215 Stop Words That Can Cause Your Email to Go to Spam

What Spam Filters Look At

Stop words aren't the only thing that spam filters analyze. They also look at:

• Domain reputation and IP — how long ago the domain was registered, whether there is a website on it, how many emails were sent, whether subscribers complained about spam.
• Authentication settings: whether the domain has SPF and DKIM.
• DMARC is a technology that tells you what to do with an email that fails SPF and DKIM verification.
• Individual settings of spam filters — users can choose who to receive mail from and who to send to spam.
• The content of the email — whether the text and HTML versions of the email are the same, whether the links work, how often the fonts change, and whether there are any forbidden elements in the template (JavaScript, Flash). Messages with frequent font changes, colorful inserts, Caps Lock, and millions of exclamation points are often sent to spam. The algorithm also evaluates the text of the email, layout, and design features.

Stop words refer to the last point — the content of emails.

What words to avoid in emails

An email doesn't necessarily end up in spam if it contains a stop word. Email filters take into account not only individual words, but also the context in which they are used. However, each such word or phrase can add a few points to the overall spam score.

Use these words and phrases with caution.

Employment

• No experience.
• Earn (cash, extra income, from home, money).
• Earn (monthly, monthly, weekly).
• Income (additional income, instant income).
• Easy earnings.
• Simple conditions.
• Boost your business.
• Financial Freedom (Independence)
• Guaranteed income.
• No age limits.
• No experience.
• Per day (per week, per year)
• You're your own boss.
• Business from home (work from home).
• No cost.
• Dollars.
• A few bucks.
• Your income (your chance).
• MLM (Multi-Level Marketing).
• You are your own boss/boss/manager.
• Start your own business.
• Work from home.
• Freelance.
• Earnings.

Finance

• $$$.
• Loan.
• Available.
• Deals (good deal).
• Recipients.
• Cheap.
• Rates.
• Cash.
• Money (Money Back, Money Back Guarantee).
• Crypt.
• Cryptocurrency.
• Revenues.
• Lowest price.
• Commission.
• Refunds.
• Credit Bureau.
• Savings.
• Why pay more.
• Credit cards.
• No capital investment.
• Share.
• Deposits.
• Bankruptcy.
• Credit.
• Creditor.
• Collector.
• Debit/credit.
• Payments.
• Interest rates.
• Debts.
• Minimum payment.
• Refinancing.
• Accept cash/cards.
• Bad credit.
• No cost.
• Casino.
• Chance.
• Sale.
• Compare (Compare Now, Compare Online, Compare Prices).
• Double [anything].
• Earn $.
• Simple conditions.
• Lottery.
• Profitable.
• Save/Save Money/Save Big Savings.
• Risk-free.
• Net profit.
• Affordable price.
• No commissions (hidden conditions, interest).

General

• 100%.
• One hundred percent.
• Zero percent.
• Credit cards.
• Millions, millionaire.
• Billions, billionaire.
• Thousand.
• Hidden.
• Progress.
• You'll be surprised.
• Can we take a minute of your time?
• Can you help us?
• It is impossible to live without....
• Dear (email address, name, variable, name error).
• Important Information/Notice.
• The message contains a disclaimer.
• Problem/Problem with your order.
• What are you waiting for?
• What's holding you back?
• As long as it's available (while it's in stock, while promotions last).
• If you don't want to receive anymore.
• Password.
• The order has been shipped.
• Order status.

Marketing

• Novelty.
• Advertisement.
• Increased traffic.
• Sale.
• Discounts.
• Markets.
• Not spam.
• Not a scam.
• Not intended.
• Not cheating.
• Buy.
• Sale.
• Lamborghini, Rolex.
• Amazing.
• Expires today.
• For new customers only.
• A well-known brand.
• Celebrity.
• Success.
• Products on sale.
• Great promotion.
• You won't believe your eyes.
• VIP.
• One-time mailing.
• Form.
• Sending.

Health

• Diagnostics.
• Viagra.
• Valium.
• Xanax.
• Vicodin.
• Snoring (stop snoring, stops snoring).
• Medication (cheap medicines).
• Food additive.
• Cure.
• Lose weight.
• Slimming.
• Alopecia.
• Instant weight loss.
• Diet.
• COVID.
• Certificated.
• All-natural.
• BAD.
• Food additive.

Sentences

• Urgently.
• Quickly.
• Right away.
• That's perfect.
• Condition.
• Increase sales (traffic).
• Offer.
• The best offer.
• A unique offer.
• The offer is limited.
• Exclusive offer.
• Special offer.
• Amazing offer.
• Limited offer.
• Hot offer.
• Guaranteed.
• Profit.
• Warranty.
• No obligation.
• No investment.
• No cost.
• The last day.
• Lifetime access.
• Vacation.
• Offer for a trial month.
• Special discount.
• Especially for you.
• Unlimited trial period.
• Trial.
• Take action (act immediately, now, action is required).
• Get the best price.
• Expires today (offer expires).
• Become a member of the community.

Prizes

• Condition.
• Term.
• Victory.
• Winner.
• Winnings.
• Draws.
• Contests.
• Prize.
• Luxury.
• Bonus.
• Win big.
• You've been selected/selected.
• Handing it out.
• We give it away.

Gratis

• Free access.
• Free installation.
• Free websites.
• Free consultations.
• Toll free.
• Subscribe for free.
• Free hosting (domains).
• Free newsletter.
• Free materials.
• In vain.

Call to action

• Eliminate.
• Call.
• Open.
• Click here.
• Faster!
• Compare.
• Save.
• Print.
• Sign up.
• Act now.
• Only today.
• Get it now.
• Get started now.
• Read.
• Don't hesitate.
• Right now.
• Do not remove.
• Join.
• Stop.
• Go to the website.
• Stop calling me (sending me emails).
• Order now.
• Get (now, today, money).
• Don't waste your time.
• Cancel (need to cancel).
• Call now!
• Buy now.
• Apply here, (apply now!).
• Get access now.

How to check your spam campaign yourself

To do this, simply read the letter several times and answer a few questions:

• Do your words create a sense of urgency or pressure? According to statistics, urgency in email subject lines increases the number of opens by an average of 22%, but phrase patterns like "start now" and "go faster" play the role of red flags for spam filters. Especially if there are a lot of such words.
• Do you exaggerate the statements in the letter? Check if you're being too aggressive about a new job or your new product. Put yourself in the user's shoes and think about whether you would perceive such information as deceptive.
• Do you mention money? Spam filters don't like to mention dollars, rubles, euros, and everything related to money.
• Does your email sound natural? An email becomes unnatural if it uses phrases like "dear friend", "no hidden fees", etc. Email systems perceive such messages as spam and they rarely reach the recipient.

Where to test your newsletter

To reduce the chance of being sent to spam, test each email before sending it in bulk. The easiest and cheapest way to test is to create a separate list with addresses on different email services. We will send a test to these mailboxes before mass mailing to the entire database. The test does not always coincide 100% with the combat mailing, but its results will help you understand the approximate picture of the deliverability of emails.

Another way is to use spam testing services, such as Mail-tester, Litmus, or Email on Acid.

Mail-tester. It checks the functionality of links in the email, technical headers, DNS records of the sender's domain, and the presence of the sender's IP in blacklists. In a day, you can check three emails for free and without registration. Mail-tester doesn't take into account sender reputation, doesn't know which contacts you send emails to, and how many spam complaints you receive. It is suitable as an additional tool for checking the email.

Litmus and Email on Acid. Multifunctional services that can also check emails for spam. Both services are paid. The result of the check is a detailed report on spamming on dozens of email services with reasons and a list of items that can be improved.