How to Avoid Spam Traps: A Simple Guide
Emails used for Spam Traps are typically old emails. The types that appear on forums online or ones that are sold by online bulk email brokers.
Spam Traps, or Honeypots are used by Internet Service Providers ( ISP) to identify SPAM, and the folks who frequently engage in spamming. Providers set spam traps by monitoring recycled or old email addresses that have not been used to subscribe to any service and watch for email marketers who send out bulk, unsolicited emails to these addresses.
Typically the ISP will place the spammers on their respective Blacklists. Some will blacklist a domain after just one such offense. Others take a more liberal approach, only blacklisting a domain name after several offenses.
Emails used for Spam Traps are typically non-performing, dated email addresses. The type that appear on forums online or ones that are sold by online bulk email brokers. ISP's set honeypots with the specific intention to trap and root out habitual spammers.
As a small business owner or Email Marketer, you risk being labeled a "Spammer" by continuing to send out bulk emails to recipients who have not given you permission to contact them.
Being placed on multiple Blacklists will negatively impact the efficacy of your marketing activities. Avoid Spam Traps by only sending out emails to folks who have given you the "OK" to market to them. You should never buy a bunch of email leads only to blast these poor unsuspecting folks with your offer(s).
How To Avoid/ Remove Spam Traps
There are various ways Spam Traps get on your email list. There are also many ways to remove them once they do, and several methods to use to avoid these Honeypots all together. That being said, there are a few of these methods that are at the top of any list.
Never buy bulk email lists for marketing
This is behavior unbecoming any self-respecting business owner or Email marketer. These bulk lists, while great for business-to-business, one-off emails, are horrible for bulk email campaigns. I come across new business owners who engage in this practice daily, and all I can say is :
Start Using Double Opt-ins today!
For those unfamiliar with this practice, Double-opt-ins allow you to further confirm the validity of a subscriber's email address before adding them to your email list. By doing so, you also allow the subscriber to further confirm that they want to be on your list and to subsequently receive emails from you.
Providing two instances for subscribers to confirm the validity of their email addresses and their desire to receive email messages from you will go a long way to remove spam traps from your list.
What’s the Difference Between Double Opt-In vs. Single Opt-In?
The difference between double opt-in vs. single opt-in comes down to whether subscribers have to confirm signing up for your email list, or whether they’re signed up right after submitting their email addresses.
Double Opt-In vs. Single Opt-In: Which Is Better for Conversions?
Use Email Validation Tools
In addition to other techniques, Email Verification and data cleaning tools like Checkr, Kickbox, Neverbounce, Zerobounce, etc. Are a great way to help maintain email list integrity. It is recommended that you run your bulk email list through any of these tools from time to time to help remove any bad emails previously undetected.
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