One of the biggest challenges to email marketing is the spam folder. You can craft the perfect message, A/B test your subject line, and develop the perfect design. Yet, your open rates are low. You then find out that your emails are getting flagged as spam.
If you are looking for help on how to stay out of the spam folder, you are not alone. The spam filters for major email providers have become very aggressive. Yet, they are not perfect, sometimes sending legitimate emails to spam. Even the most experienced email marketers can sometimes experience this problem.
Do you want to know how to stay out of the spam folder for major email providers?
1. Create Your Own Email List – While it is tempting to jumpstart your email marketing by renting or buying an email list, or using emails shared by a partner, organically building your own email list is the best way to ensure long-term success. It is not fast and it is not easy, but it is the most effective.
2. Verify Emails with a Double Opt-in – When building an email list, it is a best practice to use a double opt-in to verify that your recipients want to receive emails from you. Typically, this is a welcome email asking them to confirm their subscription before officially becoming part of your email list.
3. Use a Reputable Email Service Provider – Your emails can end up in the spam folder of major email providers if your IP address matches someone caught sending spam, even if it was not you. This can occur if you send your campaigns through an email service provider that does not enforce strict procedures and controls.
4. Avoid Spam Complaints – If an email subscriber does not remember you, there is a good chance they will report your email as spam. Once there is a certain amount of complaints, all emails sent to an address at that email provider are then sent to the spam folder. In order to avoid this, make sure your branding is consistent with your website and social profiles.
5. You Did Not Include a Physical Address – This is actually a big one, often impacting many smaller companies and entrepreneurs. It is actually against the CAN-SPAM Act to not add a valid, physical business address or P.O. box.
What haven’t we covered yet that is important to you? If you would like more information on why your marketing emails may be ending up in the spam folder, or would like to discuss a related topic, please contact us.