Email lists disappearing into spam folders

[Bruce]

I recently signed up for MailerLite with the intention of building my email list. I’ve been testing my response emails for signups before I “go public” and am discovering that those going to Gmail addresses end up in the Promotions Tab. Some people say no big deal, but many others say this is almost as deadly as being sent to spam. Is it that bad? If it is, how do I avoid it? I’m doing the standard spam advice: avoiding FREE in the subject line, too many links and photos in the body of the email, authenticating my email address, etc.

[Anna]

I have a Gmail address and I never look at the Promotions Tab and only rarely check the Social Tab. Sorry Bruce!

You have shown me an important point to hang on to when I eventually get around to making an email list (tut, tut, Anna). I have already set up a Yahoo account ready to receive those emails. Yahoo seem to be good at recognizing spam and I have no problems with them at all.

[Bruce]

Yeah, not checking Promotions is what I fear. Pardon me if I'm confused, however, by you setting up a Yahoo account to receive emails for your email list. The issue is the accounts of whomever joins my email list. Some (many, actually) will have Gmail accounts and the emails I send will disappear into their Promotions tab. They may not end up in Spam, however, for those who have say Comcast, AOL, and Yahoo. Unfortunately, Gmail is the widest used email service.

[Anna]

Ah... yes, apologies, I understand what you are saying, I wasn't at all clear and missed out that I was extending my thoughts to people responding to you via your website simply because if you have your contact address going to Gmail, their emails may not reach your personal tab. I've found Gmail very good mostly, but an occasional lost lamb turns up in the wrong folder.

Just thinkin'

[Tilly]

In your welcome email you need to include instructions how to white list your email address, so it goes into the reader's inbox.

[Nicole]

Promotions hasn't been a problem for me. If my newsletter goes there, readers often know to find it. They might not see it right away, but they DO see it. Lately my bigger issues with MailerLite have been with Hotmail and MSN.com email addresses. I have received a few emails from readers saying they can't get my newsletter at ALL...they don't get the welcome email, etc. They've checked spam, promotions, junk, etc, and nothing. Nor do the emails bounce back to MailerLite. In a couple cases where the readers and I went back and forth troubleshooting, they each tried signing up from a backup email address (yahoo, for instance) and bam. Instantly got the newsletter. It's maddening, but I haven't figured out a workaround.

[Bruce]

Thanks, Nicole. I'm new to setting up a list like this, so I've yet to discover what works or doesn't work.