What are signs you’re triggering user-level filters?

User-level filters apply personal preferences rather than global rules. Signs that you are triggering these individual-level filters include specific patterns in your delivery data.

Inconsistent delivery to the same domain is a key indicator. If some recipients at Gmail get your mail in inbox while others get spam, user-level filtering is at work.

Good reputation metrics combined with poor inbox rates suggests individual recipients are filtering you even when global reputation is acceptable.

Individual complaints without corresponding reputation damage indicate the complaints are isolated rather than reflecting broad problems.

Recipient behavior changes like sudden spam folder placement for previously engaged subscribers suggest they marked you as spam or stopped engaging.

User-level filtering is personal. The individual decided, not the global system. Address it through better targeting and engagement rather than infrastructure changes.