saleslabx.com Open in urlscan Pro
35.203.130.16  Public Scan

Submitted URL: https://www2.saleslabx.com/e/722833/-the-spam-folder--medium-email/2yby91/839143558?h=QYOC2sdsSM9NTx1hXuE_4b5TtjB_GmZaMdSi-...
Effective URL: https://saleslabx.com/resources/how-to-avoid-getting-caught-in-the-spam-folder/?medium=email
Submission: On March 16 via manual from US — Scanned from DE

Form analysis 1 forms found in the DOM

<form id="mktoForm_3288" class="mktoForm mktoHasWidth mktoLayoutLeft" novalidate="novalidate">
  <div class="mktoFormRow">
    <div class="mktoFieldDescriptor mktoFormCol">
      <div class="mktoFieldWrap mktoRequiredField mktoHider"></div>
    </div>
  </div>
</form>

Text Content

 * Pardot
 * Salesforce
 * Pricing
 * Resources
 * Company
   * Reach Us
   * Latest Case Study
   * Careers

Menu
 * Pardot
 * Salesforce
 * Pricing
 * Resources
 * Company
   * Reach Us
   * Latest Case Study
   * Careers

Get a Demo
 * Pardot
 * Salesforce
 * Pricing
 * Resources
 * Company
   * Reach Us
   * Latest Case Study
   * Careers

Menu
 * Pardot
 * Salesforce
 * Pricing
 * Resources
 * Company
   * Reach Us
   * Latest Case Study
   * Careers

Get a Demo


HOW TO AVOID GETTING CAUGHT IN THE SPAM FOLDER




YOU’VE GOT YOUR EMAILS ALL READY TO GO. YOU’VE GOT THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF CONTENT
TO PULL YOUR READERS IN, ALL YOUR IMAGES ARE LOADING RIGHT, AND YOU CAN’T WAIT
TO REACH ALL THOSE DELICIOUS PROSPECTS! YOU HAVE ALL YOUR DUCKS IN A ROW, AND
YOU’RE PROUD OF WHAT YOU’VE ACCOMPLISHED! SHOULD BE SMOOTH SAILING FROM HERE ON
OUT, RIGHT?


AS YOU MAY HAVE GUESSED, THE ANSWER IS, “NO.” EVEN WITH YOUR EMAILS LOOKING AND
FEELING EXCEPTIONAL, YOU’VE STILL GOT AN OBSTACLE THAT YOU NEED TO OVERCOME: THE
SPAM FILTER.


WE KNOW THE SPAM FILTER AS THAT THING THAT KEEPS ALL THE BAD EMAILS AWAY WHILE
LETTING ALL THE GOOD EMAILS HIT YOUR INBOX UNINHIBITED. IT’S THE LAST LINE OF
DEFENSE BETWEEN YOU AND THINGS LIKE SPAMMY ADVERTISEMENTS, PREDATORY CHAIN
LETTERS, AND PHISHING SCAMS. SURE, IT CAN HAVE ISSUES EVERY NOW AND THEN WHICH
CAN LEAD TO YOU NOT GETTING AN EBILL YOU WERE EXPECTING AND YOUR LIGHTS GOING
OUT AS A RESULT, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, AS TIME HAS GONE ON, THE SPAM FILTER
WORKS PRETTY WELL. IT LEARNS. IT’S ALWAYS WATCHING.


SO HOW CAN YOU MAKE SURE THAT YOUR BEAUTIFUL, PRECIOUS EMAIL BABY GETS TO YOUR
PROSPECTS WITHOUT BEING CAUGHT? AN EXCELLENT QUESTION, AND YOU’RE RIGHT TO ASK
IT. LET’S TAKE A LOOK!




HOW DO SPAM FILTERS WORK?


