Why Your Email Signature Could Be Hurting Deliverability

When it comes to business email, getting your message into the inbox—not the spam folder—is essential. Yet many people overlook a sneaky culprit that could be affecting their email deliverability: the email signature.

Your spam score—a metric used by email providers to judge whether a message is trustworthy—is influenced by several factors. And yes, your signature can impact that score more than you might think.

Common Signature Mistakes That Raise Spam Flags

Here are a few signature elements that can trigger spam filters:

• Non-secure URLs: If your signature links to a website that starts with http:// instead of https://, spam filters may flag it as outdated or insecure. Secure links (https) are now the standard.
• Broken links: Outdated links that no longer work can make your message look suspicious.
• Too many images: Embedding large logos or multiple images—especially without surrounding text—can make your email resemble common spam formats.
• Overuse of formatting: Flashy fonts, bright colors, and excessive styling can be red flags.

What You Can Do to Improve Email Deliverability

A few simple changes can improve your spam score and help your emails land safely in the inbox:

• Use only secure (https) links in your signature.
• Test your links regularly to make sure they’re still working.
• Limit or remove embedded images; use one small logo at most.
• Keep your signature minimal—just the basics: name, title, company, phone, website.

The Bottom Line

A clean, modern email signature isn’t just a matter of branding—it’s a deliverability best practice. If your signature is bloated or outdated, it could be harming your ability to reach clients and colleagues.

When in doubt, simplify. A well-structured, minimal signature shows email providers that you’re a real sender with a legitimate message—and that’s the first step toward staying out of the spam folder.