Who of us doesn't enjoy an informative top ten list? Here I've collected a few top tens to help you live safer and smarter online. Whether you send newsletters, reminders, or general e-mails, it's helpful to know how to keep your e-mails from being sent to your recipient's spam folder.

Top Ten Topics You Should Not Mention In E-mail Subject Lines
Even for more experienced users it's wise to know what words to avoid including in your e-mails. If you send out any mass e-mail with these spam "trigger" words in the content, be forewarned that your e-mail may not make it through stringent spam filters.

1. Profits
   
2. Special Offer
   
3. Especially for you
   
4. Completely free (or "free" anything)
   
5. Amazing!
   
6. Get money now, money today, cash now (any combination of these)
   
7. Guaranteed
   
8. Business opportunity or business offer
   
9. Coupon, expires (any combination of these two)
   
10. Marketing solutions, Marketing tips, Marketing guide

Top Ten Words That Indicate Possible Spam
Perhaps you don't send out newsletters or other mass e-mails. For regular Internet users, it's prudent to know what to look for when spam does slip past the filter. Before you trust that errant email, review this list and keep these words in mind.

1. Unsubscribe - just because it says it doesn't means it's true. Often the link you're invited to click to "unsubscribe" from a list is a phony. Instead it takes you directly to a spam site.
   
2. Dear Friend or Dear You; also note if your name is misspelled.
   
3. Click here
   
4. Free for you
   
5. Please help
   
6. You've won
   
7. Congratulations!
   
8. RE: Be careful with phony replies to e-mails that you never even sent.
   
9. I've been trying to reach you...
   
10. Anything that includes: enhancement, male, female, dating, etc.

If you struggle with spam, try using a trustworthy spam filter. A spam filter is a program that sorts your incoming e-mail to check for potential threats. It sends any suspicious mail to a separate location. Spam filters vary greatly, but generally they work by comparing the words in your incoming mail to a master list of trigger words. You can choose to sort through these emails later and fish out anything that isn't actually spam, or you can trust your filter and let the spam be deleted automatically.

If you aren't using an e-mail service with a spam filter... then you must be using your computer under a rock! Most if not all e-mail services offer some sort of spam protection as part of their service. This is whether your service is free or paid. Some are stricter than others, of course, and if you're unsatisfied with the level of spam protection you're receiving, perhaps you should shop around. Spam filters are also available for use on a private server or directly through your PC. No matter which one you choose to use, just make sure to protect your online experience by getting rid of that annoying spam.