TO UNDERSTAND HOW YOU CAN BEST AVOID GETTING SNAGGED BY THE SPAM FILTER, YOU
NEED TO KNOW HOW THEY OPERATE. SPAM FILTERS USED TO WORK BY ANALYZING MESSAGES
FOR TRIGGER PHRASES LIKE,


“LOSE WEIGHT!” OR, “I MADE $3,000 WORKING FOR 3 HOURS!”, AND THEN BANISHING SUCH
MESSAGES TO THE SHADOW ZONE, BUT SPAM FILTERS ARE FAR MORE ADVANCED NOW. THESE
DAYS, YOUR EMAIL PROVIDERS WILL DETERMINE WHERE YOUR EMAIL GOES BASED ON PAST
INTERACTIONS WITH YOUR RECIPIENTS. IF THE PEOPLE RECEIVING YOUR EMAIL ARE
OPENING IT, REPLYING TO IT, TELLING THEIR INBOX THAT WHAT YOU SENT ISN’T JUNK,
OR MOVING YOUR MESSAGE TO A FOLDER THAT’S NOT SPAM, THEN IT REFLECTS WELL ON YOU
AS THE SENDER. THE PROVIDER TAKES NOTE OF THOSE TINY MOVES, AND IS THEN BETTER
ABLE TO DETERMINE IF IT SHOULD ALLOW YOUR MESSAGES TO BE SENT AND DELIVERED
WITHOUT RESTRICTION. IF PEOPLE ARE MARKING YOUR MESSAGES AS SPAM, OR THEY’RE
DELETING THEM WITHOUT OPENING THEM, THEN YOU HAVE SOME ISSUES. IF YOUR EMAILS
ARE GETTING BLACKLISTED FOR THESE OR OTHER REASONS, THEN WHAT CAN YOU DO?




LET THEM CONTROL THEIR EXPERIENCE


YOU DON’T WANT PEOPLE DELETING YOUR EMAILS WITHOUT READING THEM, AND YOU DON’T
WANT THEM MARKING YOUR MESSAGES AS SPAM, SO ONE EXTREMELY PROACTIVE STEP YOU CAN
TAKE IS TO PUT A

“manage preferences” link at the bottom of your emails so your prospects will be
able to opt-out of some of your messaging, or just reduce the frequency. You’ll
notice that many of the emails you receive on a daily basis simply have an
“unsubscribe button,” but we wouldn’t advise going that route. If you want more
information as to why, you can read the article we wrote about it right here.


IF YOU GIVE YOUR PROSPECTS THE ABILITY TO ADJUST SETTINGS RATHER THAN
UNIVERSALLY OPT-OUT, THEY’LL BE MUCH LESS LIKELY TO TAKE THE NEGATIVE ACTIONS
THAT CAN TRIGGER A PROVIDER’S SPAM FILTER.


IF THEY CAN PICK WHAT KINDS OF EMAILS THEY GET, AND WHEN THEY GET THEM, THEN IT
ALLOWS THEM TO SET THEIR OWN EXPECTATIONS. IF THEY’RE THE ONES DECIDING THE
TERMS OF YOUR EMAIL MARKETING, THEN THEY’RE GOING TO OPEN MORE MESSAGES AND THEY
WON’T FEEL AS OVERWHELMED.




USE YOUR OWN ORGANIC LISTS


MANY EMAIL MARKETERS HAVE MADE THE MISTAKE OF BUYING LISTS, RENTING THEM (YES,
THAT’S A THING), AND OTHERWISE OBTAINING THEM BY LESS-THAN-SAVORY MEANS. AT FACE
VALUE, IT CAN SEEM


LIKE A GOOD MOVE! YOU CUT YOUR PREP TIME DOWN AND GET STRAIGHT TO THE GOOD
STUFF! HOWEVER, THIS COULD NOT BE A WORSE DECISION. YOU REALLY DON’T HAVE ANY
WAY OF KNOWING THE STATUS OF THE EMAIL ADDRESSES ON THAT LIST, SO IF THEY’RE
INACTIVE AND START BOUNCING BACK TO YOU, IT THROWS UP FLAGS WITH PROVIDERS.
IT’LL ALSO SEND YOUR OPEN RATES RIGHT DOWN THE TOILET, AND YOU NEED THOSE TO BE
UP. NEVERMIND THAT WHAT YOU’RE DOING COULD ALSO BE LEGALLY ACTIONABLE. SENDING
CAMPAIGNS TO PEOPLE WHO HAVEN’T OPTED IN IS CONSIDERED A VIOLATION OF PRIVACY,
AND SPAM LAWS PREVENT THE TRANSFER OF EMAIL ADDRESSES TO OTHER LISTS. BAD NEWS
ALL AROUND.


