Why am I suddenly getting an influx of spam complaints?

Email marketer from Constant Contact explains that misleading or spammy subject lines can result in recipients marking emails as spam. Subject lines should accurately reflect the content and avoid sensational or deceptive language.

Email marketer from ActiveCampaign explains that a quick way to help reduce complaints is to check the from name and ensure this is a real email address and not a no-reply email. This helps to build trust with the end users.

Email marketer from EmailToolTester shares that common reasons include not having explicit permission, sending irrelevant content, or using misleading subject lines. Suggests re-confirming subscriptions and segmenting email lists.

Email marketer from Litmus explains that an increase in spam complaints could be because of a change to the audience, such as new people added to the list. These new people are less familiar with the brand, or the type of content being sent.

Email marketer from Mailjet explains that several factors can affect spam complaints, including changes in sending frequency, content, or audience targeting. They also suggest checking for compromised accounts or lists, and ensuring proper unsubscribe mechanisms.

Email marketer from Sender shares that a sudden surge in spam complaints often points to issues like sending irrelevant content, not honoring unsubscribe requests, or a change in recipient demographics. They recommend segmenting lists and tailoring content to specific audiences.

Email marketer from Reddit user u/EmailExpert123 responds that a likely cause for sudden spam complaints is acquiring a dirty list or a sudden change in email content that recipients perceive as unwanted or misleading.

Email marketer from emailmarketingforum.com advises that increased spam complaints often come from a neglected email list. Regular list cleaning, removing unengaged users, and validating email addresses can help.

Email marketer from Sendinblue notes that lack of personalization can lead users to mark emails as spam. Tailoring messages to individual recipient preferences makes content more relevant and less likely to be seen as unwanted.

Expert from Email Geeks shares that deliverability tests are based on open-source software accessible to spammers. Also, deliverability heavily relies on recipient reactions, which deliverability tests don't measure.

Expert from Email Geeks explains that BCL is an internal score assigned by Microsoft and is ONLY used for O365 users. O365 tenants can choose what levels of BCL mail they allow. The expert also states that Outlook / Hotmail do not use the BCL scores, and a score of 5 is not usually a problem.

Expert from Email Geeks shares that a sudden influx of spam complaints suggests a spike in illegitimate subscriptions or that mail previously went to the spam folder. The expert mentions that O365 does not provide FBL / complaints.

Expert from Spam Resource explains that an increase in spam complaints may be due to a sudden change in IP address reputation, a recent change in email content that is triggering spam filters, or a compromised email account being used for spamming.

Expert from Word to the Wise shares the importance of regular list hygiene. They explain that not cleaning your email lists results in a build-up of unengaged users and spam traps, both of which contribute to an increased risk of spam complaints.

Documentation from M3AAWG shares that best practices are that all recipients must have opted in, and must be given an easy way to opt out from receiving email marketing. Ensuring these principles are followed will limit complaints.

Documentation from Microsoft shares that high Bulk Complaint Levels (BCL) indicate a message is generating a high volume of complaints. A sudden increase may suggest content perceived as unwanted, or issues with list hygiene.

Documentation from SparkPost explains that feedback loops (FBLs) provide data on spam complaints. A sudden increase may suggest issues with subscriber engagement or potential spam traps being hit.

Documentation from RFC outlines that proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is crucial. Implementing these protocols helps mailbox providers verify the sender's legitimacy and reduce the likelihood of emails being flagged as spam.

Documentation from Google Postmaster Tools explains that keeping spam rates below 0.10% and avoiding ever exceeding 0.30% is crucial. If users are marking messages as spam, it directly impacts sender reputation and deliverability to Gmail users.