According to the fine folks at All Spammed Up, there are ten words that will ensure that you email marketing effort goes nowhere if used in a subject header. These are terms that are often used for call to actions, but have been used to many times by spammers (cough, email marketers) that they are basically blocked from ever reaching any consumer’s mailbox.
1. Meet Singles – This subject line is used endlessly in many types of porn spam.
2. Work From Home – Work from home scams are among the most common types of spam. Work at home jobs are highly sought after, especially in today’s shaky economy.
3. Business Opportunity – Have you ever gotten a 419 or Nigerian Scam message? These spam messages often offer fake business opportunities along with the fake inheritances and pleas for help smuggling a fake family fortune out of an obscure country.
4. Buy Direct – A favorite phrase for spammers hawking counterfeit designer goods and pharmaceutical products.
5. Clearance – Another favorite phrase. Spammers like to create a sense of urgency to help make recipients think they are getting a huge deal.
6. Pre-approved – A tell-tale sign of financial spam. Mortgages, credit cards, payday loans, you name it.
7. Hello – This innocent sounding salutation has been thoroughly exploited by spammers thinking the casual and familiar feel it gives their messages will make them more likely to be opened and read.
8. You Have Been Selected – The favorite subject line of spam messages claiming the recipient has won a fake foreign lottery or one hosted by Yahoo! or Microsoft.
9. Weight Loss – Weight loss pills are often touted along with other shady drugs and supplements in pharmaceutical spam.
10. Limited Time – Subject lines like this create a sense of urgency, which spammers love.
Perhaps someday these words will be legit and kosher, but until then legit mailers have to figure other ways to say Weight Loss. I’m of course curious how Viagra didn’t make the top 10 list, because I’m pretty sure that guarantees non-delivery.
