Summary
Spam trigger words are specific terms and phrases that spam filters use to identify potentially unwanted or harmful emails. Numerous email marketers, experts, and documentation sources emphasize that using these words excessively can significantly decrease email deliverability. Spam filters analyze email content, looking for these trigger words, and if too many are detected, the email is more likely to be flagged as spam. This prevents it from reaching the recipient's inbox and negatively impacts the sender's reputation. It's recommended to avoid overusing such terms, diversify language, and test email content before sending.
Key findings
- Definition: Spam trigger words are terms that flag emails as potentially unwanted.
- Impact: Excessive use of trigger words leads to emails being marked as spam, reducing deliverability.
- Analysis: Spam filters analyze content for specific keywords and phrases.
- No Definitive List: While no concrete list exists, some words are more likely to trigger filters.
Key considerations
- Avoid Overuse: Avoid overusing trigger words to maintain good deliverability rates.
- Diversify Language: Vary your language and phrasing to reduce the likelihood of triggering filters.
- Test Content: Test email content before sending to identify and remove potential trigger words.
- Spam Checker Tools: Employ spam checker tools to proactively identify and avoid trigger words.
- Sender Reputation: Be aware of your sender reputation and how your email practices can affect it.
What email marketers say
10 marketer opinions
Spam trigger words are specific terms or phrases that email spam filters use to identify potentially unwanted or harmful emails. Email marketers and documentation sources confirm that the excessive use of these words can significantly lower email deliverability. Spam filters analyze email content for these trigger words, and if detected, the email is more likely to be flagged as spam, preventing it from reaching the recipient's inbox. Several sources recommend avoiding overuse and diversifying language to mitigate the risk of being flagged as spam.
Key opinions
- Definition: Spam trigger words are terms that trigger spam filters, flagging emails as potentially harmful.
- Impact on Deliverability: Overusing spam trigger words increases the likelihood of emails being marked as spam, thus reducing deliverability.
- Filter Analysis: Spam filters scan email content for specific keywords and phrases associated with spam.
Key considerations
- Language Diversification: Diversifying language and avoiding overuse of common spam phrases is recommended.
- Spam Checker Tools: Using spam checker tools can help identify and avoid spam trigger words.
- Content Testing: Testing email content before sending can help identify potential spam trigger words and improve deliverability.
Marketer view
Email marketer from HubSpot explains that spam trigger words are words or phrases that spam filters are programmed to identify as signs of unsolicited or unwanted email. Using too many of these words can cause your email to be marked as spam, harming your deliverability rates.
6 Aug 2024 - HubSpot
Marketer view
Email marketer from Email on Acid shares that spam trigger words are terms that can flag your emails as spam. Spam filters are designed to look for these words, and when found, they can lower your deliverability rates. They recommend diversifying your language and avoiding overuse of common spam phrases.
6 Nov 2023 - Email on Acid
What the experts say
3 expert opinions
Experts agree that spam filters analyze email content for specific words and phrases, impacting deliverability. While a definitive list of 'spam trigger words' may not exist, certain terms are more likely to trigger spam filters. Excessive use of these words increases the likelihood of an email being classified as spam, preventing it from reaching the intended recipient's inbox and reducing inbox placement.
Key opinions
- Spam Filter Analysis: Spam filters analyze email content, including specific words and phrases.
- Deliverability Impact: Certain words, used excessively, increase the chance of an email being classified as spam, hurting deliverability.
- No Definitive List: There isn't a concrete list of spam trigger words, but some words are more likely to trigger filters.
Key considerations
- Content Awareness: Be aware that your email content is scrutinized, so avoid excessive use of potentially problematic words.
- Combined Factors: Spam classification can result from a combination of factors, not just single 'trigger words'.
- Reduce Harmful messages: Filters are designed to identify and block potentially unwanted or harmful messages.
Expert view
Expert from Word to the Wise explains that spam filters work by analyzing various components of an email, including the content. Certain words and phrases, when used in excess or in combination with other suspicious elements, can increase the likelihood of an email being classified as spam. This directly affects deliverability by preventing emails from reaching the inbox.
17 Jun 2022 - Word to the Wise
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks shares that he added Jay Oram's link to <https://www.spamresource.com/2022/11/take-your-spam-trigger-words-and-go-away.html>.
20 Nov 2022 - Email Geeks
What the documentation says
4 technical articles
Documentation consistently highlights that spam filters analyze email content for specific words and phrases, assessing their likelihood of being associated with spam. The presence of these 'spam trigger words' contributes to a higher spam score or classification, resulting in deliverability issues, reduced sender reputation, and potential filtering of messages away from the recipient's inbox. Caution regarding language used in emails is advised to avoid being flagged as spam.
Key findings
- Content Analysis: Spam filters examine email content, including specific words and phrases.
- Higher Spam Score: The presence of spam trigger words can increase an email's spam score.
- Deliverability Impact: The use of trigger words results in deliverability issues, hindering messages from reaching inboxes.
Key considerations
- Language Caution: Exercise caution in the language used in emails to avoid being flagged as spam.
- Sender Reputation: Be mindful of how your language impacts your sender reputation, particularly with major providers like Gmail.
- Deceptive Language: Avoid deceptive or misleading language, as this can negatively affect your deliverability.
Technical article
Documentation from Cisco states that email security systems, including spam filters, analyze email content for suspicious keywords and phrases. The use of these spam trigger words can lead to emails being classified as spam, reducing their deliverability. They advise being cautious about the language used in emails to ensure they are not flagged as spam.
1 Aug 2023 - Cisco
Technical article
Documentation from Microsoft explains that junk email filters evaluate various aspects of incoming messages, including the language used. Certain words and phrases are more frequently used in spam or junk email, and their presence can increase the likelihood of a message being classified as junk. This can impact whether your email reaches the recipient's inbox or is filtered out.
20 Oct 2023 - Microsoft Support
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