Did you know that according to Statista, more than half of all emails are spam? That’s a lot of unwanted messages! Thankfully, internet service providers (ISPs) and email services like Gmail use filters to block spam before it reaches your inbox.
But what if your legitimate emails are getting flagged as spam? Here are 5 reasons why that might happen and how to fix it:
Your Email Hosting Service Has a Bad Reputation
Imagine your email server has a credit score based on its sending history. A bad reputation score can land your emails in spam folders, even for important messages like order confirmations. A study by Return Path found that 81% of global spam originates from just 10% of sending IP addresses. You don’t want your business to be caught in the crossfire!
Solution
Choose an email hosting service that prioritises a good reputation score. For example, Uhostafrica partners with MailChannels to ensure your emails reach inboxes. MailChannels uses advanced technology to identify and stop spammy emails before they’re sent.
Missing Email Authentication
DMARC, DKIM, and SPF are technical terms that might sound scary, but they’re actually there to protect you! These email authentication methods help prevent email spoofing, a tactic where scammers send emails pretending to be from someone else (like your bank or Amazon). According to Agari, implementing DMARC can reduce phishing attacks by 70%.
Solution
Don’t worry, you don’t need to be a tech expert. Uhostafrica provides a helpful guide to setting up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records for your domain.
Accidental Spam Marking
Sometimes, recipients might accidentally mark your emails as spam. If this happens enough, it can hurt your sender reputation and future emails might get flagged automatically.
Solution
Make sure your emails are valuable and relevant to your recipients. Personalise your emails whenever possible, and always include a clear and easy-to-find unsubscribe option.
Spam Trigger Words in Subject Lines
Subject lines full of certain words and phrases can be red flags for spam filters. These “trigger words” are designed to grab attention, but they often backfire. Here’s a helpful list of 100 Common Spam Trigger Words from Vision6 to avoid.
Solution Avoid using words like “Urgent!”, “Limited Time Offer”, or “Money-Making” in your subject lines. Focus on clear and concise descriptions of your email content.
Sending Emails Too Frequently
It’s great to be passionate about your business, but bombarding your subscribers with emails will likely annoy them. Studies by Constant Contact suggest weekly or monthly emails are preferred by most users.
Solution
Ask new subscribers how often they want to hear from you. Consider sending emails on Tuesdays, which have been shown to have higher open rates according to Campaign Monitor.
In Conclusion
There are many reasons why emails end up in spam. By following these tips and using secure email hosting with Uhostafrica’s MailChannels integration, you can ensure your emails reach the inboxes they belong in and maintain a positive sender reputation. Remember, a little effort can go a long way in keeping your emails out of the spam folder!