Why Are My Emails Going to Spam?
Frustrated that your emails aren't reaching the inbox? You're not alone. Email deliverability issues affect businesses of all sizes. Let's diagnose the problem and fix it.
Quick Diagnosis: What's Causing Your Spam Problem?
Authentication Issues
Missing or misconfigured SPF, DKIM, or DMARC records are the #1 cause of spam placement.
Check your authentication →Blacklist Issues
Your IP or domain may be listed on email blacklists, causing immediate spam placement.
Check blacklists →Reputation Issues
Poor sender reputation from high bounce rates, spam complaints, or inconsistent sending.
Test deliverability →12 Reasons Your Emails Go to Spam
Here are the most common causes of email deliverability problems, ranked by how often we see them.
Missing or Invalid SPF Record
SPF tells receiving servers which IPs can send email for your domain. Without it, your emails look suspicious.
No DKIM Signature
DKIM adds a digital signature proving your email wasn't tampered with. Major providers now require it.
Missing DMARC Policy
DMARC is now required by Google and Yahoo for bulk senders. Without it, your emails may be rejected.
IP or Domain Blacklisted
If your sending IP or domain is on a blacklist (RBL), many servers will automatically reject or spam your emails.
High Spam Complaint Rate
If recipients mark your emails as spam, your reputation suffers. Keep complaint rates below 0.1% (Google's threshold is 0.3%).
Poor Sender Reputation
Your domain and IP build a reputation over time. New domains, inconsistent sending, or past issues can hurt deliverability.
Spammy Subject Lines or Content
Words like "FREE", "ACT NOW", excessive caps, or too many exclamation marks trigger spam filters.
No Unsubscribe Link
Marketing emails must include an easy unsubscribe option. Google and Yahoo now require one-click unsubscribe for bulk senders.
Sending to Invalid Addresses
High bounce rates from invalid email addresses damage your sender reputation. Clean your list regularly.
Missing Reverse DNS (PTR Record)
Your sending IP should have a PTR record that resolves back to your domain. Many servers check this.
No TLS Encryption
Emails should be sent over encrypted TLS connections. Unencrypted email is increasingly flagged as suspicious.
Shared IP with Bad Senders
If you're on a shared sending IP (common with email services), other users' bad behavior can affect your deliverability.
How to Fix Email Deliverability Issues
Step 1: Run a Full Audit
Start by scanning your domain to identify all issues at once.
Run Free AuditStep 2: Fix Authentication
Set up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records. Our tools provide copy-ready DNS records.
Authentication GuideStep 3: Check Blacklists
If you're blacklisted, follow the delisting process for each RBL.
Check BlacklistsStep 4: Monitor & Maintain
Set up ongoing monitoring to catch issues before they affect deliverability.
Deliverability TestStop Landing in Spam
Run a free scan to identify exactly why your emails aren't reaching the inbox. Get actionable fixes in seconds.
Free Deliverability Test →