DON’T BE SHADY. THAT’S THE MAIN TAKEAWAY. YOU HAVE A GOOD PRODUCT, AND PEOPLE
WILL WANT TO HEAR ABOUT IT. DON’T TAKE THE SHORTCUTS THAT CAN CRIPPLE YOUR
BUSINESS BEFORE IT EVEN GETS GOING.




KEEP YOUR LISTS CURRENT


REMEMBER WHEN WE SAID THAT EMAILS BOUNCING BACK IS A BIG OL’ NO NO? WELL THAT
CAN HAPPEN EVEN IF YOU DON’T BUY AN EMAIL LIST FROM A SHADY GUY NAMED “T-REX” IN
THE PARKING LOT OF


A GAS STATION. IF YOU AREN’T MONITORING YOUR EMAIL LISTS AND KEEPING THEM
UP-TO-DATE, YOU RUN THE RISK OF SOME OF THE ADDRESSES GOING INACTIVE. PEOPLE
CHANGE EMAIL ADDRESSES ALL THE TIME FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS: NEW JOB, THEY WERE
HACKED, THEY GOT MARRIED AND WANTED THEIR ADDRESS TO REFLECT THEIR NEW NAME, THE
LIST GOES ON AND ON. YOU DON’T HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IT, YOU JUST HAVE TO RESPECT
IT.


THE FACT IS, THE MORE YOU SEND TO THESE INACTIVE EMAIL ADDRESSES, THE MORE THE
PROVIDERS NOTICE. THE GOAL, IF YOU RECALL, IS TO NOT BE NOTICED IN THIS WAY. THE
SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM IS SIMPLE: BE AWARE OF THE EMAILS THAT BOUNCE BACK
SAYING THAT YOUR DELIVERY FAILED, AND REMOVE THOSE EMAIL ADDRESSES FROM YOUR
LIST. THIS PROCESS IS EVEN AUTOMATED IN PARDOT, WHERE THOSE BOUNCE BACKS ARE
SUPPRESSED AUTOMATICALLY AND DECLARED “UNDELIVERABLE” WITHOUT YOU HAVING TO LIFT
A FINGER. NOW, WHEN IT COMES TO SOFT BOUNCES (UNDELIVERABLE DUE TO FULL INBOXES
OR SERVER ISSUES), THE MESSAGE CAN BE SENT AT A LATER TIME WITH PRESUMABLY MORE
SUCCESS, BUT IF IT BOUNCES BACK FIVE TIMES, PARDOT WILL MARK IT “UNDELIVERABLE”,
AND PREVENT YOUR MESSAGES FROM GOING TO THAT RECIPIENT.


AS FOR YOUR INACTIVE PROSPECTS, THEY’RE AFFECTING YOUR OPEN RATES AS WELL. EVEN
IF THE ADDRESSES ARE STILL ACTIVE, THEIR CHOOSING NOT TO OPEN YOUR MESSAGING
DOES REGISTER WITH THE PROVIDER. SO IT PAYS TO KNOW WHEN TO SAY GOODBYE.


FOR PROSPECTS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD THAT HASN'T BEEN ACTIVE IN 3-6 MONTHS,
CONSIDER CRAFTING A NURTURING PROGRAM TO BRING THEM BACK IN. JUST A SERIES OF
2-3 EMAILS AND TRY TO GET THEM WITH A COMPELLING CTA. THERE’S NOTHING WRONG WITH
SAYING, “WE HAVEN’T HEARD FROM YOU IN A WHILE,” SO GIVE THAT A GO. YOU NEVER
KNOW WHAT YOU CAN STIR UP!


IF THE PROSPECTS ARE 1-2 YEARS OLD AND HAVE BEEN INACTIVE FOR 6 OR MORE MONTHS,
THEN CONSIDER SENDING A “PERMISSION PASS” EMAIL. THAT MESSAGE WOULD JUST BE A
ONE-OFF THAT ASKS THE PROSPECT DIRECTLY IF THEY STILL WANT TO RECEIVE EMAILS
FROM YOU. SIMPLE AND DIRECT. IF THEY DON’T WANT TO, THEN IT’S ONE LESS PROSPECT
THROWING UP FLAGS TO THE PROVIDER. IF THEY DO, THAT MESSAGE MAY REKINDLE THEIR
INTEREST!


