The inbox check
What the editors warn about before you send, and why each thing matters to spam filters.
The inbox check runs on the email exactly as it would be sent, with the signature joined and the preview text added, in the campaign builder, on each sequence step and in the template editor. It warns, never blocks. Each warning says what to change.
| Warning | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Over Gmail's cut-off (102 KB) | Gmail hides the rest behind "View entire message", and a tracking pixel after the cut never loads. Trim images, styles or text. |
| Close to the cut-off | Tracking and the unsubscribe line add a little; leave room. |
| Many different links | To people who don't know you yet, one to three links land in the inbox more often. |
| Link shortener (bit.ly, t.co…) | Spammers hide where links go, so filters treat shorteners as a strong signal. Link to the full address. |
| Link text doesn't match where it goes | Showing acme.com/login but linking elsewhere reads as phishing. Make the text match the destination. |
| Link text is a web address | With click tracking on, the link first goes through your tracking domain, so the address people see isn't where it goes first. Use words instead ("the guide"). |
| Mostly images, little text | Filters can't read images and many people have them off. Add a few sentences. |
| Images without alt text | Alt text shows when images are off and helps the email read as genuine. |
| Scripts, forms, iframes, embeds | They don't work in email and make filters suspicious. Link to a page instead. |
| Subject in capitals or with several ! or ? | Reads as shouting, to people and to filters. |
| Long subject | Inboxes show about 40–60 characters, especially on phones. |
| Spammy phrases ("act now", "100% free", "guaranteed"…) | Weighed against you. Say it more plainly. |
Beyond the content
The inbox check is about the email itself. Deliverability also depends on:
- Your domain's records: SPF, DKIM and DMARC. Domain health checks them.
- A warmed-up sender: Warm-up for new Gmail accounts.
- Clean addresses: Email verification keeps bounces down.
- Pace: Pedibee spaces emails out and respects each Gmail's daily limit. See Limits and pacing.