When I first started email marketing, I struggled with getting my emails into my subscribers’ inboxes instead of the dreaded spam folder. After some trial and error, I realized that emails going to spam isn’t just about sending messages, it’s about making sure they actually reach the inbox. If your emails are ending up in spam, here’s what you need to know and how to fix it.
1. Sending From a Public Domain
If you’re sending emails from a free domain like Gmail.com or Yahoo.com, your messages are more likely to land in the spam folder. You should send emails from a domain you own, one that aligns with your branding. This adds legitimacy to your emails and increases the chances of them being delivered successfully.
2. DMARC Policy Issues
If your sending domain has a DMARC policy in place but it hasn’t been verified with your SMTP provider, your emails are likely going to spam. DMARC ensures that your emails are properly authenticated. Check with your SMTP provider to ensure your emails pass DMARC.
3. List Health & List Collection
List health plays a major role in your emails reaching the inbox. Here’s what you need to do to maintain good list health:
- Make sure everyone on your list has given direct consent to receive your emails.
- Regularly clean cold subscribers from your list.
- Use a double opt-in process for all new sign-ups.
A clean, engaged email list is key to ensuring your emails don’t end up in the spam folder.
4. Sending Internal Mail
Sending emails to your own domain can cause issues, too. For example, sending from info@exampledomain.com to suan@exampledomain.com. If your mailbox sees a message coming from itself but knows it didn’t send it, it can flag it as suspicious. This leads to your email being marked as spam.
To avoid this, use an external email like gmail.com for testing. If you need to send emails internally, have your domain’s email manager whitelist the IP address of your SMTP provider.
Conclusion
Emails going to spam can be a frustrating issue, but with the right steps, it’s something you can fix. Make sure your domain is secure, your list is healthy, and you’re not sending internal emails that look suspicious. By addressing these common causes, you can get your emails into the inbox where they belong.












