Spam is more than a can of processed meat – it is the bane of our existence here on the WWW.

Spam is, of course, a nightmare for those of us who receive a bunch of it everyday – especially all the devious garbage from those who want to steal accounts and money.  Sadly, spam is also a nightmare for those who send any kind of email, including Newsletters.

This deluge of irritating junk mail (SPAM) interferes with legitimate Newsletter publishers, because we routinely get caught in the crossfire of the anti-spam war.  If you publish any type of electronic publication, including marketing e-mail publications, there's a better than average chance that that your Newsletter will get caught up in a SPAM Filter and will NOT reach your subsribers (who asked to receive your newsletter).

SPAM Filters are software programs that search for key words and phrases that are typically found in SPAM email.  The scanning software looks for words and phrases, then assigns each an incoming e-mail "score."  If your Newsletter or e-mail has too many of these words and phrases, you get a high scanning score, and your product will be blocked and sidelined to the Suspected SPAM inbox.  Most er check the SPAM filter looking for legitimate mail.

So, it is critical to understand which words score high and to avoid using them in your publications.  While there are other words that will cost you more "points" than those listed here, (e.g. anything having to do with sex), here are the other high counting and most common "trigger" words and phrases . 

1.   amazing
2.   cancel at any time
3.   check or money order
4.   click here
5.   congratulations
6.   dear friend
7.   e-mail marketing
8.   for only ($)
9.   for free
10. great offer
11. guarantee
12. increase sales
13. order now
14. promise you
15. risk free
16. special promotion
17. this is not spam
18. to be removed
19. unsubscribe
20. winner

You have only two choices when you want to beat SPAM filters; avoid using the above words and phrases altogether or, disguise these words and phrases.  On clever way to disguise the words is by  inserting keyboard symbols within the word as a substitute for a letter (e.g., sp*cial promo*tion)

Obviously, when promoting your business, avoiding the use of these words and phrases is very hard to do.  If an article discusses how information your Newsletter can help fellow eBayers increase eBay business, the simple word "increase" costs 1.4 points in “SpamAssassin,” (one of the most popular SPAM filter programs on the Web).

Disguising words and phrases in clever ways by inserting keyboard symbols within them and/or replacing a letter in the words with a symbol is a good way to often fool the filter.  It is key, however, to be sure that the letter-symbol exchange does not make the word or phrase too cryptic.  After all, it is necessary for your readers to understand what you're saying. 

While some spam filters pick up on this “trick” and penalize you for it by adding some points to your score, the points that you receive for using this approach are far fewer than your would receive if you used the words as written.  So, while not a perfect solution to the SPAM filter problem, letter-symbol substitution is a way around -- (for now anyway).

Once your Newsletter is complete, one of the most important steps to take before publishing your Newsletter is to test how it stacks up in a SPAM filter before you send it out.  You really don’t want to loose the connection with your customer so it is important that you can get around a SPAM filter.  To find out if your Newletter will make it, run it through Lyri's Content checker before sending.  Testing is free. 

Lyris' Content Checker (Google Lyris' to find the site) tells you how your Newsletter or ranks in Spam Assassin.  Simply copy your newsletter text (CNTRL + C) and paste it (CNTRL + V) into the box on the site.  The web-based software will run a free report and e-mail a copy to you, usually within minutes.

The report will tell you exactly which words in your Newsletter are costing you points.  You should be concerned if your score is 5 points total (or more).  If your score is 5 or above, you can delete the offending words or disguise them, as I mentioned earlier in this Blog and Guide. 

Test each issue in the Content Checker before publishing it to assure your Newsletter reaches your maximum target audience.  With a little practice, it will become second nature to produce copy that scores low on the Test. 

I hope this helps you to learn to communicate and connect with your customer base.  I have made some lovely friends over the years by taking the time to do so. 

Please drop by my sales (Pepper120851) for some super Holiday Gift Items, Holiday sweaters and beautiful items for a holiday night out.  If you visit my store -- you get to name the price you pay everyday on ever item.  Check out my "Satisfaction is always guanteed" return policy and very generous combined shipping offers too!

Kind Regards & Happy Thanksgiving,

Pepper