you in the spam heap.

Listed below are a number of simple tips and techniques you should consider when writing and designing your campaigns:

1. Minimize the use of these words and phrases in the subject line, message body, sender address, and reply-to address:
   
   
   • Use of the word Free (although "free" tends to have more leeway than most other trigger words), $$, XXX, sex or !!! (any excessive punctuation)
   • Subject contains "Double Your", "?", "For Only" or "Free Instant".
   • TOO MANY CAPS IN THE SUBJECT LINE
   • Email contains at least 70 percent blank lines
   • The from field appears to not contain a real name, ends in numbers or contains the word friend.
   • The reply to field is empty
   • The email claims not to be spam
   • The email contains excessive images without much text
2. Monitor new subscribers in your lists. Set suspicious "spamflag" addresses such as "abuse@" or "marketerspam@" as Inactive subscribers.

Ultimately, the most important thing you can do is adhere to best practices for email marketing. Gain permission, compose relevant content, and deliver messages according to the customer's needs, wants, and preferences.

Related Topics

• Some emails don't appear to have bounced, but I know they weren't delivered. What happened?

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