Every email marketer’s worst place to be: the spam folder.

Nearly one in five emails gets caught by a spam filter and sent to the spam folder jail.

Spam filters check for red flags like:

• Links to sketchy websites
• The use of certain words
• Messages in ALL CAPS
• Broken HTML code
• Colorful and different sized fonts
• Emails without an unsubscribe button

In this article, we’re focusing on 188 spam words to avoid to stay out of spam Email filters.

Keep reading to learn:

• What are spam trigger words?
• 188 spam words and phrases to avoid

What are spam trigger words?

Spam trigger words are keywords or phrases that email providers see as red flags.

As the saying goes, “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” Spam filters catch suspicious words and phrases associated with:

• Scams
• Gimmicks
• Schemes
• Promises
• Free gifts

Gmail’s spam filter caught all of these promotional emails. Now they’re left to languish in my spam folder for eternity. (Or until Gmail automatically deletes them after 30 days.)

Spam filters have become more advanced in recent years.

If you…

• Put a ton of spam keywords into your email
• Use all caps, bright red font, and lots of exclamation points
• Already have a low delivery rate

…you’re going to spam jail.

If you…

• Use one or two of the words and phrases in context
• Code your emails well
• Have a low bounce rate

…you’ll be fine.

188 spam words and phrases to avoid in your email marketing

Words that exaggerated claims and promises

1. #1
2. 100% more
3. 100% free
4. 100% satisfied
5. Additional income
6. Be your own boss
7. Best price
8. Big bucks
9. Billion
10. Cash bonus
11. Cents on the dollar
12. Consolidate debt
13. Double your cash
14. Double your income
15. Earn extra cash
16. Earn money
17. Eliminate bad credit
18. Extra cash
19. Extra income
20. Expect to earn
21. Fast cash
22. Financial freedom
23. Free access
24. Free consultation
25. Free gift
26. Free hosting
27. Free info
28. Free investment
29. Free membership
30. Free money
31. Free preview
32. Free quote
33. Free trial
34. Full refund
35. Get out of debt
36. Get paid
37. Giveaway
38. Guaranteed
39. Increase sales
40. Increase traffic
41. Incredible deal
42. Lower rates
43. Lowest price
44. Make money
45. Million dollars
46. Miracle
47. Money back
48. Once in a lifetime
49. One time
50. Pennies a day
51. Potential earnings
52. Prize
53. Promise
54. Pure profit
55. Risk-free
56. Satisfaction guaranteed
57. Save big money
58. Save up to
59. Special promotion

Words that create unnecessary urgency and pressure

1. Act now
2. Apply now
3. Become a member
4. Call now
5. Click below
6. Click here
7. Get it now
8. Do it today
9. Don’t delete
10. Exclusive deal
11. Get started now
12. Important information regarding
13. Information you requested
14. Instant
15. Limited time
16. New customers only
17. Order now
18. Please read
19. See for yourself
20. Sign up free
21. Take action
22. This won’t last
23. Urgent
24. What are you waiting for?
25. While supplies last
26. Will not believe your eyes
27. Winner
28. Winning
29. You are a winner
30. You have been selected

Words that look like spammy or unethical behavior

1. Bulk email
2. Buy direct
3. Cancel at any time
4. Check or money order
5. Congratulations
6. Confidentiality
7. Cures
8. Dear friend
9. Direct email
10. Direct marketing
11. Hidden charges
12. Human growth hormone
13. Internet marketing
14. Lose weight
15. Mass email
16. Meet singles
17. Multi-level marketing
18. No catch
19. No cost
20. No credit check
21. No fees
22. No gimmick
23. No hidden costs
24. No hidden fees
25. No interest
26. No investment
27. No obligation
28. No purchase necessary
29. No questions asked
30. No strings attached
31. Not junk
32. Notspam
33. Obligation
34. Passwords
35. Requires initial investment
36. Social security number
37. This isn’t a scam
38. This isn’t junk
39. This isn’t spam
40. Undisclosed
41. Unsecured credit
42. Unsecured debt
43. Unsolicited
44. Valium
45. Viagra
46. Vicodin
47. We hate spam
48. Weight loss
49. Xanax

Words that are jargon or legalese

1. Accept credit cards
2. Ad
3. All new
4. As seen on
5. Bargain
6. Beneficiary
7. Billing
8. Bonus
9. Cards accepted
10. Cash
11. Certified
12. Cheap
13. Claims
14. Clearance
15. Compare rates
16. Credit card offers
17. Deal
18. Debt
19. Discount
20. Fantastic
21. In accordance with laws
22. Income
23. Investment
24. Join millions
25. Lifetime
26. Loans
27. Luxury
28. Marketing solution
29. Message contains
30. Mortgage rates
31. Name brand
32. Offer
33. Online marketing
34. Opt in
35. Pre-approved
36. Quote
37. Rates
38. Refinance
39. Removal
40. Reserves the right
41. Score
42. Search engine
43. Sent in compliance
44. Subject to…
45. Terms and conditions
46. Trial
47. Unlimited
48. Warranty
49. Web traffic
50. Work from home

You’re not sending spam on purpose, but a spam filter can still catch your email before it can land in your subscriber’s inbox.

Avoid spam words in this post and do your best to send good content to avoid any spam filter.