Almost every email user has encountered the dreaded spam folder. Whether you’re using Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, or some other provider, at some point a message from a friend, family member, or business has shown up in your spam folder instead of your inbox. It’s frustrating, and if you’re a business it can be costly. After all, email marketing is one of the most effective ways to reach your customers. So what can you do to make sure your messages arrive in inboxes and not spam folders?
The answer lies in understanding how email deliverability works. Email deliverability is the process of ensuring that your emails are delivered to the intended recipient’s inbox. It’s a complex process that involves many different factors, but there are some simple things you can do to improve your chances of success.
First and foremost, make sure you’re using a reputable email service provider (ESP). Your ESP will handle all of the technical aspects of deliverability for you and should provide you with resources and support to help you succeed. They will also have relationships with major email providers like Gmail, Yahoo, and Hotmail/Outlook, which can help ensure your messages are delivered.
Secondly, keep your list clean and up-to-date. This means removing unengaged subscribers who haven’t opened or clicked one of your emails in 6 months or more. Keeping your list clean will help improve your sender reputation, which is one of the key factors in deliverability. You can also segment your list into different groups so that you’re only sending relevant content to those who are interested in it – this will further improve engagement and reduce the chances of being marked as spam.
Finally, pay attention to the content of your emails. In order to avoid being flagged as spam, make sure you’re not using excessive exclamation points!!! or all caps!!!! And avoid words like “free” or “win” in both the subject line and body of your message – these are all red flags for spam filters. Instead, focus on providing valuable content that your subscribers will want to read. If you do end up in a recipient’s spam folder, they may be more likely to whitelist you if they see that you’re sending them useful information.
following these simple tips can significantly improve your email deliverability and help ensure that your messages end up where they belong – in inboxes!
