
Tired of getting your emails sent straight into someone's spam folder?
In this article, I'll discuss how NOT to get your emails flagged as SPAM. I've also included the ultimate spam trigger words list that you should avoid.
From now on, I want you to imagine that your target’s email inbox is an exclusive nightclub.
You’re wearing your favorite outfit, you step out of your cab, and you get in line. Only one thing separates you from all the fun times in store…
Before you start doubting yourself, let me give you a few pointers. Think of me as your email marketing wingman.
Whether you’re sending 10,000 emails at once or one email at a time, you are a smart email marketer when you know the difference between words that trigger spam filters and inbox bound words that grab your target’s attention and piques their interest.
Pulling this off is not always easy. Some people even claim that email marketing isn’t effective anymore. I have a feeling the same people are the reason we now have spam filters. Let me tell you, it IS still very effective.
Spam keywords are labeled such for a reason. Spammy words are really just signals of annoying behaviors. Therefore, I have broken down the ultimate spam trigger words list into six annoying behavior groups.

Avoid these behaviors and their respective spam words if you can help it. In your emails, you don't want to come off as:
In addition to the behaviors and words to avoid, I’ll include a few tips to try instead.But don't forget one of the most important aspects of your email campaign: the subject line. If the subject line sucks, no one will even open your email.
So once you're past the SPAM filter, check out our sweet guide on how to craft the perfect subject lines for your emails to increase your open rates!
Also, we have other great guides at Automational.com.

So… to paint my nightclub analogy a little better let’s call this club, Club Value. You’re in line. There are two bouncers at the door. Neither of them know who you are. Both are looking for any reason to deny you entry.
One bouncer is trained to detect email spam trigger words and the other bouncer is trained to detect annoying spammy behaviors. If you play it cool, you’ll make it inside. If you brought your A-game, the club owner (the target) may come and hang out with you.
Avoid Making Exaggerated Claims with Spam Trigger Words
If you truly have something of value, you do not have to be needy. Here are some words and phrases that sound desperate. No matter how tempted you are, don't make exaggerated claims, ever!
- 1#1
- 2100%
- 3100% free
- 4100% satisfied
- 550% off
- 6Ad
- 7All New
- 8Bargain
- 9Best Price
- 10Bonus
- 11Brand New Pager
- 12Claims not to be selling anything
- 13Cost
- 14Costs
- 15Credit
- 16Discount
- 17Don’t delete
- 18Email harvest
- 19Email marketing
- 20F r e e
- 21Fast cash
- 22For free
- 23For instant access
- 24For just $xxx
- 25For just $yyy
- 26For only
- 27For you
- 28Free
- 29Free and free
- 30Free consultation
- 31Free dvd
- 32Free gift
- 33Free sample
- 34Free trial
- 35Free website
- 36Gift certificate
- 37Give it away
- 38Giving away
- 39Giving it away
- 40Great
- 41Great offer
- 42Incredible deal
- 43Insurance
- 44Internet market
- 45Internet marketing
- 46It’s effective
- 47Lower interest rate
- 48Lowest interest rate
- 49Lowest insurance rates
- 50Lowest price
- 51Luxury
- 52Luxury car
- 53Mortgage
- 54Mortgage rates
- 55Name Brand
- 56New domain extensions
- 57One hundred percent free
- 58Outstanding values
- 59Please read
- 60Prize
- 61Prizes
- 62Profits
- 63Promise
- 64Promise you
- 65Sale
- 66Sales
- 67Sample
- 68Satisfaction
- 69Satisfaction guaranteed
- 70Stainless Steel
- 71Stuff on sale
- 72The best rates
- 73We hate spam
- 74Web traffic
- 75Will not believe your eyes
Avoid Sounding Sleazy or Being too Pushy with Spam Words
Nobody likes to be pressured. Notice how the following words and phrases make you feel a little hesitant. They sound sleazy and pushy. Don't be one of those people.
- 76Accept credit cards
- 77Accordingly
- 78As seen on
- 79Avoid
- 80Cannot be combined with any other offer
- 81Check
- 82Check or money order
- 83Click
- 84Click Below
- 85Click Here
- 86Click to remove
- 87Compete for your business
- 88Deal
- 89Debt
- 90Direct email
- 91Direct marketing
- 92Do it today
- 93Don’t hesitate
- 94Form
- 95Free access
- 96Free instant
- 97Full refund
- 98Investment
- 99Investment decision
- 100Life
- 101Life insurance
- 102Lifetime
- 103Mail in order form
- 104Month trial offer
- 105Never
- 106Not junk
- 107Not spam
- 108Notspam
- 109Now
- 110Obligation
- 111Offers
- 112One time mailing
- 113Only
- 114Only $
- 115Open
- 116Opt-in
- 117Order
- 118Order now
- 119Order shipped by
- 120Order status
- 121Order today
- 122Orders shipped by
- 123Pennies a day
- 124Per day
- 125Per week
- 126Phone
- 127Presently
- 128Price
- 129Prices
- 130Print form signature
- 131Print out and fax
- 132Priority mail
- 133Produced and sent out
- 134Purchase
- 135Quote
- 136Rates
- 137Refund
- 138Regarding
- 139Removal
- 140Removal instructions
- 141Remove
- 142Save up to
- 143Serious only
- 144Shopper
- 145Sign up free today
- 146Solution
- 147Strong buy
- 148Subscribe
- 149Take action
- 150Tack action now
- 151Tells you it’s an ad
- 152Terms and conditions
- 153The following form
- 154Trial
- 155Trial unlimited
- 156Unlimited
- 157Unlimited trial
- 158What are you waiting for?