FINALLY, IF THE PROSPECT IS OVER 18 MONTHS OLD, AND HAS BEEN INACTIVE FOR A
YEAR, IT’S TIME TO LET THAT ONE GO. THROW THAT FISH BACK. CUT YOUR LOSSES. JUST
REMOVE THEM FROM YOUR LISTS. IF THEY’RE INTERESTED IN WHAT YOU HAVE TO OFFER
LATER ON, THEY CAN ALWAYS SIGN UP AGAIN. IT’S YOUR JOB TO FOCUS ON THE PEOPLE
THAT SHOW GENUINE INTEREST.


THAT’S BASICALLY IT. KEEP A CLEAN LIST, AND AS FAR AS TRIGGERING THE SPAM FILTER
GOES, IT’S ONE LESS THING TO WORRY ABOUT.




ASK YOUR PROSPECTS TO LET YOU IN


COMPARING YOUR BUSINESS TO A VAMPIRE ISN’T SOMETHING A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS WILL
DO, BUT IF IT HASN’T BEEN MADE CLEAR, WE ARE NOT LIKE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.

Sometimes the best step you can take is to simply ask to be let in like a
vampire.


IN FOLKLORE, A VAMPIRE CANNOT ENTER A HOME UNLESS IT RECEIVES A VERBAL
INVITATION. THEY OFTEN GET THAT BY JUST… ASKING. WHEN A PROSPECT SIGNS UP TO
RECEIVE EMAILS FROM YOUR ORGANIZATION, CONSIDER SENDING A WELCOME EMAIL THAT
SAYS SOMETHING TO THE TUNE OF, “THANK YOU FOR SUBSCRIBING! TO MAKE SURE OUR
MESSAGES AREN’T SNAGGED BY YOUR SPAM FILTER, CONSIDER ADDING THIS EMAIL ADDRESS
TO YOUR ADDRESS BOOK! THAT WAY YOU KEEP GETTING ALL OF OUR IMPORTANT UPDATES!”


IT’S A SIMPLE WAY TO GET YOUR FOOT IN THE DOOR! IT’S TRANSPARENT, YOUR EMAIL
ADDRESS BEING ADDED TO THEIR ADDRESS BOOKS REFLECTS WELL WITH THE SERVICE
PROVIDER, AND YOU WON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT BEING MARKED AS SPAM UNLESS YOU
START ACTING LIKE A SPAMMER, WHICH LEADS TO OUR NEXT POINT…




DON’T ACT SPAMMY


ALL THE TIPS AND TRICKS IN THE WORLD WON’T HELP YOU IF YOU’RE JUST GONNA ACT
LIKE A SPAMMER ANYWAY. IF YOU’RE PUTTING OUT BAD EMAILS, THEN YOU’LL BE YOUR OWN
UNDOING.

You can do everything else right, and still find yourself in the junk folder, so
just make sure the content you’re sending out is necessary and wanted.
 * If you’re including links to a site that isn’t yours, you need to make sure
   that site is on the up-and-up. Shady sites can send up red flags.

 

 * Even if it’s not the primary means of spam identification anymore, those
   spammy trigger words like “cash”, “earn”, “free”, and even “this isn’t spam”
   can be harmful if used in tandem with other red flag behaviors.

 

 * Bad grammar, excessive punctuation (such as overusing exclamation points),
   and writing in all caps can mess with your deliverability as well. Keep it
   professional, and double check your work.

 

 * Don’t put too many images. It’s something providers do look at, so don’t feel
   like you need to fill that space with all kinds of graphics. Messages that
   are too big will have the same effect. Keep it reasonable. 


