Is it safe to use the word 'marijuana' in email subject lines for B2B cannabis industry lists?
Summary
What email marketers say14Marketer opinions
Marketer from Email Geeks recommends testing subject lines to an internal test list to check for any impact.
Email marketer from Reddit explains that it depends on the ESP and the recipient's spam filter settings. They recommend testing subject lines with different variations to see what gets through.
Email marketer from HubSpot explains that to avoid deliverability issues, it's important to warm up your list and use relevant keywords. They recommend monitoring engagement and keeping your sender reputation in good standing.
Email marketer from Gmass explains that some words have a higher chance of being flagged by spam filters than others, but it is very dependant on your setup and list quality.
Email marketer from Campaign Monitor explains that using industry terms such as 'marijuana' may impact deliverability. They suggest testing subject lines and monitoring engagement to maintain a healthy sender reputation.
Email marketer from Email on Acid shares that trigger words such as 'marijuana' may cause deliverability issues. They suggest testing subject lines with different variations and monitoring spam placement.
Email marketer from Litmus responds that using certain words might cause deliverability issues, as it often depends on your audience, your sending reputation, and other factors such as authentication.
Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum shares that it's crucial to know your audience and their expectations. If the B2B list is accustomed to industry-specific terms, 'marijuana' might be acceptable, but suggests monitoring deliverability closely.
Marketer from Email Geeks shares that if the sender follows best practices and has a solid sending reputation, they shouldn’t run into any issues using 'marijuana' in subject lines.
Email marketer from Quora responds that generally, it is a risk, particularly if the email is unsolicited. Suggests focusing on the benefits of the product and avoiding controversial terms.
Marketer from Email Geeks explains they do not think the word will affect deliverability. Suggests trying alternatives like cannabis.
Marketer from Email Geeks explains for B2B to a list of dispensary buyers, there probably isn't a huge risk using the word.
Marketer from Email Geeks shares their experience shows a lot of marijuana-oriented stock scams are going around, and spam filtering is oriented towards keeping scam emails out of inboxes and suggests considering using THC or something else entirely. Offers details on subject lines they use and how they have performed via DM.
Marketer from Email Geeks suggests they don't think there would be an issue as other cannabis related organisations seem to be able to send without problems. Notes to confirm Acoustic is cannabis sender friendly.
What the experts say2Expert opinions
Expert from Spamresource explains they have seen many senders run into blocks when they start marketing Cannabis products. They explain that you should make sure you are following all regulations and guidelines, and to warm up your IP addresses correctly.
Expert from Word to the Wise explains that the issue isn't the word marijuana itself, but how it is used, and whether the recipient wants the mail. She notes that marketers should be thinking about the mail stream as a whole to achieve marketing goals, not just the use of specific trigger words.
What the documentation says5Technical articles
Documentation from Google shares best practices for bulk email senders to avoid spam filters. They recommend authenticating emails, keeping spam rates low, and following their guidelines to maintain a positive sender reputation.
Documentation from SparkPost states that while they don't automatically block cannabis-related content, they require senders to comply with all applicable laws and regulations. Monitoring engagement and reputation is critical.
Documentation from SendGrid notes that their acceptable use policy prohibits content that promotes illegal or harmful activities. Senders should be aware of local regulations regarding cannabis and adjust their messaging accordingly. Reviewing their policies is recommended.
Documentation from Mailchimp explains that certain industries and keywords may be subject to higher scrutiny. While they don't explicitly ban 'marijuana,' they advise caution and suggest reviewing their content guidelines to ensure compliance.
Documentation from Microsoft explains how to follow best practices for email sending to avoid spam filters. Ensure your sending domain is authenticated with SPF, DKIM and DMARC records.