- 159What’s keeping you? Nl1Unsubscribe
- 160Visit our website

Avoid Creating Unnecessary Urgency with Spammy Words
Urgency is sales 101. However, it is not up to you to instill a sense of urgency. If there is enough value in what you have to offer, urgency will happen naturally.
There is nothing wrong with urging your prospect to take action, but do your best to avoid creating urgency too soon.
- 161Act Now
- 162Act Now!
- 163Action
- 164Apply now
- 165Apply online
- 166Buy
- 167Buy Direct
- 168Buying judgements
- 169Call
- 170Call free
- 171Call now
- 172Can’t live without
- 173Clearance
- 174Drastically reduced
- 175Exclusive deal
- 176Expire
- 177Get
- 178Get it now
- 179Get started now
- 180Here
- 181Important information
- 182Important information regarding
- 183Instant
- 184Limited
- 185Limited time
- 186Limited time offer
- 187Limited time only
- 188New customers only
- 189Now only
- 190Offer expires
- 191Once in a lifetime
- 192Once in lifetime
- 193One time
- 194One-time
- 195Serious
- 196Special promotion
- 197Supplies
- 198Supplies are limited
- 199This won’t last
- 200Time limited
- 201Urgent
- 202While supplies last
Avoid Cheapening Your Offer with Spam Keywords
One thing to keep in mind when offering something is that the more available it is, the lower the perceived value. People want what they cannot have. Position your value proposition in a way that makes the prospect chase you. And avoid these spam filter words:
- 2034u
- 204Acceptance
- 205Access
- 206Avoid Bankruptcy
- 207Being a member
- 208Boss
- 209Bulk Email
- 210Cancel
- 211Cancel at any time
- 212Card accepted
- 213Cards accepted
- 214Cents on the dollar
- 215Certified
- 216Chance
- 217Cheap
- 218Compare
- 219Compare rates
- 220Congratulations
- 221Credit card offers
- 222Cures
- 223Cures baldness
- 224Dear [email/friend/somebody]
- 225Dear friend
- 226Dormant
- 227Easy terms
- 228Expect to earn
- 229Free grant money
- 230Free hosting
- 231Free info
- 232Free installation
- 233Free membership
- 234Freedom
- 235Friend
- 236Get out of debt
- 237Have you been turned down?
- 238Guarantee
- 239Guaranteed
- 240Hello
- 241Info you requested
- 242Information you requested
- 243Join millions
- 244Join millions of Americans
- 245Marketing
- 246Marketing solutions
- 247Mass email
- 248Member
- 249Member stuff
- 250No age restrictions
- 251No claim forms
- 252No experience
- 253No inventory
- 254No investment
- 255No medical exams
- 256No middleman
- 257No obligation
- 258No purchase necessary
- 259No questions asked
- 260Offer
- 261One hundred percent guaranteed
- 262Opportunity
- 263Pre-approved
- 264Save $
- 265Save big money
- 266Save money
- 267See for yourself
- 268Success
- 269Thousands
- 270We honor all
- 271Win
- 272Winner
- 273Winning
- 274Won
- 275You are a winner!
- 276You have been selected!
- 277You’re a winner!
Avoid Sounding Too Good To Be True with Spamming Words
People’s BS filters are on high alert now more than ever. If your target feels like your offer is too good to be true, you’re done. Spamming words like the ones below can make your message seem far fetched.
