Spamming

Spamming is the practice of sending unsolicited, irrelevant, or bulk email, typically for advertising, phishing, or fraudulent purposes. It often involves sending to recipients who haven’t opted in, using scraped lists or blasting the same message to massive audiences without targeting or personalization. 

Inbox providers treat this behavior as abusive and may:  

• Filter messages to spam folders 
• Blocklist the sender’s IP or domain 
• Reduce overall inbox placement for that brand 

Legitimate senders can sometimes be mistaken for spammers, especially if they send to old lists, ignore consent, or generate lots of complaints. The best way to avoid looking like a spammer is to:  

• Send only to users who’ve clearly opted in 
• Regularly clean inactive or risky addresses 
• Monitor engagement and complaint metrics closely 

Authentication protocols like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC help prove identity, but they don’t determine whether your content is wanted. Deliverability is all about consent and reputation.