Spam Check

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About Spam Check

Spam Check is a vital tool within ActiveCampaign that you can use to help identify areas of "spamminess" in your campaigns and automation emails prior to sending them out to your contacts. Understanding how the Spam Check feature works can significantly improve email deliverability and engagement, ultimately leading to better communication with your audience.

Spam Check is available for the following ActiveCampaign plan types: Starter, Plus, Pro, and Enterprise. While a high score in the Spam Check does not necessarily mean your email will be flagged as spam, it provides valuable insights that can be used to improve email content.

What is Spam Check?

Every campaign and automation email created in ActiveCampaign undergoes a Spam Check. This tool scans the content of your message and provides results that can be viewed on both the Campaign Summary page and the Campaign Settings page. The backend system that powers the Spam Check tool is called SpamAssassin, which is one of the most widely utilized open-source tools designed for scanning messages to identify potential spam characteristics.

If Spam Check determines that your content has no issues, you will see a result of "Passed" along with a green checkmark. Conversely, if Spam Check identifies concerns, you will receive a numerical score alongside a list of issues to address before sending the communication to your contacts.

A Few Important Notes about Spam Check

• Spam Check does not prevent you from sending your email. Instead, it highlights issues that may need your attention before the message is dispatched.
• The service solely analyzes the content of your message; it cannot assess the reputation of your domain or the composition of your mailing list. Hence, it is possible to pass the Spam Check and still face deliverability challenges.
• The SpamAssassin tool can be customized by ISPs, meaning rules may be added, adjusted, or removed based on their own criteria.
• The results shown by Spam Check are based on a default configuration.
• Major ISPs like Gmail, Hotmail/Outlook/Microsoft, and Yahoo/AOL do not rely heavily on SpamAssassin for their spam detection. Instead, they may use some of the underlying logic demonstrated in SpamAssassin but utilize proprietary systems that are much more complex.

How to Access Spam Check

To access the Spam Check feature, follow these steps:

1. Log in to your ActiveCampaign account. 2. Navigate to the Campaigns section. 3. Create a new campaign or edit an existing one. 4. As you proceed, you will see the Spam Check results displayed on the Campaign Summary and Campaign Settings pages.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Here’s a detailed guide on how to utilize the Spam Check feature:

1. **Create or Edit a Campaign**: Start by creating a new campaign or editing an existing campaign in your ActiveCampaign dashboard. 2. **Compose Your Email**: Write the content of your email in the provided editor. 3. **Run Spam Check**: Once your email content is ready, Spam Check will automatically scan your message. You may see the results on the Campaign Summary page or during the campaigns' setup on the settings page. 4. **Review Results**: Look for the Spam Check result:

  - If it says "Passed" with a green checkmark, your content is clear of identified issues.
  - If it shows a score and lists issues, review the feedback provided.

5. **Make Necessary Adjustments**: Address any highlighted issues by modifying the content according to the suggestions provided by Spam Check. 6. **Rescan If Necessary**: After making adjustments, you can run the Spam Check again to ensure the issues have been resolved. 7. **Send Your Campaign**: Once you’re satisfied with the results of the Spam Check, you can proceed to send your campaign to your contacts.

Configuration Options and Settings

While using the Spam Check feature, pay attention to the following key aspects:

• Sender Email Address: Ensure you are using a professional email address rather than a free email service like Gmail or Yahoo.
• Subject Line: Avoid using excessive punctuation, such as exclamation marks or question marks.
• Text-to-Image Ratio: Maintain a balanced ratio of text to images; too many images relative to the text can trigger spam flags.
• Message Content: Use clear, conversational language and avoid phrases or words that might trigger spam filters such as "make lots of money" or "one time".

Best Practices and Tips

1. **Keep a Clean List**: Always ensure the email addresses on your list are valid and that recipients have opted in to receive your communications. 2. **Craft Engaging Content**: Create valuable and relevant content that appeals to your audience. Engaging content often leads to higher deliverability rates. 3. **Follow Simple Guidelines**: Adhere to the recommendations provided by SpamCheck and avoid common spam triggers. 4. **Rescan Result Adjustments**: If flagged by Spam Check, systematically check each issue and make necessary adjustments before finalizing your campaign.

Common Use Cases with Examples

- **Event Announcements**: Before sending invites for events, run a Spam Check to ensure the communication is clear of flagged terms that might deter recipients from receiving it. - **Newsletters**: Use Spam Check when composing regular newsletters to improve engagement and ensure better deliverability. - **Promotional Offers**: Ensure your promotional emails pass the Spam Check to reduce the risk of landing in spam folders, thus increasing chances of recipient visibility.

Troubleshooting Section

If you encounter issues with Spam Check, consider the following troubleshooting steps:

• Review any highlighted concerns and their suggested fixes thoroughly.
• Avoid using free email service domains for sender addresses.
• Compare your email content with common spam phrases and adjust as necessary.
• For complex HTML code, check if it is causing false positives by simplifying the formatting.

Related Features

For further enhancements in your email marketing strategy, explore the following related features:

• Campaigns: Understand all the aspects of creating and managing your campaigns for better engagement.
• Deliverability Tips: Learn more about deliverability strategies for effective email communications.

FAQ Section

1. What happens if my email fails the Spam Check?

A failure in Spam Check indicates potential issues that may affect deliverability, but it won't prevent you from sending your email. Instead, use the feedback to improve your content.

2. Do I need to resend my email if I fail the Spam Check?

Not necessarily, but it is advisable to address the flagged issues before sending out the email.

3. Can Spam Check guarantee my email will reach recipients' inboxes?

Spam Check provides guidance but cannot guarantee inbox placement as other factors also influence deliverability.

4. How often should I use Spam Check?

It is good practice to use Spam Check each time you create a new campaign or modify an existing one to ensure it complies with best practices.

5. What are some common phrases to avoid?

Common phrases to avoid include "make lots of money," "free," and "urgent," as these are often flagged as spam triggers.

6. Why do some of my emails still end up in spam folders?

Having passed the Spam Check does not safeguard against all spam filters from ISPs, which may employ different criteria for evaluation.

7. How can I improve my Spam Check score?

Improve your score by adhering to best practices: maintaining a clean email list, using professional sender addresses, and crafting engaging, thoughtful content.

For additional tips on improving email deliverability, refer to the "Deliverability Tips for Content" help article.