If you are wondering why you have a low open rate for your email campaign? You may want to check your email copy before you send out your next campaign; it could be due to certain words that trigger the spam filter. As a result, your hard-crafted email campaign might end up in your recipients’ junk or trash folder instead of their inbox.
Below is a list of spam words that you should avoid them when writing your email copy. Please note that the below list does not include the list of porn words.
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In addition, do not use all capitalization or excessive punctuation marks in your subject line.
The above list is not exhaustive and different spam filters have their own set of rules to determine spam words. Most of the email marketing system provides spam checker so run a spam check to your email copy prior to email delivery. For example, in Constant Contact, its spam checker will give you a spam score and alert you what are the words to avoid so as to minimize the risk of your email campaign being blocked by the spam filter.
You might be thinking the above words are common words and some of them are powerful sales conversion words so it will be hard not to use them. You are right! Fortunately, the spam filters do not just recognize the word per se but they will look at the combination of words used to determine whether it is a spam.
One good tip is that if you have to use the above words, consider looking for alternate or similar words by checking it at Thesaurus.com. For example, the word “FREE”, it can be replaced with “Complimentary” or “Without Charge” or “Our Treat” or “Your Gift”. Alternatively you can use a variation of the word “FREE” to avoid spam filter, for example F*R*E*E, FR^EE, F.R.E.E but unfortunately, the spammers had also soon found out the trick and it is not as effective as before. Therefore, you need to constantly vary your choice of words or combination of words because the spammers are quick to catch up, very soon all these normal words might become spam trigger words too.
Despite the shortcoming, it is still good to stick to best practice so always try your best to avoid spam trigger words and run the email copy diligently with spam checker, you will see that your delivery and open rate will be vastly improved than before.