Can AMP code in emails cause increased spam placement in Outlook and Hotmail, even if they don't render AMP?
Summary
What email marketers say12Marketer opinions
Email marketer from Litmus responds that adding AMP code might increase the complexity of your email, thus increasing the chances of making a mistake that could flag spam filters. For example, including too many scripts, failing to provide a proper HTML fallback, or using outdated or deprecated AMP components may negatively affect your deliverability.
Email marketer from HubSpot answers that while they do not directly address AMP, they provide a list of common spam triggers to avoid in your emails, such as using excessive exclamation points, spammy words, or misleading subject lines. Avoiding these triggers can help improve your deliverability, regardless of whether you are using AMP or not.
Email marketer from Email on Acid explains that simply including AMP code shouldn't trigger spam filters if the email is properly formatted with a fallback HTML version. However, they warn that using AMP incorrectly (e.g., broken AMP code, insecure resources, or failing to meet AMP's validation requirements) could lead to rendering issues or potentially trigger spam filters.
Email marketer from SendGrid answers that, even with technologies like AMP, email authentication (SPF, DKIM, and DMARC) remains crucial. It confirms your identity to email providers and helps prevent your messages from being marked as spam. Proper authentication is particularly important when sending emails that might be perceived as unusual due to AMP or other interactive elements.
Marketer from Email Geeks states that having AMP code alone in the email will not cause it to go to spam with Google. Marcel then says "(I can tell you though that having AMP code alone in your email will not cause it to go to spam with Google or us)"
Email marketer from GlockApps answers to thoroughly test your emails across different email clients and devices. When using AMP emails, it's especially important to check how the email renders in clients that don't support AMP and ensure the fallback version provides a good experience. Use seed lists and inbox placement tests to assess deliverability.
Email marketer from Stack Overflow responds that while AMP itself may not directly trigger spam filters, the presence of code that attempts to load external resources can sometimes be flagged, especially if those resources are unavailable or slow to load. Poorly implemented AMP, or AMP that relies heavily on external scripts, might inadvertently increase the likelihood of spam classification.
Email marketer from SparkPost answers that engagement rates (opens, clicks, replies) heavily influence deliverability. If recipients consistently ignore or mark your emails as spam, email providers are more likely to filter your messages, regardless of whether they contain AMP code or not. Focus on sending relevant, valuable content to improve engagement and maintain a positive sender reputation.
Email marketer from Mailjet shares that AMP itself shouldn't directly cause spam placement issues, especially if the recipient's email client doesn't support AMP. However, they suggest ensuring the HTML fallback is well-optimized and provides a similar experience. If the fallback is significantly worse than the AMP version, it might negatively impact user engagement and, indirectly, deliverability.
Marketer from Email Geeks says, "AFAIK Microsoft also shouldn’t spam folder based on AMP code alone. But then again things might break… but I put my money on something else"
Email marketer from ReturnPath answers that maintaining a clean and engaged email list is critical for deliverability. Regularly remove inactive subscribers and those who haven't engaged with your emails in a while. Sending to a disengaged audience can negatively impact your sender reputation and increase the likelihood of your emails being marked as spam, regardless of whether you use AMP or not.
Email marketer from Reddit shares that they haven't seen conclusive evidence that AMP code *directly* causes spam filtering issues, especially with providers that don't fully support AMP. However, they caution that anything that makes your email look 'unusual' can contribute to a lower sender reputation over time, which indirectly affects deliverability.
What the experts say2Expert opinions
Expert from Word to the Wise explains that your sending reputation is crucial for email deliverability. Even if AMP code itself doesn't cause spam placement, a poor sender reputation due to other factors (e.g., sending to unengaged users, high complaint rates) can lead to emails being filtered as spam, regardless of their content.
Expert from Spam Resource explains that while specific code snippets like AMP might not directly trigger spam filters, the overall content, structure, and links within an email play a significant role. Including elements that are commonly found in spam emails can increase the likelihood of being filtered, regardless of whether AMP is present.
What the documentation says4Technical articles
Documentation from Microsoft outlines supported email technologies. Given that Microsoft (Outlook/Hotmail) has limited support for AMP emails, the documentation emphasizes focusing on well-formatted HTML emails for the best rendering experience. The documentation doesn't discuss AMP-specific spam filters, but stresses the importance of email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) for deliverability.
Documentation from AMP.dev explains that AMP emails must adhere to specific validation rules. Failing to validate can cause the email to not render correctly. While the documentation doesn't explicitly state that invalid AMP will cause spam filtering, it does mention that failing validation degrades the user experience, which may indirectly affect deliverability.
Documentation from IETF details the standards for email authentication, including SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. Properly implementing these standards is critical for establishing sender reputation and improving deliverability. Even if AMP is not fully supported, proper authentication helps ensure your emails are not flagged as spam.
Documentation from M3AAWG outlines comprehensive best practices for email senders, emphasizing the importance of sender reputation, list hygiene, and content quality. It doesn't specifically address AMP, but its general recommendations for responsible sending practices are applicable to all email campaigns, regardless of the technology used.