Reputation dominates, but content still tips borderline decisions and drives the complaints that build reputation in the first place.
How to implement spam filter content triggers#
- Keep a healthy text-to-image ratio and always include a plain-text part.
- Link to your own domain; avoid shorteners and tracking domains with poor reputation.
- Make link text match the destination.
- Test rendering and spam scores before sending.
How to verify it worked#
Send a test message to seed mailboxes at Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo, then inspect the Authentication-Results and delivery headers. Repeat after any DNS or sending-platform change.
Common mistakes#
- Image-only emails.
- Tracking links on a shared domain used by spammers.
Frequently asked questions#
Are spam trigger words still a thing?
Much less than a decade ago. Modern filters are statistical and reputation-weighted. Deceptive intent matters more than any single word.