Why do people mark wanted emails as spam after signing up?

Email marketer from Email Geeks asks: are the consent processes clear to the end user in terms of expectations?

Email marketer from Email Geeks shares that many people know that the complaint button is an easy way to unsubscribe. Is there also any chance the subject line or something else could have confused some people into not realizing it was the white paper they asked for?

Marketer from Email Geeks explains that in many cases of complaints about wanted emails, the person who entered the email address isn't the same person receiving the email. Or people may be using an email address that is not actually theirs.

Email marketer from HubSpot answers if the subject line is misleading or doesn't accurately reflect the content of the email, subscribers might feel tricked and mark it as spam. Ensure subject lines are honest and relevant.

Email marketer from EmailOctopus explains that user expectations play a huge role; if the content doesn't match what they anticipated, or if the frequency is too high, subscribers may opt to mark emails as spam rather than unsubscribe.

Email marketer from Mailjet answers that sending emails too frequently, or at inconvenient times, can annoy subscribers and lead them to mark emails as spam. Respect their inbox and send emails at appropriate intervals.

Email marketer from Litmus answers that a broken or hard-to-find unsubscribe link can frustrate subscribers, leading them to mark emails as spam instead. Make unsubscribing easy and accessible.

Email marketer from Validity (formerly ReturnPath) explains that inconsistent sending volumes or IP addresses can raise red flags with email providers, increasing the likelihood of emails being marked as spam. Maintain consistent sending practices.

Email marketer from Campaign Monitor answers that if subscribers don't see clear value in the emails they receive, they're more likely to mark them as spam. Ensure your emails provide valuable content or offers.

Email marketer from Sender.net shares that if the 'From' name or email address isn't easily recognizable, recipients might mark the email as spam because they don't remember subscribing or trusting the sender.

Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum responds that people's interests change over time. They might have been interested in the topic when they signed up, but no longer find it relevant and mark the emails as spam instead of unsubscribing.

Email marketer from Email Geeks explains that people complain as an easy way to stop getting emails, especially if expectations aren't clearly set regarding what will be received after providing their email address.

Email marketer from Reddit shares that people often forget they subscribed, especially if it was a while ago or part of a promotion. They may not recognize the email and mark it as spam without thinking.

Email marketer from Email Geeks explains that if complaining is easier than unsubscribing, you'll get more complaints. Make the unsubscribe or preferences link easier to see. Also check that the unsubscribe works just in case. For the most part, more complaints are seen on sources that gate access for email.

Email marketer from Quora explains that users might accidentally mark wanted emails as spam due to confusion or unfamiliarity with the interface. They might be trying to unsubscribe or delete the email but click the wrong button.

Expert from Email Geeks explains that a complaint is just the recipient saying they no longer want the email. They may use the complaint button as the easiest way to unsubscribe or because they are offended at having to provide their email in the first place. James recommends honoring their wish and moving on, focusing on the overall trend of complaints.

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that subscribers might mark wanted emails as spam if they don't recognize the sender or remember signing up. This can be due to a long delay between signup and the first email, or if the branding is different from what they expected.

Expert from Word to the Wise shares that consumers change their mind, have different priorities and different capacities at different times and often, more email is a bigger problem. They are probably on too many lists, and will simply mark things as spam to try and control their inbox.

Expert from Email Geeks explains that complaints happen for various reasons, even with good email practices, and that a complaint alone doesn't indicate a sender is doing something wrong.

Documentation from Spamhaus describes how a poor sender reputation, based on factors like spam complaints, can cause email providers to filter emails as spam. Monitoring and maintaining a good sender reputation is crucial.

Documentation from RFC Editor specifies List-Unsubscribe header. It explains if the unsubscribe process is difficult, confusing, or non-existent, recipients are more likely to mark emails as spam as a quicker solution.

Documentation from Google explains that high spam complaint rates can negatively impact deliverability. If a significant percentage of users mark emails from a sender as spam, Gmail may start filtering those emails to the spam folder for other users as well.

Documentation from Microsoft explains that hitting spam traps will impact your sending reputation which can lead to more complaints if users are receiving email that they did not subscribe for.