- 278Additional Income
- 279All Natural
- 280Amazing
- 281Amazing stuff
- 282Be Amazed
- 283Be your own boss
- 284Big Bucks
- 285Billion
- 286Billion Dollars
- 287Cash
- 288Cash bonus
- 289Cashcashcash
- 290Consolidate debt and credit
- 291Consolidate your debt
- 292Double your
- 293Double your cash
- 294Double your income
- 295Earn
- 296Earn $
- 297Earn Cash
- 298Earn extra cash
- 299Earn per week
- 300Eliminate bad credit
- 301Eliminate debt
- 302Explode your business
- 303Extra
- 304Extra cash
- 305Extra income
- 306Fantastic
- 307Fantastic deal
- 308Financial freedom
- 309Financially independent
- 310Free investment
- 311Free leads
- 312Free money
- 313Free offer
- 314Free preview
- 315Free priority mail
- 316Free quote
- 317Get paid
- 318Home
- 319Home based
- 320Home based business
- 321Home employment
- 322Homebased business
- 323If only it were that easy
- 324Income
- 325Income from home
- 326Increase sales
- 327Increase traffic
- 328Increase your sales
- 329Lose
- 330Lose weight
- 331Lose weight spam
- 332Lower monthly payment
- 333Lower monthly payments
- 334Lower your mortgage rate
- 335Make $
- 336Make money
- 337Million
- 338Million dollars
- 339Money back
- 340Money making
- 341More internet traffic
- 342Multi level marketing
- 343Multilevel marketing
- 344No catch
- 345No cost
- 346No credit check
- 347No disappointment
- 348No fees
- 349No gimmick
- 350No gimmicks
- 351No hidden
- 352No hidden costs
- 353No interest
- 354No interests
- 355No selling
- 356No strings attached
- 357No obligation
- 358Online biz opportunity
- 359Performance
- 360Potential earnings
- 361Pure Profit
- 362Pure profits
- 363Real thing
- 364Removes wrinkles
- 365Reverses
- 366Reverses aging
- 367Risk free
- 368Serious cash
- 369Stop
- 370Stop snoring
- 371They’re just giving it away
- 372Vacation
- 373Vacation offers
- 374Weekend getaway
- 375Weight
- 376Weight loss
- 377While you sleep
- 378Why pay more?
- 379Work at home
- 380Work from home
Avoid Being Shady or Unethical
As long as there are gullible people in the world, there will be rascals online that try to get one over on them. Even if you have good intentions, the following words may trigger the spam filter, so use with caution.
Should your message still make it to your target’s inbox, you run the risk of sounding shady when using words like the following:
- 381Addresses
- 382Addresses on cd
- 383Auto email removal
- 384Beneficiary
- 385Beverage
- 386Billing
- 387Billing Address
- 388Cable Converter
- 389Calling creditors
- 390Casino
- 391Celebrity
- 392Cell phone cancer scam
- 393They make a claim or claims that they're in accordance with spam law
- 394Claims to be legal
- 395Collect child support
- 396Confidentiality on all orders
- 397Copy accurately
- 398Copy dvds
- 399Credit bureaus
- 400Diagnostics
- 401Dig up dirt on friends
- 402Fast Viagra delivery
- 403Free cell phone
- 404Hidden
- 405Hidden assets
- 406Hidden charges
- 407Human growth hormone
- 408In accordance with laws
- 409Junk
- 410Laser printer
- 411Leave
- 412Legal
- 413Loan
- 414Loans
- 415Long distance phone number
- 416Medicine
- 417Medium
- 418Meet singles
- 419Message contains
- 420Message contains disclaimer
- 421Miracle
- 422Mlm
- 423Money
- 424Nigerian
- 425Off shore
- 426Offshore
- 427Online degree
- 428Online marketing
- 429Online pharmacy
- 430Orders shipped by shopper
- 431Passwords
- 432Problem
- 433Refinance
- 434Refinance home
- 435Request
- 436Requires initial investment
- 437Reserves the right
- 438Rolex
- 439Safeguard notice
- 440Score
- 441Score with babes
- 442Search engine listings
- 443Search engines
- 444Section 301
- 445Sent in compliance
- 446Shopping spree
- 447Social security number
- 448Spam
- 449Stock alert
- 450Stock disclaimer statement
- 451Stock pick
- 452Subject to cash
- 453Subject to credit
- 454Talks about hidden charges
- 455Teen
- 456Terms
- 457They try to keep your money, no refund
- 458This isn’t spam
- 459This isn’t junk
- 460Undisclosed recipient
- 461University diplomas
- 462Unsecured credit
- 463Unsecured debt
- 464Unsolicited
- 465U.S. dollars
- 466Valium
- 467Viagra
- 468Vicodin
- 469The email asks for a credit card
- 470Warranty
- 471Who really wins?
- 472Wife
- 473Xanax
- 474Your income
- 475Lambo
So What Do You Say Instead?
There are certain spam words that immediately raise suspicion. Then there are milder words that are hit and miss. There really is no one size fits all solution to effective email marketing. The main thing to remember when composing an email is to do so from a position of value.
Don’t give it all away! Compose your email with just enough information to incite intrigue within your target. Ask thought provoking questions. Write conversationally. Figure out a way to make your target come to you.
There is nothing wrong with including some of the words listed in this article in your emails. But use them sparingly or try to figure out an alternative if you can.
Conclusion
Once you get the hang of it, Club Value will see you coming and you may just start skipping the line to get in.