About Spammy Keywords
In an age where spam filters are more vigilant than ever, it’s crucial to understand the “spammy keywords” and the importance of avoiding such words in your emails. In this article, we’ll explore why writing emails without spammy words matters and provide you with valuable tips on how to steer clear of them.
Why Avoid Spammy Words in Emails?
Enhanced Deliverability
Email service providers employ sophisticated algorithms to detect spammy content. Emails laden with spammy words are more likely to end up in recipients’ spam folders, diminishing the chances of your message being seen.
Preserve Credibility
The use of spammy words can erode trust with your audience, ISP’s, and Service Providers. Over time, increased bounces will associate spammy emails with unsolicited and untrustworthy content, stopping sender efforts in their tracks as they are permanently blacklisted by Global Block Lists.
Compliance with Regulations
Many countries have stringent regulations governing email marketing. Failure to comply can result in hefty fines, especially when doing business in and with GDPR participating nations. By avoiding spammy words, you reduce the risk of falling afoul of these regulations.
Improved Open Rates
Clean, relevant emails are more likely to pique recipients’ interest, leading to higher open rates. Avoiding spammy words contributes to more engaging and reader-friendly content. Email recipients have time to process and study the words senders are writing. The high-stress language used for in-person or over-the-phone sales should be avoided. Replace this with transparency and value.
Tips to Write Emails without Spammy Words
Focus on Value
The primary goal of your email should be to provide value to the recipient. Instead of making grandiose claims, highlight the benefits of your product or service in a straightforward manner. Discuss prior results.
Tip: When writing a foot-in-the-door email, focus on yourself for 20% of the email, and write the other 80% about the recipient.
Example: “I took a look at your company and noticed y’all won second place in last year’s top contractor in Chicago award. My firm handles marketing and advertising for the winners of first place. We were really impressed with what we saw and honestly, I thought you all won. I would love to have a quick chat about your plans before next year’s award. Do you have time this week?”
Choose Your Words Wisely
Replace spammy words with more specific and descriptive alternatives. For instance, instead of “guaranteed results,” you can say “proven history of results as shown by our 4.5 star average on Google.”
Mind the Subject Line
The subject line is the first thing recipients see. Avoid using sensational or spammy language in subject lines to increase the chances of your email being opened.
Avoid All Caps
Writing in all capital letters is a classic spammy tactic. Use proper sentence case and capitalize words only where necessary.
Personalize Content
Tailor your emails to the recipient’s interests and needs. Personalized emails are less likely to be perceived as spammy.
Use Trusted Sources
Include references, statistics, and endorsements from reputable sources to substantiate your claims and build credibility.
Test Your Emails
Before sending, use email testing tools to identify and rectify any potential issues that could trigger spam filters.
Comply with Regulations
Familiarize yourself with email marketing regulations in your region and adhere to them. Include a clear and easy-to-find unsubscribe option to ensure compliance.
Avoid Overuse of Symbols & Emojis
Excessive use of symbols, like exclamation marks or dollar signs, can trigger spam filters. Use them sparingly and only when necessary.
Tip: 📨 👋 Using Emojis in the subject line is an interesting method that senders with GOOD reputations can use sparingly to increase engagement.
Example: “💳 🗲Electric Bill is Past due! Urgent Payment or Risk Account Shutdown!”
Spammy Keyword Dictionary
500 words & phrases universally considered “spammy”.
