WILL CANNON
49 PHRASES THAT
TRIGGER EMAIL
SPAM FILTERS
(AVOID THESE TO
RAISE YOUR OPEN
RATES)
QUICK NOTE
There's a lot more to staying
out of spam folders than just
words. For example, getting
clean leads lists from a tool
like UpLead is crucial.
Still, wording matters. Here
are categories and specific
phrases to avoid...
1. OFFERS
If your cold email sounds
like an infomercial or a
game show, email
providers aren’t gonna like
that.
Avoid language that is too
sales-heavy or focuses on
prizes.
EXAMPLES:
1. Giveaway
2. Prize
3. You won
4. You’re the winner
5. You’ve been chosen
6. Free gift
7. Exclusive offer for you
2. URGENCY
These messages create
urgency or pressure that’s
usually fake.
Having some kind of
urgency in your offer is
good, but don’t go too far,
and definitely don’t push
hard in cold emails.
EXAMPLES:
1. Urgent
2. Limited time
3. Act now
4. Today only
5. Limited spots
6. Don’t delete
7. Warning
3. CASH CLAIMS
Email providers want to
protect their users from
scammers, and financial
scammers are the most
common kind.
Avoid making big claims
about cash and income.
EXAMPLES:
1. Free money
2. Fast $$$
3. Cash bonus
4. Zero risk
5. Save money
6. Risk-free
7. Make money
4. CAREER CLAIMS
Financial scamming is
extremely common, and
one of the common types
is promising career or
business success.
Avoid language that
sounds too much like that.
EXAMPLES:
1. Online business
2. Be your own boss
3. Work from home
4. Internet money
5. Double your income
6. Financial freedom
7. Get your dream job
5. SPAMMY FORMAT
It’s just words that get you
put in the spam filter.
It’s also formatting. If you
get too fancy or obnoxious
with the way you write
your emails, you’ll likely be
penalized for it.
EXAMPLES:
1. Bolding too much text
2. Using all caps in subject
3. Using all caps in body
4. Using non-black text
5. Using red text especially
6. Using too many symbols
7. Using too many emojis
6. TOO MUCH “FREE”
Scammers often attract
attention by offering
things for free (then they
never deliver).
Avoid using the “free
offer” angle too much,
especially in your subject
line.
EXAMPLES:
1. Free gift
2. Free trial
3. Free audit
4. Free consultation
5. Free signup
6. Free leads
7. Free sample
7. SUSPICIOUSNESS
Generating interest is
good, but you have to do
so in a way that feels
organic and ethical.
Avoid strange and
suspicious wording like the
examples below.
EXAMPLES:
1. This isn’t spam
2. Open this
3. !!!!
4. ???
5. $$$
6. HEY YOU
7. Not spam
HOW TO USE THESE:
You don’t need to avoid
every word on this list, but
be mindful of them.
Avoid being suspicious or
obnoxious, and if you’re
hitting the spam folder a
lot, look for which phrasing
might be triggering it.
LAST THING:
If you liked this post, reply
below with which part
resonated with you most.
If you run a B2B business,
check out my SaaS tools,
UpLead and Signaturely.
Thank you!