If recipients report emails landing in spam, check both technical setup and message content.
SMTP Setup #
- Always use a transactional email service (SendGrid, Mailgun, SES, etc.).
- Don’t rely on host‑provided PHP mail — it’s unreliable and often flagged.
- Verify your SMTP plugin credentials are correct.
Authentication #
- Confirm your domain has proper DNS records:
- SPF: Authorizes servers allowed to send mail.
- DKIM: Ensures messages are signed and unaltered.
- DMARC: Adds policy and reporting on spoofed mail.
- Use online tools (like MXToolbox) to validate your records.
Content Tips #
- Avoid spammy words in subject lines (“FREE,” “Act Now”).
- Limit external links and don’t use too many images.
- Keep attachments small or avoid them entirely.
- Personalize with merge tags so messages don’t look like blasts.
From / Reply-To Checks #
- Make sure From and Reply‑To addresses match your domain.
- Don’t send from free email providers (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo) when using a custom domain.
Throttle Conservatively #
- Sending too fast can raise red flags.
- Even if your provider allows higher rates, pacing slower can improve inbox placement.
By combining proper authentication, clean content, and careful throttling, you can significantly improve deliverability and keep messages out of spam folders.
