22.8.2023
Email has revolutionised modern communication, enabling businesses to reach out to clients with personalised messages in a snap. That said, the rise of spam, or unsolicited emails, has left many enterprises concerned about falling victim to this digital Quagmire. Especially for those using automation tools for sending emails, ‘spamming’ is a worry that keeps them up at night.
However, the solution to this problem doesn’t lie in abandoning the benefits of automated email engagement. The key is understanding how to protect your email reputation and avoid being categorised as spam. This blog post will guide you through this critical journey.
Email Details That Increase the Risk of Being Tagged As Spam
Typically, spam filters lookout for specific red flags in emails. Few details that can raise alarm and categorise your email as spam are:
- Subject Lines: Subject lines with excessive use of punctuation marks or sensational phrases like “free”, “guaranteed”, “100% satisfied” are more likely to be marked as spam.
- Incorrect email formatting: Email messages that lack structure or use fonts, colours, and sizes inconsistently can earmark your messages as spam.
- Irrelevant content: Content that doesn’t match the subject line or doesn’t provide value to the recipient increases the risk.
- Large attachments or images: Emails with heavy attachments or images are more likely to be intercepted by spam filters. In fact, 91% of cyber attacks begin with a phishing email containing malicious links or attachments (Deloitte, 2020).
- Incorrectly configured email servers: Misconfigured email servers not following the SMTP protocol lead to spam flagging.
The Role of Email Reputation
Email reputation, essentially, is your sender score that Internet Service Providers (ISPs) use to decide whether to accept or reject your emails. If you’re sending mass emails without providing value, your recipients are likely to mark your emails as spam, damaging your sender score.
Webmail providers maintain a database of email senders and their reputations. If your emails are frequently marked as spam, your reputation plummets, leading to more of your future emails being categorised as spam. It’s a cycle that’s hard to break without timely and thoughtful intervention.
Avoiding Spamming: Quality Over Quantity
We all hate junk mail, and so do your prospects. The principle of “Quality over Quantity” might be cliché, but in this case, it is true to its roots. Here’s how you can avoid spamming:
- Relevance: Only target those prospects that have a genuine interest in what you have to offer.
- Personalisation: Tailoring your messaging to individual prospects increases your emails’ relevance, reducing the likelihood of being marked as spam.
- Clear, Simple Communication: Use clean, straightforward language in your subject lines and email body. Let your prospects know what to expect before they open the email.
- Regular but Moderate Frequency: Keep a regular, moderate frequency of email sending to keep your audience engaged without making them feel bombarded.
While aiming for results, let’s also commit to meaningful conversations and a spam-free inbox. After all, for conversion, we first need a reply.
Remember, every email you send either builds or harms your reputation. Let’s strike the right balance between automation and understanding your audience to make every interaction count.
Happy emailing!