What actions count as positive signals (opens, clicks, replies, moves to inbox)?

Filters recognize several user actions as positive engagement signals that indicate the recipient values the sender's mail.

Opens suggest the message was worth attention. While pixel tracking has limitations (especially with Apple MPP), providers can still detect some opens through their own systems.

Clicks indicate the content was compelling enough to drive action. Link engagement is a strong positive signal.

Replies are the strongest positive signal. A reply indicates genuine two-way communication that filters prioritize highly.

Moving to inbox from spam explicitly tells the filter it made a mistake. This strongly influences future filtering for that sender.

Adding to contacts or address book signals trust that the filter should respect. Forwarding suggests content worth sharing.

Every positive action is a vote of confidence. Accumulate enough votes, and the filter treats you as a welcome guest.