PHP mail() - marked as spam

Question

My emails that are send by mail() are getting directly into the spam box, tested with GMAIL and HOTMAIL. So:

I have dedicated server
My server ip is not listed on any blacklists

This is my code:

function send_email($recipient, $sender, $subject, $email_body){
$headers  = 'MIME-Version: 1.0' . "\r\n";
$headers .= 'Content-type: text/html; charset=iso-8859-1' . "\r\n";
$headers .= 'From: '.$sender;
mail($recipient,$subject,$email_body,$headers);
}

$from = 'info@domain.com';
$subject    = 'subject';
$email_body = '<h1 style="text-align:center;">Title</h1><p>Message</p>';
send_email($userbday['email'], $from, $subject, $email_body);

Any thoughts?

You can have some informations on this site: http://www.mail-tester.com — Getz, Apr 25 '14 at 13:35
Use 5th parameter for mail function to set the return path http://php.net/manual/en/function.mail.php — bksi, Apr 25 '14 at 13:35
When you say you have a dedicated server, do you mean that you have a dedicated server from a hosting provider, or do you mean that you're running your email server personally (e.g. from your home)? — Brian Driscoll, Apr 25 '14 at 13:48

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Apr 25 '14 at 13:37

1

Try to setup an SPF record for your domain.

Also

Email is serious business.

Try transactional email service providers

answered Apr 25 '14 at 13:37

Olaitan Mayowa

703
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score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Apr 25 '14 at 13:41

0

It may be that your email looks exactly as spam. It sometimes happens... All my applications sends email - depending on how the client prepare the email templates - some are treated as spam almost instantly, some not.

Setting SPF Record can help, but also check (and use) some blacklist emails for your own good - like people who dont want to receive your emila should never be bothered again as they can trigger your server to be in the black lists (for example spamcop).

answered Apr 25 '14 at 13:41

Seti

2,169
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How can I setup SPF Record? – Speedwheelftw Apr 25 '14 at 13:42
This is what i found by happy google searching (and it is quite simple) https://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/safety/content/technologies/senderid/wizard/ Also if you want some information about the SPF itself here is nice wiki article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sender_Policy_Framework – Seti Apr 25 '14 at 13:50

PHP mail() - marked as spam

2 Answers2