A GOOD WAY TO CHECK YOURSELF IS TO IMAGINE YOURSELF AS AN OUTSIDE ENTITY
RECEIVING YOUR EMAIL. WHAT WOULD YOU THINK OF IT? WOULD YOU DELETE IT OUTRIGHT?
ARE YOUR SUBJECT LINE AND PREHEADER TEXT A TURN-OFF? WHAT ABOUT ONCE IT’S
OPENED? TOO MANY IMAGES? DOES IT FEEL LIKE A SCAM TO YOU? GENUINELY STEP OUTSIDE
OF YOURSELF AND LOOK AT IT OBJECTIVELY. SUCH REFLECTION CAN TELL YOU A LOT.




THERE ARE PLENTY OF OTHER THINGS TO BE AWARE OF, INCLUDING A SIMPLE REVIEW OF
THE LAWS REGARDING SPAM. CAN-SPAM AND THE GDPR RULES CAN SEEM DAUNTING, BUT THEY
CAN BE UNDERSTOOD WITH A LITTLE EFFORT.


WE KNOW EMAIL MARKETING INSIDE AND OUT, AND WE SEND REGULARLY TO LISTS WITH
RECIPIENTS IN THE TENS OF THOUSANDS ON A DAILY BASIS. WE CAN RUN THROUGH ALL
THESE POINTS WITH YOU AND THEN SOME IF YOU’D LIKE HELP WORKING IT OUT. WE WANT
YOUR ORGANIZATION TO PERFORM THE BEST IT CAN. IT’S WHAT WE DO.


IF YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOUR EMAILS ARE GETTING THROUGH, SIGN UP FOR A FREE
DEMO WITH US TODAY. EMAIL MARKETING IS ONLY ONE OF OUR PASSIONS, AND WHO KNOWS?
MAYBE THIS WILL BE THAT FIRST STEP YOU TAKE THAT LEADS TO YOU LEAVING YOUR
COMPETITORS IN THE DUST! ONLY ONE WAY TO FIND OUT, RIGHT?

SHARE ARTICLE:

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin

NEED ASSISTANCE?

Fill out the form below and a Salesforce + Pardot expert will contact you for a
free walk-through.


POPULAR POSTS


HOW TO AVOID GETTING CAUGHT IN THE SPAM FOLDER


YOUR MARKETING DEPARTMENT MIGHT NOT BE ENOUGH


PREHEADER TEXT: WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW COULD COST YOU!


AUTOMATION IN PARDOT: THE ULTIMATE CHEAT SHEET


LET'S GET STARTED!

Get in touch with SalesLabX and start improving your Pardot+Salesforce
experience.


FRIENDLY PARDOT+SALESFORCE EXPERTS ARE READY TO ASSIST.



 * 600 Congress Ave. Austin, TX 78701
 * 1 (877) 278-8759
 * info@SalesLabX.com

 * Pardot
 * Resources
 * Case Study
 * Careers
 * Contact Us

Facebook-f Twitter Youtube Linkedin-in Instagram


SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER



© Copyright 2022 - SalesLabX. All Rights Reserved.
 * Privacy Policy

Notifications



 * MAR 22, 29 & APR 5, 12, 19, 26

 * ONLINE WEBINAR


PARDOT PRODIGY MASTERCLASS

LEARN MORE


×
We Value Your Privacy
Settings
NextRoll, Inc. ("NextRoll") and our advertising partners use cookies and similar
technologies on this site and use personal data (e.g., your IP address). If you
consent, the cookies, device identifiers, or other information can be stored or
accessed on your device for the purposes described below. You can click "Allow
All" or "Decline All" or click Settings above to customize your consent.
NextRoll and our advertising partners process personal data to: ● Store and/or
access information on a device; ● Create a personalized content profile; ●
Select personalised content; ● Personalized ads, ad measurement and audience
insights; ● Product development. For some of the purposes above, our advertising
partners: ● Use precise geolocation data. Some of our partners rely on their
legitimate business interests to process personal data. View our advertising
partners if you wish to provide or deny consent for specific partners, review
the purposes each partner believes they have a legitimate interest for, and
object to such processing.
If you select Decline All, you will still be able to view content on this site
and you will still receive advertising, but the advertising will not be tailored
for you. You may change your setting whenever you see the Manage consent
preferences on this site.
Decline All
Allow All
Manage consent preferences