Words considered “spammy keywords” are extensive and continually evolving as spammers adapt their tactics and email filtering algorithms get smarter in reaction. Here are some common spammy words and phrases that have historically been associated with spam emails:
- Free
- Win
- Congratulations
- Prize
- Guaranteed
- Act now
- Click here
- Urgent
- Limited time offer
- Discount
- Special promotion
- Save big money
- 100% free
- Money-back guarantee
- No catch
- No hidden costs
- Risk-free
- Buy direct
- Once-in-a-lifetime
- Call now
- Opportunity
- Double your income
- Multi-level marketing
- Extra income
- You’re a winner
- Get out of debt
- As seen on
- Reverses aging
- Free investment
- Hidden
- Cash bonus
- Credit card offers
- Compare rates
- Fast cash
- Earn extra cash
- Avoid bankruptcy
- Remove bad credit
- Lowest price
- Mortgage rates
- Special promotion
- Work from home
- Miracle
- No obligation
- Get paid
- Save up to
- Join millions
- Lose weight
- Dear friend
- Free gift
- Be your own boss
- No purchase necessary
- Social security number
- Extra income
- Incredible deal
- Free access
- Meet singles
- Free consultation
- Free membership
- No strings attached
- Reverses aging
- Risk-free
- Viagra
- Cialis
- Prescription
- Valium
- Xanax
- Weight loss
- Discount
- Replica
- Million dollars
- Guarantee
- Get started now
- Hidden
- Income from home
- Join millions
- Laser printer
- Luxury car
- Meet singles
- Mortgage
- No cost
- No credit check
- No fees
- No gimmick
- No hidden costs
- No interest
- No investment
- No obligation
- No purchase necessary
- No questions asked
- No strings attached
- Once in a lifetime
- One hundred percent free
- Please read
- Potential earnings
- Prizes
- Pure profits
- Risk-free
- Satisfaction
- Save big money
- Special promotion
- Act immediately
- Get paid for
- Amazing stuff
- Don’t delete
- Hidden charges
- Human growth hormone
- Increase sales
- Increase traffic
- Increase your sales
- Internet marketing
- Mass email
- Money-back
- No cost
- No fees
- No hidden
- No hidden fees
- No interest
- No-obligation
- One time
- Order now
- Pennies a day
- Please read
- Sale
- Save big money
- Save up to
- The following form
- This isn’t a scam
- This isn’t a scam
- This isn’t junk
- This isn’t spam
- Undisclosed
- Unsecured credit
- Urgent
- Winner
- Winning
- Accept credit cards
- Additional income
- Affordable
- All natural
- Apply now
- Apply online
- Be amazed
- Beneficiary
- Billing
- Billion
- Bonus
- Boss
- Brand new pager
- Bulk email
- Buy direct
- Buying judgments
- Cancel at any time
- Cards accepted
- Cash
- Cash bonus
- Casino
- Cell phone cancer scam
- Certified
- Check or money order
- Cents on the dollar
- Congratulations
- Consolidate debt and credit
- Consolidation
- Copy accurately
- Copy DVDs
- Credit bureaus
- Credit card offers
- Credit card debt
- Cure
- Dear friend
- Direct email
- Direct marketing
- Direct marketing
- Double your cash
- Double your income
- Double your income
- Earn extra cash
- Earn per week
- Earn per month
- Easy terms
- Eliminate bad credit
- Eliminate debt
- Email harvest
- Email marketing
- Extra income
- Expect to earn
- Expire
- Fantastic
- Fantastic deal
- Fast cash
- Financial freedom
- For instant
- For just $ (some amount)
- Free
- Free access
- Free consultation
- Free gift
- Free hosting
- Free investment
- Free membership
- Free money
- Free offer
- Free preview
- Free trial
- Free website
- Full refund
- Get it now
- Get paid
- Get started now
- Gift certificate
- Great offer
- Guarantee
- Have you been turned down?
- Increase sales
- Increase traffic
- Increase your sales
- Incredible deal
- Info you requested
- Information you requested
- Instant
- Insurance
- Internet marketing
- Investment
- Life insurance
- Lifetime
- Limited time
- Limited time offer
- Loans
- Lose weight
- Lose weight spam
- Lowest price
- Luxury car
- Marketing
- Mass email
- Meet singles
- Meet women
- Member
- Member stuff
- Million dollars
- Money
- Money back
- Money-making
- Month trial offer
- Mortgage rates
- Multi-level marketing
- No age restrictions
- No catch
- No cost
- No credit check
- No fees
- No gimmick
- No hidden costs
- No hidden fees
- No interest
- No investment
- No obligation
- No purchase necessary
- No questions asked
- No strings attached
- Not spam
- Off shore
- One time
- Online degree
- Online marketing
- Online pharmacy
- Online trading
- Opportunity
- Order now
- Order shipped by
- Order status
- Orders shipped by
- Outstanding values
- Pennies a day
- People just leave money laying around
- Potential earnings
- Pre
- Prescription
- Price
- Print form signature
- Print out and fax
- Profits
- Promise
- Pure profit
- Quote
- Rates
- Real thing
- Refinance
- Removes
- Removes wrinkles
- Request
- Requires initial investment
- Reserves the right
- Reverses
- Reverses aging
- Risk-free
- Rolexes
- Sale
- Sample
- Satisfaction
- Save big money
- Save up to
- Score
- Section 301
- See for yourself
- Sent in compliance
- Serious cash
- Shopping spree
- Sign up free today
- Social security number
- Solution
- Spam
- Special deal
- Special discount
- Stop or stops
- Strong buy
- Stuff on sale
- Subject to credit
- Subscribe
- Success
- Supplies
- Take action now
- Talks about hidden charges
- Teen
- Thousands
- Time-limited
- Unsecured credit
- Unsecured debt
- Unsolicited
- Urgent
- US dollars
- Valium
- Vicodin
- Viagra
- Warranty
- Weight loss
- While supplies last
- Will not believe your eyes
- Winner
- Winning
- Work from home
- You have been selected
- You’re a winner!
