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Spam Trigger Words To Avoid In Emails - SendLayer
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Every place a page here uses this source, in the order the words come in it.
Bare link shorteners “Image-only emails with no text” Attachment-only messages
Spam trigger words are words and phrases that appear far more often in spam than in wanted mail. Filters learn that association from billions of messages. Stack enough of them into one email and the message scores higher on a spam scale. That’s when it gets diverted to junk. “They’re correlated with spam, which is a weaker and more useful thing to know.” 400+ Spam Trigger Words by Category
What Are Spam Trigger Words? “Filters learn that association from billions of messages.” They aren’t forbidden. They’re correlated with spam, which is a weaker and more useful thing to know.
Absolute promises read as unverifiable, which is what filters score. “guaranteed 100% guaranteed satisfaction guaranteed money back guarantee risk free no risk no obligation no strings attached no catch no questions asked no purchase necessary no fees no hidden costs no hidden fees no credit check no experience no investment no gimmick cancel at any time full refund unconditional iron clad certified promise you what are you waiting for” Urgency and scarcity (40)
Manufactured deadlines are a pressure tactic, and filters know the pattern. “act now apply now buy now call now click now order now don't delay don't hesitate do it today deadline expires expires today final call final hours for a limited time get it now hurry hurry up immediate instant instantly last chance limited number limited offer limited supply limited time now only offer expires once in a lifetime only a few left right away time limited today only urgent while supplies last don't miss out now or never time sensitive ends soon act immediately” Exaggeration and sensational claims (35)
Superlatives with nothing behind them look like clickbait. “amazing amazing results unbelievable incredible incredible deal mind blowing revolutionary life changing breakthrough phenomenal miracle secret secret formula secret recipe insane outrageous jaw dropping the best world's best number one unmatched unparalleled unrivaled sensational spectacular stunning astonishing remarkable extraordinary ultimate supreme magic magical you won't believe shocking” Sales and discount pressure (35)
Discount language is fine in moderation. Stacked, it reads as bulk promo. “special promotion special offer special deal exclusive deal exclusive offer discount big discount huge discount massive discount lowest price best price price protection prices slashed half price buy direct clearance closeout wholesale bargain cheap cheapest save up to save money save now deal of a lifetime unbeatable offer huge savings marked down giveaway order today shop now subscribe now join now best deal slash your bills” Finance, credit and debt (40)
Free and no-cost (35) “The most over-used word in email marketing. Filters weight it heavily in subject lines.” free absolutely free completely free 100% free free access free consultation free gift free hosting free info free installation free investment free leads free membership free money free offer free preview free quote free sample free trial free website free grant money free shipping free bonus free download free entry free demo free upgrade free report free seminar free evaluation free estimate free gift card free priority mail free DVD free iPhone
Finance, credit and debt (40) “Heavily abused by fraud, so these carry more weight than most categories.” accept credit cards avoid bankruptcy bad credit bank account billing address cards accepted cash loans check or money order collect child support consolidate debt credit bureaus credit card offers credit repair debt free eliminate debt eliminate bad credit get out of debt home mortgage investment decision lower interest rate lower monthly payment lower your mortgage rate mortgage rates pre approved pre qualified refinance refinance home social security number stock alert stock pick unsecured credit unsecured debt us dollars why pay more wire transfer crypto investment bitcoin investment loan approval interest free zero percent
Prizes, winnings and giveaways (25) “Classic phishing language. Avoid these even when your offer is real.” you are a winner you have been selected congratulations claim your prize prize winner winning jackpot lottery sweepstakes contest cash prize gift certificate you've won claim now redeem now reward bonus exclusive access granted selected specially lucky winner spin to win chosen specially claim your reward unclaimed
400+ Spam Trigger Words by Category “Most senders only have a problem with two or three of them.” Free and no-cost (35)
“About one in six legitimate emails never reaches the inbox.” In my years working with brands on both their marketing and their transactional email, I’ve watched a few badly chosen words sink an otherwise legitimate message. The subject line is usually where it happens.
Spam trigger words are words and phrases that appear far more often in spam than in wanted mail. Filters learn that association from billions of messages. Stack enough of them into one email and the message scores higher on a spam scale. That’s when it gets diverted to junk. “They aren’t forbidden.” 400+ Spam Trigger Words by Category
What Are Spam Trigger Words? “Stack enough of them into one email and the message scores higher on a spam scale.” They aren’t forbidden. They’re correlated with spam, which is a weaker and more useful thing to know.
“Average inbox placement sits at 83.1%, and the gap between providers is wide.” In my years working with brands on both their marketing and their transactional email, I’ve watched a few badly chosen words sink an otherwise legitimate message. The subject line is usually where it happens.
Test the subject line separately. Subject text is scored as part of the body by most filters, and it carries more weight per word. If you cut spam words from one place, cut them here. “That’s the only test that reflects reputation, and reputation outweighs wording.” What Matters More Than Word Choice
Marketing and spam-adjacent jargon (30) “Talking about email mechanics inside the email is itself a signal.” opt in click here click below click to remove remove me this isn't spam this is not spam not spam not junk bulk email direct email mass email mailing list multi level marketing mlm network marketing marketing solutions join millions join our list one time mailing sales driven leads undisclosed recipient member dear subscriber per week per month increase your sales form opt out
SpamAssassin scores rules, not vocabulary. Apache SpamAssassin runs a message through hundreds of rules and adds up the score. Body rules are regular expressions, and most individual matches carry a fraction of a point. What pushes a message over the threshold is density and combination. “Free!!” in the subject, plus “act now”, plus a link shortener, stack into a real score. Any one of them alone does not. “So the practical rule is about concentration.” Formatting Patterns That Trigger Filters
Text-to-image balance. An email that’s one large image has no text to score and looks evasive. “If messages are already landing in junk, work through why emails go to spam before rewriting copy.” Frequently Asked Questions
Word choice isn’t the only content signal. These patterns are scored too, and several outweigh any single word. “ALL CAPS subject lines” Multiple exclamation marks (!!!)
Read the report, not the score. A 7/10 caused by a missing DKIM signature needs a completely different fix than a 7/10 caused by subject-line wording. The score alone won’t tell you which. “Test the subject line separately.” Send yourself a real copy. Seed a Gmail, Outlook and Yahoo address and look at where the message lands. That’s the only test that reflects reputation, and reputation outweighs wording.