Email Spam Scores: The Definitive Guide

Introduction

Email spam is a serious problem for businesses who rely on email to reach their customers. If your emails are marked as spam, you risk losing customers and damaging your reputation. One way to improve email deliverability is by measuring your email spam score. In this guide, we’ll explain what a spam score is, how it works, and what you can do to improve your email deliverability and avoid spam filters.
<h2><strong>What is an Email Spam Score?</strong></h2>
An email spam score is a rating that indicates how likely your email is to be marked as spam by spam filters. Spam filters use a number of different criteria to determine a spam score, including the content of your email, the sending domain, and the sender’s reputation. Each criterion is weighted differently, and some may be more important than others.
<h3><strong>How is Email Spam Score Calculated?</strong></h3>
Most email service providers use a proprietary algorithm to calculate an email’s spam score. However, some factors may affect your score, including:
<ul>
    <li>The content of your email - Spam filters are designed to identify common spammy phrases and links, such as using all caps or using words like “free” and “guaranteed”.</li>
    <li>The sending domain - If your sending domain has been flagged for spam in the past, this can negatively affect your spam score.</li>
    <li>The sender’s reputation - If you have a history of sending spam emails, your email spam score may be lower.</li>
    <li>Email authentication - Authenticating your emails with SPF, DKIM, or DMARC can improve your email deliverability by letting email providers know that you are a legitimate sender.</li>
</ul>
<h2><strong>Why is Email Spam Score Important?</strong></h2>
If your email is marked as spam, it will likely never reach your recipient’s inbox. Instead, it will be sent to their spam folder or even rejected altogether. This can result in lost sales and damage to your reputation. By monitoring your email spam score, you can take steps to improve your email deliverability and avoid being marked as spam.
<h3><strong>How to Check Your Email Spam Score</strong></h3>
Most email service providers have built-in tools to check your email spam score. For example, if you use Mailchimp, you can use their Inbox Inspector tool to get an idea of how your email will appear in different email clients, as well as tips for improving your email spam score. Other tools like Email on Acid and Litmus also offer similar services.
<h2><strong>Conclusion</strong></h2>
Your email spam score is an important metric that can affect your email deliverability and ultimately your business. By understanding how to improve your score and avoid spam filters, you can increase the chances of your emails reaching your customers’ inboxes and achieving your email marketing goals.