- Your income
- Additional income
- Be your own boss
- Big bucks
- Bill 1618
- Billion dollars
- Brand new pager
- Bulk email
- Buy direct
- Cancel at any time
- Cards accepted
- Cash
- Casino
- Cease and desist
- Cents on the dollar
- Congratulations
- Consolidate debt and credit
- Consolidation
- Copy accurately
- Copy DVDs
- Credit bureaus
- Dig up dirt on friends
- Direct email
- Direct marketing
- Direct marketing
- Direct response
- Double your cash
- Double your income
- Earn extra cash
- Earn extra income
- Earn money
- Earn per week
- Earn six figures
- Eliminate bad credit
- Eliminate debt
- Email marketing
- Extra income
- Expect to earn
- Fast cash
- Financial freedom
- Free access
- Free consultation
- Free gift
- Free hosting
- Free info
- Free investment
- Free membership
- Free money
- Free offer
- Free preview
- Free quote
- Free trial
- Free website
- Freedom
- Full refund
- Get out of debt
- Get paid
- Get started now
- Gift certificate
- Great offer
- Guarantee
- Have you been turned down?
- Hidden assets
- Hidden charges
- Home
- Human growth hormone
- Increase sales
- Increase traffic
- Increase your sales
- Incredible deal
- Info you requested
- Information you requested
- Internet marketing
- Investment
- Join millions
- Laser printer
- Limited time
- Long distance phone offer
- Lose weight
- Lose weight spam
- Lower interest rate
- Lower rates
- Lowest price
- Make money
- Marketing
- Mass email
- Meet singles
- Member
- Miracle
- MLM
- Mortgage
- Multi-level marketing
- No cost
- No credit check
- No fees
- No gimmick
- No hidden
- No hidden costs
- No hidden fees
- No interest
- No investment
- No obligation
- No purchase necessary
- No questions asked
- No strings attached
- Not spam
- Offer
- One time
- Opportunity
- Order now
- Order shipped by
- Orders shipped by
- Outperforms
- Outstanding values
- Passwords
- Pennies a day
- Potential earnings
- Print form signature
- Print out and fax
- Pure profit
- Quote
- Rates
- Real thing
- Refinance
- Removes
- Removes wrinkles
- Reverses
- Reverses aging
- Rolle/xes
- Round the clock
- Satisfaction
- Save big money
- Save up to
- Search engine listings
- Serious cash
- Social security number
- Stock alert
- Stock disclaimer statement
- Stock pick
- Stop or stops
- Strong buy
- Stuff on sale
- Subject to credit
- The best rates
- They keep your money
- This isn’t a scam
- This isn’t a scam
- This isn’t junk
- This isn’t spam
- Undisclosed
- Unsecured credit
- Unsecured debt
- Unsolicited
- Urgent
- US dollars
- Valium
- Vicodin
- Viagra
Remember that using these keywords in your emails can negatively impact your email deliverability and sender reputation. Always aim to provide valuable and relevant content to your email recipients.
Keep in mind that this list is not exhaustive, and spammy words and phrases can vary depending on the context and content of your email. Additionally, modern email filtering systems use complex algorithms that consider various factors beyond just specific words, such as email sender reputation, email formatting, and user engagement.
As your sender reputation improves, so does your tolerance for using potentially spammy keywords in your emails without triggering spam filters.
Questions? Book a consultation with us and let’s talk Deliverability!
The Average Inbox delivery rate is 95%.