Writing a compelling email template is already a challenge. Appeasing spam filters doesn’t make it any easier.
As a sender, you can probably relate to this situation: You work for hours, putting perfect sales emails together; you click “Send” and wait for your intended recipients to gaze upon your creation and be amazed by your style and the presentation of your services. However, you end up waiting, and waiting, and waiting…
You send more emails, now with an Open Rate tracker — and it reveals that none of your emails is opened. It’s as if they have never reached your recipients’ mailboxes. You check your DNS records: They’re fine. You do a blacklist scan: Your domain name isn’t featured anywhere. Ultimately, you use some of the available tools to run a deliverability test — and it informs you about spammy content.
“How could this happen?” you ask yourself. “I’m not using any salesy words! I was extra careful with numbers! I avoided words, such as “buy” and “order,” like the plague. Why did it happen?”
The truth is, you may have done a great job omitting the old spam trigger words. But you probably haven’t taken care of the new ones. Yes, the list of words that spam filters consider dangerous is updated all the time. Therefore, it’s not enough to remove 3-year-old spam trigger words from your email template. You must do some extra checks for the latest words and phrases that put spam filters on high alert.
What are spam trigger words?
When emails became widely used for communication and even business conversations, users started suffering from the onslaught of uninvited messages, teeming with loud slogans written in caps, triple exclamation marks, fake “You’re the winner” messages and dubious call-to-action buttons.

This may sound unreal to the people who were born in the safe Internet epoch. However, PTAs advising caution against suspicious emails and warning not to click any suspicious links found in the body text were a common thing twenty years ago. People had to be thoroughly educated regarding the dangers that can be hidden in an unidentified message with bait in the subject line.
For example, the notorious ILOVEYOU virus that compromised the safety of ten million PCs was spread via an email that had an attached A-LOVE-LETTER-FOR-YOU file. The damage to the world economy inflicted by a virus with such an innocent name is estimated to be around ten billion dollars, making it one of the most destructive computer worms that ever existed.
This is why nowadays, all advanced spam filters pay extra attention to the content of incoming messages. Words, phrases, and even exclamation marks used or written in a certain way are considered to be indicators of spammy content, promoting spam filters to react and remove the incoming message from an inbox. Any word capable of triggering such a response is called a spam trigger word.
Why are there so many spam trigger words?
Going back to the topic we discussed at the beginning of this post, avoiding salesy phrases is not enough to steer clear of spam trigger words. Spam emails are designed by humans. Humans learn from their mistakes and try to find a way. Therefore, spammers often know which words no longer work and try to come up with new ones. To keep up with the updates, spam filters evolve, scanning data submitted by watchful users and adapting to these changes. This is an endless cycle, so the list of spam trigger words keeps growing.
You can find the most up-to-date list below.
Symbols & Numerals
|
0% 0% risk 777 99% 99.9% |
100% 100% more #1 $$ 100% free |
100% satisfied 4U 50% off !!! |
A
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Absolutely free Accept credit cards Acceptance Access Access now Access for free Accordingly Act Now Act immediately Action Action required |
Ad Additional income Addresses on CD Adult Affordable Affordable deal All natural All new Amazed Amazing Amazing offer |
Amazing stuff Apply here Apply now Apply online As seen on At no cost Auto email removal Avoid Avoid bankruptcy |
B
|
Bargain Be amazed Be surprised Be your own boss Believe me Being a member Beneficiary Best bargain Best deal Best price |
Best offer Beverage Big bucks Bill 1618 Billing Billing address Billionaire Billion Billion dollars Bonus |
Boss Brand new pager Breakthrough Bulk Bulk email Buy Buy now Buy direct Buying judgments |
C
|
Cable converter Call Call free Call me Call now Calling creditors Can’t live without Can't be considered spam Cancel Cancel at any time Cancel now Cancellation required Cannot be combined with any other offer Cards accepted Cash Cash out Cash bonus Cashcashcash Casino Celebrity Cell phone cancer scam |
Cents on the dollar Certified Chance Cheap Check Check or money order Claims Claim now Claims to be legal Claims not to be selling anything Claims to be in accordance with some spam law Claim your discount Clearance Click Click below Click here Click now Click to get Click to remove Closeout |
