16% of emails sent automatically end up in the SPAM filter.

Writing an email takes time.  Sometimes time that you don't necessarily have.

If your emails are ending up in the SPAM filter you have wasted your time.

The last thing you want is to spend time on something that isn't going to increase sales or grow your business.

This week on the 2nd Act Entrepreneur Podcast we are finishing up our two-part series as we dive into the techie components that could be responsible for sending your emails to SPAM.

Hold up!  I hear you saying "Tech + me = No good"!  Don't panic.  Take a deep breath and say it with me "I can do it!"

This week's episode breaks down the tech in layman's terms so that you can be sure that more eyeballs are seeing your emails.

Tune into and listen to or watch the entire episode to get the 3 important tech steps you need to take to ensure you are avoiding the SPAM filter at the get-go.

Be sure to stay tuned until the end because I have a bonus for you that you can only get if you tune in here.

Let's dive in.

1.  Be sure you are sending emails from a hosted domain. 

A hosted domain is simply a web address that you own so for example www.yourbusiness.com.  (You would put your business name in for your business).   Your email would look like sally@yourbusiness.com.

Why do you need to send emails from a business domain? Unfortunately, marketers have ruined marketing (yep that just came out of my mouth).  Not all marketers, but the spammy kind.

Because the spammers spend their hours creating useless email addresses just to send out spam, the spam gods have become wise and they target emails (specifically business emails) that aren't coming from a hosted domain.

So if you are using Gmail, Yahoo, or any other free email service to send emails for your business - the likelihood that they will go to the spam, junk, or trash folder significantly increases.

I recommend using Google workspace to get a hosted domain if you are familiar with or like Gmail.

The second part of this tech checklist is to be sure to use a real name for whom the emails are being sent.

Don't use something clever and don't use your business name.  Research has shown that those will trigger the SPAM filter more often.

2. Follow GDPR and CAN-Spam Act Guidelines.

That was a lot of acronyms.  Both of those laws simple mean three things,

1. People must explicitly agree to join your email list to be in alignment with privacy laws.

2. Don't add people to your list without their permission (this includes buying email lists).

3. Don't email people who have not signed up for your email list. (in other words, don't be a douche bag)

Both GDPR and CAN Spam Act Guidelines require that your subscriber agree to be on your list for you to collect their private information (including their email address).  This is accomplished with a double-opt-in email or checkbox on your form.  If they agree, then go to town emailing them.

Listen to this episode to learn more about GDPR.

Last but not least, if someone unsubscribed, wish them well and move on.  DO NOT continue to email the. It is in violation of privacy laws and it's simply not worth putting your email reputation at risk.

3. Clean your email list regularly.

Taking people off your list through cleaning may seem counterintuitive because you're trying to grow your list.  But, if you continue to send to people. who don't open your emails or read them, it hurts your email reputation. Meaning, the people who DO want to get your emails won't get them.

Also when people receive your emails but don't open or click on them it lowers your overall click-through and open rates which can also damage your overall email reputation.

I recommend choosing a regular schedule to clean up your email list and make room for new subscribers.  Either a 30, 60, or 90-day schedule depending on the health and size of your email list.  

The added benefit, you also don't have to pay for subscribers that aren't interested in hearing from you.

List cleaning is covered step by step in the Email Breakthrough Academy program.  Want to be the first to know when it opens.  Join the waitlist here.

Check out this week's episode to get the bonus tips and also the details for all of the key tactics above.

See you next week!

~Alisa

Links Discussed in this episode:

GDPR Podcast Episode

CAN Spam Act

Email Breakthrough Academy Waitlist

Google Workspace

Omnisend

Email Subject Line Grader

Coschedule

Mail-tester

IsNotSpam.com

Unspam.email