Summary
Spanish language emails are often flagged as spam in Gmail due to a confluence of factors relating to sender reputation, list management, email authentication, content, and technical configurations. Sender reputation is critical and can be affected by low IP reputation, high spam complaint rates, and issues reported via Google Postmaster Tools. List quality can be compromised if segmentation rules are relaxed for non-English lists or if acquisition practices differ significantly from English-speaking lists. Ensuring the root domain is consistent helps maintain domain reputation. Correct email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) and DNS configuration are necessary. Email content should be carefully reviewed for spam trigger words in Spanish, proper character encoding, and text-to-image ratio. Furthermore, ensuring that recipients genuinely opted in for Spanish content and enabling one-click unsubscription are important for deliverability.
Key findings
- List Management Issues: Relaxed segmentation for Spanish lists and disparate acquisition methods degrade list quality.
- Domain Reputation: Inconsistent root domains can negatively affect deliverability.
- Low IP Reputation: IPs with a history of spam activity are likely to be flagged.
- Content-Related Triggers: Specific Spanish words or phrases, or poor formatting, can trigger spam filters.
- Authentication Problems: Missing or misconfigured SPF, DKIM, and DMARC significantly impact deliverability.
- Lack of Opt-In: Sending Spanish content to recipients not expecting it increases spam flags.
- Email Body Issues: Poor text to image ratio, spam trigger words and not allowing one-click unsubscription can trigger spam filters.
Key considerations
- Enhance List Quality: Review and refine segmentation and acquisition practices specifically for Spanish-language subscribers.
- Maintain Domain Consistency: Ensure a consistent root domain across all language versions of your website and email campaigns.
- Improve IP Reputation: Monitor IP reputation and consider using a dedicated IP if sending high volumes of Spanish emails.
- Refine Content: Carefully review email content for spam-like language, cultural relevance, proper character encoding, and ensure a good text to image ratio.
- Implement Correct Authentication: Ensure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are properly configured and validated.
- Verify Opt-In Practices: Confirm that recipients have explicitly opted in to receive Spanish-language emails, and make it easy to one-click unsubscribe.
- Monitor Spam Complaint Rates: Analyze feedback loops to understand causes of complaints.
- Check DNS configuration: Review your DNS configuration.
What email marketers say
11 marketer opinions
Spanish language emails being flagged as spam in Gmail can stem from various factors. Segmentation rules and list quality may be more relaxed for non-English lists. Domain reputation plays a role, emphasizing the importance of a consistent root domain. Technical aspects like IP reputation, content triggering spam filters, and missing authentication records (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) are crucial. The character encoding should also be checked. Further considerations include ensuring proper opt-in for Spanish-language emails, use of a dedicated IP for high volumes, and enabling one-click unsubscription.
Key opinions
- Segmentation and List Quality: Relaxed segmentation rules and lower list quality in Spanish-language campaigns can lead to higher spam flags.
- Domain Reputation: Maintaining a consistent root domain is vital for domain reputation, influencing deliverability.
- IP Reputation: A low IP reputation due to prior spam activities can cause Gmail to flag emails as spam.
- Content Triggers: Specific words or phrases in Spanish, promotional terms, or ALL CAPS can trigger spam filters.
- Authentication: Missing or improperly configured SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records can negatively impact sender reputation.
- Character Encoding: Incorrect character encoding can result in garbled text, which spam filters may interpret as suspicious.
Key considerations
- List Hygiene: Thoroughly examine list acquisition practices and segmentation rules for Spanish-language subscribers.
- Root Domain Consistency: Ensure the root domain is consistent across all language versions of your website and email campaigns.
- IP Reputation Monitoring: Regularly check your IP reputation and consider using a dedicated IP if sending high volumes of Spanish-language emails.
- Content Review: Carefully review email content for spam-like language, excessive promotional terms, and proper formatting.
- Authentication Setup: Implement and properly configure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records to authenticate your emails.
- Opt-In Practices: Verify that recipients have explicitly opted in to receive Spanish-language emails.
- Unsubscription: Enabling one-click unsubscription
Marketer view
Email marketer from Mailjet explains that issues may arise from IP reputation. If the IP address used to send emails has a low reputation due to past spam activities, Gmail might flag emails as spam. Check IP reputation using online tools and consider using a dedicated IP.