Collect Collect child support Compare Compare now Compare online Compare rates Compete for your business Confidentially on all orders Congratulations Consolidate debt and credit Contest Consolidate your debt Copy accurately Copy DVDs Costs Credit Credit bureaus Credit Card Credit card offers Cures Cures baldness |
D
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Deal Dear [email/friend/somebody] Debt Diagnostics Dig up dirt on friends Direct email |
Direct marketing Discount Do it now Do it today Don’t delete Don’t hesitate |
Dormant Double your Double your cash Double your income Double your wealth Drastically reduced |
E
|
Earn Earn $ Earn extra cash Earn money Earn monthly Earn from home Earn per month Earn per week |
Easy terms Eliminate bad credit Eliminate debt Email extractor Email harvest Email marketing Enlarge Exclusive deal |
Expect to earn Expire Explode your business Extra Extra cash Extra income Extract email |
F
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Free Falling interest Fantastic Fantastic deal Fantastic offer Fast cash Fast Viagra delivery Financial freedom Financially independent For free For instant access For just $ (some amount) For just $xxx For Only For You |
Form Free Free access Free bonus Free cell phone Free consultation Free DVD Free gift Free grant money Free hosting Free info Free information Free installation Free instant Free investment
|
Free iPhone Free leads Free Macbook Free membership Free money Free offer Free preview Free priority mail Free quote Free sample Free trial Free website Freedom Friend Full refund |
G
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Get Get it now Get out of debt Get paid Get started now Gift certificate |
Give it away Giving away Great Great deal Great offer Guarantee |
Guaranteed Guaranteed deposit Guaranteed income Guaranteed payment
|
H
|
Hardcore Have you been turned down? Hello Here Hidden Hidden assets |
Hidden charges Hidden fees High score Home Home based Home employment |
Home based business Home business Home refinancing Human growth hormone Huge discount Hurry up |
I
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If only it were that easy Important information regarding Important notification In accordance with laws Income Income from home Increase sales |
Increase traffic Increase your chances Increase your sales Incredible deal Info you requested Information you requested Instant Instant earnings |
Instant income Insurance Internet market Internet marketing Inventory reduction Investment Investment decision It’s effective |
J
|
Join millions |
Join millions of Americans |
Junk |
L
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Last chance Laser printer Leave Legal Legal notice Life Life Insurance Lifetime Lifetime access Lifetime deal Limited amount |
Limited number Limited offer Limited supply Limited time Limited time offer Limited time only Loan Long distance Long distance phone offer Lose Lose weight |
Lose weight spam Lower interest rates Lower monthly payment Lower your mortgage rate Lowest insurance rates Low prices Lowest price Lowest rate Luxury Luxury car |
M
|
Mail in order form Maintained Make $ Make money Marketing Marketing solutions Mass email Medicine Medium Meet girls Meet me Meet singles |
Meet women Member Member stuff Message contains Message contains disclaimer Million Millionaire Million dollars Million email addresses Miracle |
MLM Money Money at home Money back Money fast Money making Month trial offer More Internet Traffic Mortgage Mortgage rates Multi-level marketing |
N
|
Name brand Never Never before New customers only New domain extensions Nigerian No age restrictions No catch No claim forms No cost No credit check No deposit required No disappointment No experience |
No fees No gimmick No hidden No hidden сosts No hidden fees No interests No inventory No investment No investment required No medical exams No middleman No obligation No payment required |
No purchase necessary No questions asked No selling No strings attached No-obligation Not intended Not junk Not scam Not spam Now Now only Number 1 Number one |
O
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Obligation Offshore Offer Offer expires Once in lifetime Once in a lifetime One hundred percent free One hundred percent guaranteed One time |
One time mailing Online biz opportunity Online degree Online job Online income Online marketing Online pharmacy Only Only $ Open |
Opportunity Opt in Opt out Order Order a report Order now Order shipped by Order status Order today Outstanding values |
P
|
Passwords Pennies a day Percent off Per day Per month Per week Performance Phone Please read |
Potential earnings Pre-approved Presently Price Price protection Print form signature Print out and fax Priority mail Prize |
Problem Produced and sent out Profits Promise Promise you Purchase Purchase today Pure profits
|
Q
|
Quote |
|
|
R
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Rates Read twice Real thing Refinance Refinance home Refinance today Refund Removal |
Removal instructions Remove Removes wrinkles Request Request now Request today Requires initial investment |
Reserves the right Reverses Reverses aging Risk free Risk-free Rolex Round the world |
