Why Does SpamAssassin Mark My Email as Spam?
Understanding why emails are marked as spam and how to fix it
Table of Contents
Why Does SpamAssassin Mark My Email as Spam?
SpamAssassin marks emails as spam when spam scores exceed thresholds (typically 5.0 or higher). Common causes include missing or failed email authentication, spam trigger words, invalid HTML, blacklisted domains, poor sender reputation, suspicious link patterns, and content matching spam patterns.
Test your emails with our SpamAssassin test tool to identify specific issues and get detailed reports showing which factors are contributing to high spam scores.
Understanding why emails are marked as spam helps you fix issues and improve deliverability. Address identified problems to lower spam scores and ensure emails reach inboxes.
Common Causes
1. Missing Authentication
Missing or failed SPF, DKIM, DMARC authentication significantly increases spam scores. Verify authentication using our authentication checker.
2. Spam Trigger Words
Spam trigger words in content increase scores. Use our spam words checker to identify problematic content.
3. Invalid HTML
Invalid or problematic HTML code increases spam scores. Validate HTML using our HTML validator.
4. Blacklist Status
Being on email blacklists significantly increases scores. Check your blacklist status regularly.
5. Poor Reputation
Poor sender reputation from previous sends, high bounce rates, or spam complaints increases scores.
6. Missing Plain Text
Emails without plain-text versions may receive higher spam scores.
Authentication Issues
Missing or failed authentication is a major cause of high spam scores:
SPF Failures
Missing or incorrect SPF records cause authentication failures, significantly increasing spam scores.
DKIM Failures
Failed DKIM signatures indicate authentication problems, increasing spam scores.
DMARC Failures
Missing or incorrect DMARC policies can increase spam scores.
Use our comprehensive authentication checker to verify all three protocols are working correctly.
Content Issues
Spam Trigger Words
Certain words and phrases trigger spam filters. Use our spam words checker to identify and remove problematic content.
HTML Problems
Invalid HTML, broken structure, or problematic code increases spam scores. Validate HTML using our HTML validator.
Link Patterns
Excessive links, suspicious link patterns, or problematic URLs can increase spam scores.
Content Patterns
Content that matches known spam patterns, structures, or characteristics increases spam scores.
How to Fix
1. Implement Authentication
Set up and verify SPF, DKIM, DMARC. This is one of the most important factors affecting spam scores.
2. Remove Spam Triggers
Use our spam words checker to identify and remove problematic words and phrases.
3. Fix HTML Issues
Validate and fix HTML using our HTML validator.
4. Check Blacklist Status
Monitor and address blacklist status. Being on blacklists significantly increases scores.
5. Test and Improve
Test emails with our SpamAssassin test to identify issues and verify improvements.
6. Follow Best Practices
Use clean lists, maintain good engagement, include plain-text versions, and follow email best practices.
