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Summary

The question of whether specific spam words still impact email deliverability is a recurring one. While the industry has evolved significantly from the early days of simple keyword filtering, the perception that certain words are outright spam triggers persists. Modern spam filters are far more sophisticated, relying on a holistic evaluation of sender reputation, authentication, engagement metrics, and behavioral patterns rather than just individual words. However, this doesn't mean content is entirely irrelevant.

What email marketers say

Email marketers often find themselves caught between optimizing for conversions and avoiding spam filters. Many still operate with the ingrained belief that certain words are outright forbidden, leading to cautious and sometimes overly sanitized messaging. While some acknowledge the reduced impact of individual words, concerns about older filtering systems or deceptive practices persist.

Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks suggests that the widespread advice about avoiding specific spam words feels very much like a strategy from 2005. They highlight a common sentiment that this guidance often feels outdated in the current email landscape.

10 Dec 2019 - Email Geeks

Marketer view

Email marketer from ActiveCampaign emphasizes that while spam words are not the sole factor, they can still trigger spam filters and lead to emails being snatched before reaching the inbox. This indicates a belief that such words still hold some significance.

15 Feb 2024 - ActiveCampaign

What the experts say

Experts in email deliverability consistently emphasize that the era of simple 'spam word lists' is largely over. Their insights reveal a sophisticated landscape where sender reputation, authentication, and recipient behavior are paramount. While they acknowledge that egregious content can still be a factor, it is almost always secondary to broader deliverability signals.

Expert view

Expert from SpamResource clarifies that the relevance of traditional spam word lists has significantly diminished over time. They suggest that modern spam filtering mechanisms are far more sophisticated and context-aware than simple keyword matching.

01 Jan 2023 - SpamResource

Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise asserts that sender reputation is the paramount factor in email deliverability, overshadowing the impact of individual words. They argue that a good reputation can overcome minor content issues.

05 Feb 2023 - Word to the Wise

What the documentation says

Technical documentation and research on email filtering mechanisms consistently point to a move away from simplistic keyword blocking towards complex, multi-factor analysis. These sources detail how modern spam filters leverage sophisticated algorithms, machine learning, and vast datasets to make highly informed decisions about incoming email, rendering isolated 'spam words' largely ineffective as standalone triggers.

Technical article

Google Postmaster Tools documentation implies that content is part of a larger reputational score, where aggregate user feedback (e.g., spam complaints) and authentication status (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) are primary indicators for filtering decisions.

10 Jan 2024 - Google Postmaster Tools

Technical article

Microsoft's email filtering documentation suggests that their systems use machine learning to identify patterns of spam and phishing, which go beyond simple keyword matching and instead analyze sender identity, message structure, and historical data.

15 Feb 2024 - Microsoft 365 Exchange Online Protection

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