Will including compensation amounts in survey email subject lines trigger spam filters?
Summary
What email marketers say10Marketer opinions
Email marketer from Litmus Blog explains that while certain words might be flagged, the primary factors determining deliverability are authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) and sender reputation. They emphasize the importance of building a strong sending reputation by consistently engaging recipients.
Marketer from Email Geeks shares that their tests showed higher open rates with subject lines mentioning the money offering without affecting deliverability, especially with users who had recently engaged with their emails.
Email marketer from Sendinblue Blog explains that though keywords can effect spam filters, other things can include using all caps in subject lines, or too many exclamation marks. In addition, it's important to avoid misleading subject lines.
Email marketer from Campaign Monitor Blog explains that your sender reputation is critical in determining whether you are marked as spam. Your sender score comes from your IP address and domain, and is based on your authentication, bounce rates, spam complaints, and list health.
Marketer from Email Geeks shares their experience that including compensation in survey emails did not seem to impact deliverability, suggesting that reputation and audience engagement are more critical factors.
Email marketer from Email on Acid Blog mentions that using words like 'free' and '$' can increase your spam score if used excessively or in conjunction with other spam triggers. They recommend testing subject lines and email content with a spam checker before sending.
Marketer from Email Geeks states that cash in the subject line won’t hurt deliverability if the list is good (opted-in and recently engaged). It might even help as a compelling offer. The list quality matters more than keywords.
Email marketer from Neil Patel's Blog advises that offering incentives in your emails, even when mentioned in the subject line, doesn't automatically trigger spam filters if you follow best practices like having clear opt-in processes and maintaining a clean email list. He explains that relevance and recipient engagement are key factors influencing deliverability.
Email marketer from Reddit shares that in their experience, mentioning monetary incentives in subject lines can sometimes lead to higher engagement, but it's crucial to segment your audience and ensure they've opted-in to receive such offers. They also recommend A/B testing subject lines to gauge recipient response.
Email marketer from Mailjet Blog explains that spam filters consider many elements. To avoid spam filters, ensure you use double opt-in, authenticate your email, send relevant content, and clean your email list regularly.
What the experts say5Expert opinions
Expert from Email Geeks suggests that if there is a relationship with the recipients, there is less to worry about in terms of spam triggers when mentioning money in the subject line or body.
Expert from Word to the Wise emphasizes that proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is crucial for deliverability. Implementing these standards helps ISPs verify the legitimacy of your emails and reduces the likelihood of being marked as spam, regardless of the specific words used in the subject line.
Expert from Word to the Wise explains that focusing on specific words that trigger spam filters is less effective than managing sender reputation and user engagement. While some words might raise red flags, the overall context and relationship with the recipient are more important.
Expert from Email Geeks suggests using a spamassassin checker to ease concerns. However, they don't expect the content to be much of an issue.
Expert from Email Geeks suggests that mentioning the compensation amount ($200) would likely result in higher open rates, especially for smaller audiences.
What the documentation says3Technical articles
Documentation from Spamhaus provides a list of factors contributing to spam filtering, including content, sender reputation, and infrastructure. While they do not specifically mention compensation in subject lines, they warn against suspicious content and practices that could lead to blacklisting.
Documentation from Microsoft SNDS (Smart Network Data Services) explains that spam filtering is based on a variety of factors, including user complaints, content, and sending practices. They recommend monitoring your IP reputation through SNDS and ensuring compliance with their sending policies.
Documentation from Google Postmaster Tools indicates that they focus on user engagement metrics to determine spam. While they don't specifically address compensation in survey emails, they focus on sender reputation, spam complaints, and ensuring users can easily unsubscribe.