23 Feb 2023 - Mailjet
Marketer view
Email marketer from EmailToolTester says that issues may arise if you are not allowing one-click unsubscription. Gmail wants to see one-click unsubscription which may be causing your emails to be flagged as spam.
9 Dec 2021 - EmailToolTester
What the experts say
2 expert opinions
Spanish language emails may be flagged as spam in Gmail due to several factors. It's important to ensure that the content is properly localized and that the audience expects to receive emails in Spanish. Checking sender reputation, ensuring proper authentication, and verifying DNS configuration are also recommended. Additionally, specific words or phrases in Spanish, even if legitimate, might resemble spam content and raise the spam score.
Key opinions
- Content Localization: Properly localized content is crucial for ensuring emails are not flagged as spam.
- Audience Expectation: Ensure recipients are expecting emails in the Spanish language.
- Sender Reputation: Maintaining a positive sender reputation is essential for email deliverability.
- Email Authentication: Proper authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is necessary to verify the legitimacy of emails.
- Spam Trigger Words: Legitimate Spanish words or phrases may inadvertently trigger spam filters due to their similarity to spam content.
Key considerations
- Localization Review: Review and refine content to ensure it is accurately localized and relevant to the target audience.
- Audience Segmentation: Segment audience to ensure they expect Spanish language emails.
- Reputation Monitoring: Regularly monitor sender reputation to identify and address any issues.
- Authentication Configuration: Verify that SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are correctly configured.
- Content Audit: Audit email content for potential spam triggers and adjust accordingly.
- DNS Configuration: Check your DNS configuration.
Expert view
Expert from Spam Resource explains that specific words or phrases, although legitimate in Spanish, may resemble spam content due to how they are perceived by spam filters or how frequently they are used in actual spam. This can lead to an increased spam score.
17 Aug 2023 - Spam Resource
Expert view
Expert from Word to the Wise answers, When dealing with deliverability issues related to language, Laura Atkins suggests ensuring that your content is properly localized and that your audience is expecting emails in that language. She recommends checking your sender reputation and ensuring your authentication is properly configured. She also suggests that you check your DNS configuration.
4 Dec 2023 - Word to the Wise
What the documentation says
4 technical articles
Spanish language emails may be flagged as spam in Gmail due to low sender reputation, issues with DMARC policies, high spam complaint rates, and problems with email body content. Monitoring sender reputation through tools like Google Postmaster Tools, implementing DMARC correctly, and addressing high complaint rates are essential for improving inbox placement. Ensuring a proper text-to-image ratio and avoiding spam trigger words in email bodies also helps prevent emails from being flagged as spam.
Key findings
- Low Sender Reputation: Low sender reputation negatively affects inbox placement.
- DMARC Policies: Improperly configured DMARC policies can impact deliverability.
- High Spam Complaint Rates: High spam complaint rates lead to filtering and decreased deliverability.
- Email Body Problems: Issues with email body content, such as poor text-to-image ratio and spam trigger words, can trigger spam filters.
Key considerations
- Reputation Monitoring: Monitor sender reputation using Google Postmaster Tools or similar services to identify and address negative trends.
- DMARC Implementation: Implement DMARC correctly, ensuring proper configuration to avoid filtering legitimate emails.
- Complaint Analysis: Analyze spam complaint rates and feedback loops to understand the causes of complaints.
- Email Body Optimization: Optimize email body content by ensuring a good text-to-image ratio and avoiding spam trigger words.
- Improve Email Practices: Improve email sending practices to lower spam complaints and improve authentication.
Technical article
Documentation from SparkPost shares that high spam complaint rates cause filtering. Monitor spam complaint rates in feedback loops. Investigate the cause of complaints by analyzing email content, targeting practices, and opt-in processes.
17 Jan 2023 - SparkPost
Technical article
Documentation from Google Postmaster Tools explains that low sender reputation affects inbox placement. Monitor sender reputation via Postmaster Tools. Address any negative trends by improving email practices, such as reducing spam complaints and ensuring proper authentication.
4 Nov 2022 - Google Postmaster Tools
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