How to Prevent Your Sent Emails from Ending Up in the Recipient’s Spam Folder
It can be frustrating when the emails you send land in the recipient’s spam folder instead of their inbox. Not only does this reduce the chances of your message being read, but it can also impact your credibility and professional relationships.
If you’ve noticed this happening, there are several reasons why your emails may be flagged as spam. The good news is — there are practical ways to fix it. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the most common causes and how to prevent your emails from going to spam.
Why Do Emails End Up in Spam?
Here are some typical reasons:
✅ Missing DNS records in your domain’s DNS zone
Without proper DNS verification, receiving mail servers may not trust that your emails are coming from an authorized source.
✅ Content detected as spam-like
Certain words, phrases, or formatting can trigger spam filters. Overusing salesy language or too many links/images can raise red flags.
✅ Using an unsecured method to send emails
If you send emails using basic scripts like phpmail(), these often lack proper authentication and can look suspicious.
How to Stop Your Emails from Going to Spam
1️⃣ Ask Recipients to Mark Your Emails as “Not Spam”
Sometimes, the quickest solution is on the recipient’s side. Encourage them to check their spam/junk folder and mark your emails as “Not Spam” (or “Not Junk” depending on their email client).
This trains their mail provider to trust future emails from your address, improving your deliverability.
2️⃣ Set Up DNS Verification: SPF & DKIM Records
Two critical DNS records help prove that your emails are authentic:
- SPF (Sender Policy Framework):
Specifies which mail servers are allowed to send emails on behalf of your domain. - DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail):
Adds a digital signature to your emails, allowing the recipient’s server to verify they truly came from your domain.
Both of these are TXT records that need to be added to your domain’s DNS zone.
If you’re unsure how to do this, your hosting provider’s support team can assist you.
3️⃣ Check Email Deliverability Logs
If your emails aren’t just ending up in spam but are completely undelivered, you’ll want to investigate delivery logs.
For example, if you’re using Hostinger Email, you can easily check the delivery status of your messages by accessing their delivery logs.
(Tip: Visit your hosting dashboard or contact support for help locating these logs.)
4️⃣ Switch to Sending Emails via SMTP
A very common reason emails land in spam is sending them using functions like phpmail(). While this is convenient for testing or one-time sends, it’s not secure or reliable for regular use.
SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is a much better alternative. It authenticates your emails properly, showing your domain as the sender, which builds trust with recipients and mail providers.
For example, after switching from phpmail() to SMTP, your emails will show a verified sender tied to your domain — boosting credibility and inbox placement.
If your website is built on WordPress, you can easily configure SMTP using plugins. Check out tutorials like:
👉 How to Configure WordPress SMTP Settings to Send Emails.
Final Thoughts
Ensuring your emails reach the inbox is essential for both personal and business communication.
By setting up proper DNS records (SPF & DKIM), using SMTP, avoiding spammy content, and guiding your recipients to mark your emails as safe, you can significantly improve your email deliverability.
✅ Quick Checklist to Stop Emails Going to Spam:
- Add SPF and DKIM records to your DNS zone
- Switch from
phpmail()to SMTP - Avoid excessive salesy language and suspicious links
- Ask recipients to mark your emails as “Not Spam”
- Monitor your email delivery logs
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