S
|
S 1618 Safeguard notice Sale Sample Satisfaction Satisfaction guaranteed Save Save $ Save an extra Save money Save now Save big money Save up to Score Score with babes Search engine listings Search engines Section 301 |
See for yourself Sent in compliance Serious Serious cash Serious only Serious offer Shopper Shopping spree Sign up free today Social security number Solution Spam Special deal Special discount Special for you Special offer Special promotion Stainless steel |
Stock alert Stock disclaimer statement Stock pick Stop Stop calling me Stop emailing me Stop snoring Strong buy Stuff on sale Subject to cash Subject to credit Subscribe Subscribe now Subscribe for free Success Supplies Supplies are limited |
T
|
Take action Take action now Talks about hidden charges Talks about prizes Teen Tells you it’s an ad Terms Terms and conditions The best rates |
The following form They keep your money — no refund! They’re just giving it away This email was not sent unsolicited This isn’t a scam This is an advertisement |
This isn’t junk This isn’t spam This won’t last Thousands Time limited Toll free Traffic Trial |
U
|
UCE-Mail ActUndisclosed recipient University diplomas Unlimited |
Unsecured credit Unsecured debt Unsolicited |
Unsubscribe Urgent US dollars |
V
|
Vacation Vacation offers Valium |
Viagra Vicodin |
VIP Visit our website |
W
|
Wants credit card Warranty Warranty expired We hate spam We honor all We strongly oppose the use of spam email Web traffic Website visitors |
Weekend getaway Weight Weight loss What are you waiting for? What’s keeping you? While available While in stock While supplies last While you sleep |
Who really wins? Why pay more? Wife Will not believe your eyes Win Winner Winning Won Work from home |
X
|
Xanax |
|
|
Y
|
You are a winner! You have been chosen |
You have been selected Your chance |
Your income Your status |
Z
|
Zero chance |
Zero percent |
Zero risk |
How to avoid spam trigger words?
Referring to spam trigger word lists is a good idea, but given how fast new spam trigger words appear, you might need more than just a list to keep your emails clean and friendly to spam filters. Luckily, there is a certain pattern that allows you to avoid potential spam trigger words, not just the most obvious ones.
Once you’ve written your email template, go through each word very carefully. Ask yourself:
“Does my message sound too good to be true?” There is no doubt that you want to outline all the benefits of your sales offer to your prospect. But it’s important to stay realistic about it and be careful with the adjectives you’re using. Words like “amazing,” “beautiful” or “perfect” sound nice but don’t provide any substantial information. Instead, they make you look shady. Nobody believes in free cheese nowadays. People believe in risks and rewards, in data and statistics, so be honest with your prospects and don’t sugarcoat your offers.
“Does it sound like a promise I can’t keep?” Positioning yourself as a vendor who can solve problems is the right decision. However, it doesn’t mean that you can say things like:
- “We will resolve your issues.”
- “We’ll help you get more profit.”
- “You’ll be dominating your industry in less than a week.”
Those are the things a financial pyramid leader would say — and nobody likes those people. Don’t be in a hurry to give promises or guarantees. Outline your roadmap and approximate results, express your readiness to tackle challenges and adapt to them. This is what people want to see in their vendors.
“Does it sound like a scam?” Getting overly creative with your body text may do you a huge disservice. Using informal language, images to draw attention or words like “prize,” “win,” “score” won’t inspire your recipients. They will alert spam filters, though. Thus, convince people of your success with facts and case studies.
Keep in mind that you won’t automatically get banned by spam filters, even if your body text features a word from a spam trigger list. If you have a good sending reputation, a solid sender ID and delivery rate, your email will be allowed to proceed. Quite often, spam triggers go hand-in-hand with low reputation, lack of DNS records and other components of healthy outreach that spammers aren’t typically bothered with.
Conclusion
Spam trigger words are the words that can be used to manipulate your readers, appeal to their vision of their business and their goals, exploit their concerns by using emotional triggers. Even though there are lists of spam trigger words to avoid, you can easily dodge them by keeping your sender reputation clean and developing an individual approach to each prospect.
Find out what’s going on in your potential clients’ industry to understand their professional jargon and stay in touch with their latest trends. If you do proper research, you won’t have problems with sounding corny, cheesy, insincere, unoriginal or spammy.
We hope that this post was helpful to you. In case you want to explore the principles behind cold outreach more closely, stay tuned for more content by becoming our subscriber!