Do words like 'vaccine' or 'covid' affect email deliverability?

Summary

The overwhelming consensus is that words like 'vaccine' or 'covid' do not directly and significantly impact email deliverability in modern spam filtering systems. Instead, deliverability is governed by a multitude of factors, with sender reputation, recipient engagement, and email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) being the most critical. While smaller, custom filters might block specific words, large-scale filters focus on overall sending behavior. A strong sender reputation can often overcome the presence of potentially problematic keywords. Maintaining clean lists, sending relevant content, and monitoring user feedback are also important for ensuring good deliverability.

Key findings

  • Reputation is King: Sender reputation is the most crucial factor influencing deliverability.
  • Engagement Matters: Recipient engagement (opens, clicks, etc.) is a key signal for spam filters.
  • Authentication is Essential: Proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) verifies sender identity and improves deliverability.
  • Content Less Critical: The presence of specific words is less important than overall sender behavior and recipient engagement.
  • Smaller Filters Exist: Custom or smaller filters may block specific words, but this is not typical for large-scale systems.
  • Holistic Evaluation: Spam filters analyze numerous signals, including sender history, content, and user feedback.

Key considerations

  • Build Strong Reputation: Focus on building and maintaining a positive sender reputation through consistent sending practices.
  • Engage Your Audience: Create engaging and relevant content that encourages recipients to interact with your emails.
  • Authenticate Your Emails: Implement SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to authenticate your emails and prevent spoofing.
  • Clean Your Lists: Regularly remove inactive or disengaged subscribers from your email lists.
  • Monitor Feedback: Pay attention to user complaints and feedback to identify and address potential deliverability issues.
  • Test Your Content: Although not the primary concern, test your content with spam filters and seed lists to identify any potential issues.

What email marketers say
13Marketer opinions

The impact of words like 'vaccine' or 'covid' on email deliverability is complex and not solely determined by the presence of these keywords. Modern spam filters focus on a multitude of factors, including sender reputation, recipient engagement, email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), and user complaints. While some smaller-scale filters or IT departments might block specific terms, large-scale spam filters and reputation engines typically prioritize sender behavior and recipient interaction. Focusing on building a strong sender reputation, ensuring recipients want the emails, maintaining clean lists, and adhering to email authentication best practices is more effective than simply avoiding certain words.

Key opinions

  • Holistic Evaluation: Spam filters evaluate sender reputation, engagement, and authentication, not just keywords.
  • Reputation Matters: A strong sender reputation is crucial for good deliverability.
  • Engagement is Key: Recipient engagement (opens, clicks) significantly impacts deliverability.
  • Authentication Helps: Proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) verifies sender identity.
  • Smaller Filters May Block: Some smaller filters or IT departments might block specific terms, but this is less common on a large scale.
  • Keywords are Signals: Specific keywords can be a signal to filters, especially when combined with other negative factors.

Key considerations

  • Build Reputation: Prioritize building a positive sender reputation by sending valuable and wanted content.
  • Engage Recipients: Focus on strategies to increase recipient engagement, such as personalized content and relevant offers.
  • Authenticate Emails: Implement SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to authenticate your emails and verify your identity.
  • Maintain Clean Lists: Regularly clean your email lists to remove inactive or disengaged subscribers.
  • Monitor Feedback: Pay attention to user complaints and feedback to identify and address potential issues.
  • Content Quality: While keywords are not the primary factor, ensure your content is relevant, engaging, and provides value to your subscribers.
Marketer view

Email marketer from Litmus explains that deliverability has become complex, with spam filters becoming sophisticated. Sender reputation, email authentication and engagement metrics are key for reaching inboxes.

June 2021 - Litmus
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet Blog explains that while content is important, focusing solely on keywords is not the key to deliverability. They suggest prioritizing recipient engagement and list hygiene.

March 2022 - Mailjet Blog
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks says that actual, large scale spam filters or reputation engines don’t care about specific words.

October 2023 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email on Acid indicates content should be one of many considerations. To improve email deliverability, ensure subscribers are engaged and lists are clean.

April 2022 - Email on Acid
Marketer view

Email marketer from Sendinblue Blog explains that 'spam trigger words' aren't the direct cause of deliverability issues, but rather a symptom of other problems such as poor sender reputation and low engagement. They advise focusing on building a healthy sender reputation and providing value to subscribers.

July 2022 - Sendinblue Blog
Marketer view

Email marketer from Gmass explains that spam filters look at various characteristics. Factors, such as sender reputation, authentication and engagement are important. The presence of specific words is unlikely to trigger a spam filter alone.

