There are certain words and phrases that when utilized in a sales email, will get you sent to the spam folder or promptly disregarded and deleted
Here’s a list of 200 phrases you should avoid using in your subject lines and in the body of your email. Hat tip to Comm100 for creating this extensive list!
| 4U | Claims you are a winner | For instant access |
| Accept credit cards | Claims you registered with Some Kind of Partner | For just $ (some amt) |
| Act now! Don’t hesitate! | Click below | Free access |
| Additional income | Click here link | Free cell phone |
| Addresses on CD | Click to remove | Free consultation |
| All natural | Click to remove mailto | Free DVD |
| Amazing | Compare rates | Free grant money |
| Apply Online | Compete for your business | Free hosting |
| As seen on | Confidentially on all orders | Free installation |
| Auto email removal | Congratulations | Free investment |
| Avoid bankruptcy | Consolidate debt and credit | Free leads |
| Be amazed | Copy accurately | Free membership |
| Be your own boss | Copy DVDs | Free money |
| Being a member | Credit bureaus | Free offer |
| Big bucks | Credit card offers | Free preview |
| Bill 1618 | Cures baldness | Free priority mail |
| Billing address | Dear email | Free quote |
| Billion dollars | Dear friend | Free sample |
| Brand new pager | Dear somebody | Free trial |
| Bulk email | Different reply to | Free website |
| Buy direct | Dig up dirt on friends | Full refund |
| Buying judgments | Direct email | Get It Now |
| Cable converter | Direct marketing | Get paid |
| Call free | Discusses search engine listings | Get started now |
| Call now | Do it today | Gift certificate |
| Calling creditors | Don’t delete | Great offer |
| Can’t live without | Drastically reduced | Guarantee |
| Cancel at any time | Earn per week | Have you been turned down? |
| Cannot be combined with any other offer | Easy terms | Hidden assets |
| Cash bonus | Eliminate bad credit | Home employment |
| Cashcashcash | Email harvest | Human growth hormone |
| Casino | Email marketing | If only it were that easy |
| Cell phone cancer scam | Expect to earn | In accordance with laws |
| Cents on the dollar | Fantastic deal | Increase sales |
| Check or money order | Fast Viagra delivery | Increase traffic |
| Claims not to be selling anything | Financial freedom | Insurance |
| Claims to be in accordance with some spam law | Find out anything | Investment decision |
| Claims to be legal | For free | It’s effective |
| Join millions of Americans | No questions asked | Reverses aging |
| Laser printer | No selling | Risk free |
| Limited time only | No strings attached | Round the world |
| Long distance phone offer | Not intended | S 1618 |
| Lose weight spam | Off shore | Safeguard notice |
| Lower interest rates | Offer expires | Satisfaction guaranteed |
| Lower monthly payment | Offers coupon | Save $ |
| Lowest price | Offers extra cash | Save big money |
| Luxury car | Offers free (often stolen) passwords | Save up to |
| Mail in order form | Once in lifetime | Score with babes |
| Marketing solutions | One hundred percent free | Section 301 |
| Mass email | One hundred percent guaranteed | See for yourself |
| Meet singles | One time mailing | Sent in compliance |
| Member stuff | Online biz opportunity | Serious cash |
| Message contains disclaimer | Online pharmacy | Serious only |
| MLM | Only $ | Shopping spree |
| Money back | Opportunity | Sign up free today |
| Money making | Opt in | Social security number |
| Month trial offer | Order now | Special promotion |
| More Internet traffic | Order status | Stainless steel |
| Mortgage rates | Orders shipped by priority mail | Stock alert |
| Multi level marketing | Outstanding values | Stock disclaimer statement |
| Name brand | Pennies a day | Stock pick |
| New customers only | People just leave money laying around | Stop snoring |
| New domain extensions | Please read | Strong buy |
| Nigerian | Potential earnings | Stuff on sale |
| No age restrictions | Print form signature | Subject to credit |
| No catch | Print out and fax | Supplies are limited |
