A successful email campaign depends on many factors, and even a small mistake can send your outreach straight to an influencer’s spam folder instead of their inbox. To help you avoid this, we’ve outlined the key reasons why emails get flagged as spam and how to fix them.
1. Weak or spammy subject lines
Your subject line is the first thing an influencer sees. If it looks spammy or generic, it might be filtered out before they even open it.
❌ Avoid subject lines like:
"Make Money Fast – Brand Collab Inside!"
"Act Now: Paid Opportunity!"
✅ Use natural, personalized subject lines instead:
"Love your content
{{tiktok_username}}! Let’s chat 💡""We’d love to collaborate on [specific campaign]"
"Big fan of your work
{{instagram_username}}— let’s team up?"
🔹 Fix:
Test different subject lines that feel genuine and relevant.
Use merge fields to make each email unique and avoid sending identical messages, which can trigger spam filters.
Avoid all-caps, excessive punctuation, and too many emojis.
2. Your IP address has a poor reputation
If your email domain or IP address has been flagged for spam in the past—even by someone else—email providers may automatically filter your messages.
Additionally, if multiple recipients report your emails as spam, providers like GSuite may block your account to protect their users.
🔹 Fix:
Check if your IP is blacklisted using MXToolbox.
If your address is blocked, contact your administrator or request your Email Service Provider (ESP) to change your IP or switch to a new email.
Reduce spam complaints by improving your email content and personalizing your outreach.
Avoid sending too many emails at once—large spikes in activity can look suspicious.
Monitor bounce rates; high bounce rates signal low email trustworthiness.
3. Spam trigger words in your email
Certain words can set off spam filters, making your email less likely to land in an inbox.
🚨 Avoid overusing words like:
Amazing
Cancel at any time
Check or money order
Congratulations
Dear friend
For only ($)
Free or toll-free
Great offer
Guarantee
Increase sales
Order now
Promise you
Risk-free
Special promotion
This is not spam
Winner
4. No clear sender identity
Emails from a generic or “noreply” email address are more likely to be marked as spam.
🔹 Fix: Use a real email address like sarah@yourbrand.com instead of noreply@brand.com. Influencers are more likely to open emails from an actual person.
5. Low engagement with your emails
If influencers consistently ignore your emails, providers may assume your messages are unwanted and start flagging them as spam.
🔹 Fix:
Follow up if they don’t respond within a few days.
Test different subject lines to improve open rates.
Keep your emails short, clear, and easy to read.
6. Your email attachments triggered spam filters
Certain attachment types (like .exe files) can make emails look suspicious.
🔹 Fix: Instead of sending attachments, include a link to a trusted cloud storage service where recipients can download the file.
7. Missing a physical address in your email
A missing physical mailing address can make your emails look untrustworthy and non-compliant with spam regulations.
🔹 Fix: We must include a valid physical address in your email footer. This can be:
A registered street address
A PO Box
A private mailbox from a commercial mail-receiving agency
If you work from home and don’t want to share your address, consider getting a PO Box for business purposes.
How to improve email deliverability for influencer outreach
Warm up your email domain
If you’re sending from a new email address, start with a few emails per day and gradually increase.
Authenticate your email
Set up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records to prevent your emails from being flagged as suspicious.
Use merge fields
Personalize your emails with merge fields such as
{{first_name}},{{instagram_username}}, or{{instagram_followers}}to make each email unique and avoid spam filters.
Monitor bounce & spam rates
Keep an eye on email performance and adjust your approach accordingly.
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