So, you spent hours writing the perfect email. You hit send. Then you wait.
But crickets.
It turns out, your email went straight to the spam folder. Sad, right?
Let’s fix that.
Getting your emails into the inbox (where they belong!) isn’t some kind of magic. There are simple things you can do to make sure your email doesn’t get lost in spam jail. I’ll walk you through it, step by step, in the simplest way possible.
Ready? Let’s go.
1. Avoid Trigger Words
Words matter. Especially in emails. Some words just scream spam to email providers.
You know the ones:
- “FREE!!!”
- “Buy Now”
- “Limited Time Offer”
These words make spam filters go nuts. So, keep it natural. If it sounds like a cheesy used car salesman, it’s probably a bad idea.
Pro tip: If you wouldn’t say it to a friend, don’t write it in an email.
2. Use a Real Email Address
Don’t send from a shady-looking email address like “no-reply@supercooldeals.com.” It looks spammy and sketchy.
People want to see real names. Real emails.
Use your name or your company’s name in the email address. Something like “joe@yourcompany.com” works way better. It’s like a handshake—warm and personal. Filters like that.
3. Ask for Permission
This one’s a biggie. Only send emails to people who actually want your emails.
If someone didn’t sign up, don’t send them stuff. Period.
Here’s the thing—when people mark your email as spam (which they will if they don’t recognize you), email services start sending all your emails to spam.
Always get permission. It’s the polite thing to do. And it keeps you out of trouble.
4. Write Like a Human
Robots write spam emails.
Humans don’t.
The more you write like a real person, the better your chances of hitting the inbox.
Instead of sending some robotic wall of text, imagine you’re writing to a buddy. Keep it simple. Keep it conversational.
Example: Instead of saying, “Please proceed to purchase immediately,” just say, “Hey, want to check this out?”
Easy, right?
5. Check Your Links
Here’s a sneaky one. If you’re sending emails with links, make sure those links go to safe places. Spam filters hate shady links.
If your email has a link to a sketchy site, guess where it’s going? Yup—straight to the spam folder.
So, double-check all the links in your email. Stick to clean, trustworthy sites.
6. Test It Out
Before you send that email to your whole list, run a quick test. Send it to yourself first.
Look at the email. Does it look okay? Does it end up in your spam folder?
There are even free tools online to test if your email will likely hit the inbox or not. Use them. They’re lifesavers.
Final Thoughts
Look, getting stuck in the spam folder sucks. But avoiding it isn’t rocket science. Just follow these simple steps—avoid spammy words, send from a real email, ask for permission, write like a human, check your links, and test before sending.
Do that, and your emails are way more likely to land where they should—right in the inbox.
Now go send some emails that actually get read!
Did you spot the typo?
Daniel Matievich