Prevent emails from going to spam

Ten tips to help your emails deliver properly to your client's inbox.

Becca Berg avatar
Written by Becca Berg
Updated over a week ago

Updated Jan 26, 2024

With the ever-changing and increasing spam filters these days, we have seen a few common mistakes that land emails in a junk folder. Here are our top ten tips to make sure that your clients are receiving all of your emails.

1. Use a custom domain email

A custom domain email (like hello@yourdomain.com) separates your brand from all of the free available email providers. Having emails to your clients come from your branded email can be one extra notch on the deliverability scale.

2. Set up DKIM and SPF

DKIM keys and SPF records increase the trustworthiness of your emails in the eyes of your client's inbox. Many email providers have this enabled by default, but if you’re seeing deliverability issues and have a custom domain email, this is a good place to start.

If you connected your email to Dubsado via SMTP, check out our help articles on setting up SPF records or DKIM with your domain host.

3. Write great subject lines

Subject lines can be a huge make or break point for deliverability. Try not to use words like “sale” or “money”, and avoid money symbols or all caps. Try to make it as natural as possible.

For example, "New invoice from [your brand] for [client’s name]" would be great, since it ties in your brand and pertinent information to the client.

4. Avoid spam triggers

Certain types of email content can be red flags for email deliverability:

  • Inconsistent formatting

  • Embedding videos

  • Opening emails with “Dear”

  • Using too many images or links

  • Using too little text (try to aim for two paragraphs with about 50 words in each) 

5. Ask your clients to add you to their address book

This can help you successfully deliver to the client. In addition, this may help whitelist your email for other clients to see as well.

6. Ask new clients to add you to their Primary inbox

Don’t get lost and filtered into the Promotions tab of your Gmail using clients. Make sure they move you over to their Primary inbox where you belong!

7. Ask your clients to whitelist your email address

In most email accounts, you can create a rule or filter. Ask your clients to create a rule or filter to always send emails from your email address to their primary inbox, or to never send your emails to spam.

👋 Here's a tip... If one client whitelists you and accepts emails from you, other clients with the same email provider will be more likely to accept your emails too. If the email provider offers free email accounts, you can create a free email with that provider and whitelist your Dubsado-connected email!

8. Send a welcome message

Welcome messages are a powerful first step in establishing a relationship with a new client. Instead of making the first time you reach out to someone strictly business, send an email introducing yourself and welcoming them to your business. Don’t include any links or images — just a short and sweet welcome message.

9. Ask your client to reply to your email

A reply is the quickest way to get your email address whitelisted for your current and prospective clients. Include a P.S. at the bottom of your email asking for a quick reply or ask a question!

10. Include a plain-text version of your HTML email 

Good news, Dubsado already takes care of this for you. Including the plain text version of your email tells email providers that there’s a message in this email worth reading.

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