November 2023 - Gmass
Marketer view

Email marketer from Constant Contact Blog answers that spam filters have become more sophisticated and focus on various factors beyond just keywords, including sender reputation, authentication, and engagement metrics. They recommend focusing on building a strong sender reputation and following email best practices.

May 2024 - Constant Contact Blog
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit /r/EmailMarketing shares that the presence of specific keywords like 'vaccine' or 'covid' alone is unlikely to drastically affect deliverability unless other factors are already negatively impacting the sender's reputation.

February 2022 - Reddit
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks shares a case where a municipal authority blocked inbound messages with the word "covid" due to previous scam emails, hindering their health insurance provider's communication about employee vaccination benefits.

July 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks shares that what usually matters is who is sending and what recipients think about it, and how the sender treats negative signals.

December 2023 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks explains that manual or custom filters on the receiver's side (including tenants or IT departments) can have an impact, as users and some admins might still do "stupid things".

September 2022 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from EmailToolTester responds that email service providers consider several factors when determining deliverability. Building a good sender reputation and ensuring subscribers want your emails is important.

February 2023 - EmailToolTester
Marketer view

Email marketer from StackExchange answers that focusing on avoiding specific words is less effective than focusing on building a strong sender reputation and ensuring your emails are wanted by recipients. They emphasize the importance of consent and engagement.

June 2024 - StackExchange

What the experts say
2Expert opinions

The answers highlight that while specific words can sometimes trigger email filters, the larger issue influencing deliverability is often the sender's reputation and overall sending practices. One example shows even legitimate emails containing blocked words can be affected. However, a good sender reputation makes it less likely that words like 'covid' will cause deliverability problems. Therefore, focusing on establishing strong sending practices and a positive reputation is paramount.

Key opinions

  • Word-Based Filters Exist: Specific words can sometimes trigger email filters.
  • Reputation Overrides Words: A good sender reputation mitigates the negative impact of specific words.
  • Inbox Placement Matters: Low inbox placement rates often exacerbate deliverability issues related to content.

Key considerations

  • Good Sending Practices: Focus on following established best practices for email sending.
  • Establish Reputation: Prioritize building and maintaining a positive sender reputation.
  • Avoid Sketchy Content: Be aware that while a good reputation helps, avoid using words that are clearly associated with spam.
Expert view

Expert from wordtothewise.com explains that while specific words can trigger filters, the larger issue is often a low inbox placement rate. If a sender has a good reputation, using words like 'covid' is less likely to be a problem. Focusing on good sending practices is important.

August 2022 - wordtothewise.com
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks shares an example of a company that blocked Viagra, even when an executive couldn’t get email from his wife reminding him to pick up a prescription.

November 2021 - Email Geeks

What the documentation says
4Technical articles

Email deliverability, according to documentation from Google, Microsoft, RFC, and Sparkpost, depends on numerous factors. While content may play a role, sender reputation, user feedback/complaints, and email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) are critical. Building a positive sender reputation by sending wanted, relevant content, maintaining clean mailing lists, and proper email authentication are consistently recommended.

Key findings

  • Multifactorial Analysis: Spam filters consider multiple factors beyond just content.
  • Sender Reputation is Paramount: A positive sender reputation is consistently highlighted as crucial.
  • Email Authentication is Key: Proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is essential for verification.
  • User Feedback Matters: User complaints and feedback influence spam filtering decisions.

Key considerations

  • Build Positive Reputation: Focus on building a positive sender reputation by sending wanted mail.
  • Send Relevant Content: Ensure content is relevant and wanted by the recipients.
  • Maintain Clean Lists: Regularly clean email lists to remove inactive or disengaged subscribers.
  • Implement Authentication: Properly implement SPF, DKIM, and DMARC for email authentication.
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft explains that their SmartScreen Filter analyzes various signals, including content, sender reputation, and user feedback, to identify spam. They recommend focusing on sending relevant and wanted content, maintaining a clean mailing list, and authenticating emails properly.

March 2022 - Microsoft
Technical article

Documentation from Google Postmaster Tools explains that Google's spam filters consider numerous factors, including sender reputation, user complaints, and email authentication. They advise focusing on building a positive sender reputation by sending wanted mail and following best practices.

December 2023 - Google
Technical article

Documentation from RFC (Request for Comments) states email standards focus on technical aspects like email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) to verify the sender's identity. Proper authentication helps improve deliverability by confirming the sender is legitimate.

April 2024 - RFC
Technical article

Documentation from Sparkpost explains that modern spam filters evaluate several factors, including IP address reputation, engagement metrics, and email authentication. They recommend focusing on building a strong sender reputation.

June 2023 - Sparkpost