---
title: Emails Going to Spam
description: "If recipients report emails landing in spam, check both technical setup and message content. --- ## SMTP Setup - Always use a transactional email service (SendGrid, Mailgun, SES, etc.). - Don’t rely on host‑provided PHP mail — it’s unreliable and…"
url: "https://brightleafdigital.io/docs/emails-going-to-spam/"
updated: "2026-10-18"
category: Mass Email Notifications for Gravity Forms / Troubleshooting
---

# Emails Going to Spam

If recipients report emails landing in spam, check both technical setup and message content.

---

## SMTP Setup

- Always use a transactional email service (SendGrid, Mailgun, SES, etc.).
- Don’t rely on host‑provided PHP mail — it’s unreliable and often flagged.
- Verify your SMTP plugin credentials are correct.

---

## Authentication

- Confirm your domain has proper DNS records:
  - **SPF**: Authorizes servers allowed to send mail.
  - **DKIM**: Ensures messages are signed and unaltered.
  - **DMARC**: Adds policy and reporting on spoofed mail.
- Use online tools (like MXToolbox) to validate your records.

---

## Content Tips

- Avoid spammy words in subject lines (“FREE,” “Act Now”).
- Limit external links and don’t use too many images.
- Keep attachments small or avoid them entirely.
- Personalize with merge tags so messages don’t look like blasts.

---

## From / Reply-To Checks

- Make sure From and Reply‑To addresses match your domain.
- Don’t send from free email providers (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo) when using a custom domain.

---

## Throttle Conservatively

- Sending too fast can raise red flags.
- Even if your provider allows higher rates, pacing slower can improve inbox placement.

---

By combining proper authentication, clean content, and careful throttling, you can significantly improve deliverability and keep messages out of spam folders.