| No claim forms | Produced and sent out | Take action now |
| No cost | Profits | Talks about hidden charges |
| No credit check | Promise you …! | Talks about prizes |
| No disappointment | Pure profit | Tells you it’s an ad |
| No experience | Real thing | Terms and conditions |
| No fees | Refinance home | The best rates |
| No gimmick | Removal instructions | The following form |
| No inventory | Remove in quotes | They keep your money — no refund! |
| No investment | Remove subject | They’re just giving it away |
| No medical exams | Removes wrinkles | This isn’t junk |
| No middleman | Reply remove subject | This isn’t spam |
| No obligation | Requires initial investment | University diplomas |
| No purchase necessary | Reserves the right | Unlimited |
| Unsecured credit/debt | We honor all | Will not believe your eyes |
| Urgent | Weekend getaway | Winner |
| US dollars | What are you waiting for? | Winning |
| Vacation offers | While supplies last | Work at home |
| Viagra and other drugs | While you sleep | You have been selected |
| Wants credit card | Who really wins? | Your income |
| We hate spam | Why pay more? |
19 Phrases That Are Typical and Somewhat Needy
Adobe surveyed 1,000 white collar workers to learn more about email habits, trends, and phrases that annoy the hell out of the recipient.
Here’s a list of the phrases ranked from most annoying to least annoying.
“Not sure if you saw my last email”
“Per my last email”
“Per our conversation”
“Any updates on this?”
“Sorry for the double email”
“Please advise”
“As previously stated”
“As discussed”
“Re-attaching for your convenience”
That’s what 1,000 people had to say according to Adobe but;
I would add a few to that list;
“We’re a full service”
“We’re a one source”
“We offer end to end”
“Wanted to give this email a bump to the top of your inbox” and then forwarding the same email that didn’t get you a response last time.
“Haven’t heard back from you, were you abducted by aliens?” This one is tired as sh*t and lost its appeal about a decade ago and yet people still use it.
“Just left you a voicemail” Really? Like a decision maker is incapable of knowing that? Nice way to annoy the f*ck out of someone two times within a few minutes.
Beginning an email with “My name is”. Last time I checked, there’s this cool feature called the “From” line on an email. There’s also this crazy thing called a signature line where your name also appears.
“Studies have shown that _________” What studies? Kind of sounds like you’re fabricating something to sound like a fact.
Any type of claim that you aren’t backing up with EVIDENCE.
Any subject line that you get sneaky and put an “RE” or an “FWD” in front of to give the illusion that you’ve interacted before.
I’m sure we could add a few more to the list.
Assignment: Ask some of the decision makers at your company (and your clients too) about the email phrases that get under their skin.
Make a note to self to avoid using those phrases!
Would You Like To Send A BETTER Sales Email?
I’ll be sharing over 70 tips and 50 templates during our email webinar on December 19th!
Here’s what I’m going to share during this webinar;
- 30 ways to find potential clients who are 400% more likely to buy NOW!
- 4 ways to get email addresses WITHOUT spending a dime on email lists.
- 50 different types of emails that I’m personally using to get results for my business. Oh, and I’m also going to send you the templates!
- 12 subject line mistakes that you need to avoid. Keep making them and you’re hosed!
- 12 BETTER subject lines that get your email read.
- 12 ways to head off skepticism, doubt and objections.
- One EPIC mistake, just about every sales rep makes, in the first 3 sentences of an email.
- A really simple, 4 step messaging framework that gets results.
- 2 Psychological techniques that work like a charm!
- How to dramatically increase your response rate
When?
December 19th at 11:30 am EST.
Can’t join us live?
Sign up anyway and I’ll send you the webinar replay and all the extras listed below!
What Do You Get?
(1) 90 minute webinar
50 Email Templates
How Much?
$99!
Please click HERE to reserve your spot!
