question How to avoid being spam filtered? Email Marketing

[Richard Barlotti]

Hi,
I made 2 emails.
name[at]mywebsite.com
name[at]mywebsite2.com
Sent messages to my gmail as a test.
Content and title was same for both.
Second I received as normal.
First (my company email) is sent directly to spam.
All is same except email address.
I also tried different content and title ,but no difference.
First is spam ,but second not.
Why?

How to avoid being spam filtered?

Are there any good tips to avoid being flagged as spammer?
What is the most important content that spam filters don't like?
And what kind of content people don't like?

So far I know "Unsubscribe" link is good option.

 

[Ted.T]

It is possible that your first domain has been used in the past for sending spam. Here is a good article about spam lists and how to check them, http://www.pinpointe.com/blog/how-do-i-know-if-im-on-a-spam-blacklist

 

[Richard Barlotti]

It is possible that your first domain has been used in the past for sending spam. Here is a good article about spam lists and how to check them, http://www.pinpointe.com/blog/how-do-i-know-if-im-on-a-spam-blacklist

I'm pretty sure domain is not problem.
It is more likely that my websites shared server IP is blacklisted.
Can be possible?

 

[Ted.T]

If both sites are on the same server, and only one gets in the spam folder, I don't think the IP is blacklisted. But this shouldn't stop you from checking.

 

[deez007]

I'm pretty sure domain is not problem.
It is more likely that my websites shared server IP is blacklisted.
Can be possible?

Yes, this is very possible with shared hosting. Another user account on the shared server could have been spamming causing the IP range to be blacklisted.

 

[Hypersot]

I'm pretty sure domain is not problem.
It is more likely that my websites shared server IP is blacklisted.
Can be possible?

I occasionally experience the same problem since you never know what others do with the shared IP... those are the problems of sharing hosting I'm afraid.

What I usually do is, I check regularly my email domain here:
https://www.spamhaus.org/query/domain/
and here:
http://www.blacklistalert.org/

..and if I find any mentions I immediately let my hosting provider know so they can clear said IP or avoid my domain using that IP

 

[Richard Barlotti]

If both sites are on the same server, and only one gets in the spam folder, I don't think the IP is blacklisted. But this shouldn't stop you from checking.

I think my sites are on different servers, because I have different GD hosting plans and have different IPs.
My idea was - maybe someone else who hosted domain on same shared server used it for spamming.
Maybe I'm wrong I'm not an expert.

And thank you for link, I will check it!

 

[Richard Barlotti]

What I usually do is, I check regularly my email domain here:
https://www.spamhaus.org/query/domain/
and here:
http://www.blacklistalert.org/

Thank you!
I appreciate your help!

I checked both domain and server IP.
And everything is OK

Wonder what is the problem then.
Any other theory?

 

[adsorbable]

Honestly you're not going to find out too many actual answers unless you have direct access to the logs.

The main reasons why messages are sent to spam:

- The server IP is blacklisted. This can often happen due to hosted email providers not restricting their outbound traffic too much. How do you fix this? Go with a provider that provides outbound filtering as well to keep their IPs clean

- Your domain has been blacklisted. How do you fix this? You honestly don't unless you're ready to either wait until the domain is dropped from the list, OR you start sending de-list request to all blacklist that you're flagged on

- Your SPF record is incorrect. If your domains SPF record is incorrect / not available then it can cause spam filters to see you as invalid / spam and they will flag you. How do you fix this? Make sure that you add a SPF record to your domain and don't use the hard fail option

- Your outbound email does not include a opt out link. How do you fix this? Provide a opt out link in your signature. This will not only prevent you from being flagged as spam, but you're also required by ICANN regulations to add it for outbound marketing.

 

[Richard Barlotti]

Thank you! @adsorbable
I added SPF txt record immediately after reading.
Have to wait for a little. I hope this will work.

So far...
I made another email and tested again
Sent about 50 mails to 2 of my gmails
original 100% massage contains - domains, prices, and even some links and logo pictures
0-100% symbolizes how much content I have to remove to deliver email - not marked as spam

email1 - all to spam (my company name - never used before) Blacklist OK (domain,IP)
email3 - 70% content removed (random domain) Blacklist OK (domain,IP)
email2 - 0% content removed (adult domain) Blacklist OK (domain,IP)

Adult domain won!
100% delivery rate!

Not so happy about it, lol

I really want to use my company name, it looks professional.

 

[Richard Barlotti]

Looks like adding SPF text dot work
Made another test.
email4 - 70% content removed to deliver mail not as spam (random domain)
all emails have different domain and different hosting - server IP (not blacklisted)

I want to move my company domain,website (email1) to adult domain server (email2) - 100% no spam delivery rate
Can this fix this problem?

and..
If I use my company name (email1) as it is now for contact forms, my mail will still be delivered as spam?

 

[Domain Monk]

What is SPF text how to add it?

 

[Richard Barlotti]

What is SPF text how to add it?

It looks like it is your server ip
You can add it in your domain email DNS as txt
"v=spf1 a mx ip4:xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx -all"

https://mediatemple.net/community/products/dv/204404314/how-can-i-create-an-spf-record-for-my-domain

I am not an expert.
Can someone explain more?

 

[Domain Monk]

Did it help

 

[Richard Barlotti]

Did it help

No, maybe because I had some weird sh*t over there. - Godaddy
I tried to add SPF to my Company Domain Email
In DNS title it was correct domain.
But when I added email SPF record to it....
In SPF txt window Adult Domain was there instead
Weird...

Can someone explain this?

 

[Richard Barlotti]

Weird...

Can someone explain this?

Did it again.
No nothing weird this time
Maybe TXT I added is not correct.
Host: @
TXT: v=spf1 a mx ip4:xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx -all

xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx - my server IP

(v=spf1 a mx ip4:xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx -all) or (v=spf1 a mx ip4:xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx ~all) ????
(v=spf1 a mx ip4:xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx. -all) or (v=spf1 a mx ip4:xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx. ~all) ????

experts please?

 

[Kate]

In the SPF you indicate which mailservers are explicitly allowed to send mail for the domain name, and usually you specify that any other host is disallowed.
In addition to SPF you can set up DKIM to add a layer of trust, but quite frankly, soliciting for domains often looks like SEO spam and fits the pattern of spam.

I would also look at the mail headers for the messages received, as some mail servers add a breakdown of the spam score (how it's been computed). For example sending HTML E-mail with externally linked images is going to increase the score.
Certain words, generic/cookie-cutter sentences, unpersonalized messages may also increase the score.

Mail delivery is a science unto itself, that's why companies specialize in this.

 

[Richard Barlotti]

I think I found problem.
My company domain contains one good word but it has bad spam reputation.

Ridiculous