You've got an unwanted email sitting in your inbox. Your finger hovers over three options: Delete, Unsubscribe, or Mark as Spam. Which do you choose?

This seemingly simple decision can have major consequences for your inbox's future. Choose wrong, and you might invite more spam, confirm your email address to bad actors, or miss opportunities to train your email filters effectively.

While most people default to hitting "delete" and moving on, email management isn't that straightforward. The choice between spam, delete, and unsubscribe depends on crucial factors that separate savvy email users from those constantly battling inbox chaos.

We asked industry professionals, marketers, business owners, and email experts to share their decision-making process. Their insights reveal the strategic thinking behind effective email management—and the red flags that trigger an immediate spam report.

Here's how the experts decide, and what their strategies can teach you about protecting your inbox:

Flag Impersonation Attempts as Spam

When I receive an email that appears to be from someone I know but shows signs of impersonation (such as unusual requests or uncharacteristic phraseology), I always mark it as spam rather than simply deleting it.

Wendy Makinson, HR Manager, Joloda Hydraroll

Identify and Report Manipulative Emails

I mark an email as spam when it crosses the line from annoying to manipulative. If it pretends we've talked before, fakes urgency, or hides the opt-out like it's a secret mission — that's 100% spam.

Temmo Kinoshita, Co-Founder, Lindenwood Marketing

Train Inbox Filters with Spam Reports

Flagging an email as spam sends a message. It instructs your inbox to filter out similar messages in the future. That's better than deleting or unsubscribing. Deleting is a momentary solution. Unsubscribing is only effective when the sender is legitimate.

Darcy Cudmore, Founder, RepuLinks

Use Spam Button for Suspicious Senders

I mark emails as spam when they are just that: spam. This helps train my email junk filter to understand what is spam and what is not. If I have subscribed to something or bought something somewhere and they send me email, I unsubscribe.

Julia Rueschemeyer, Attorney, Attorney Julia Rueschemeyer Divorce Mediation

Block Malicious Emails with Spam Filter

Generally, when you mark an email as spam, it moves into a spam folder where it eventually gets deleted. You may not want to risk opening the email to unsubscribe because it could allow access to a virus or other malware.

Luke Enno, Content Writer, Art Unlimited

Report Persistent Unwanted Marketing Messages

Running an SEO agency, I get flooded with emails from people pitching backlinks. Most of the time, I'll just delete the message or hit unsubscribe. The only time I actually mark something as spam is when I've already replied and told them I'm not interested, but they keep pushing anyway.

Raphael Larouche, Founder & SEO Specialist, seomontreal.io

Protect Inbox from Deceptive Senders

As someone who handles hundreds of emails every week from operations, vendors, and security notifications, I can assure you that the quickest way to get flagged as spam is by spoofing sender familiarity.

Hone John Tito, Co-Founder, Game Host Bros

Combat Misleading Emails with Spam Reports

One key reason I mark an email as spam instead of just deleting or unsubscribing is if the email feels deceptive or comes from an untrustworthy source.

Dipika Jadwani, Sr. Digital Marketing Manager, Dipika Jadwani

Safeguard Schools from Irrelevant Pitches

When I mark something as spam, it is because the sender skipped basic context and blasted us with something completely irrelevant or aggressively misleading.

Mark Friend, Company Director, Classroom365

Mark Unethical Outreach as Spam

I mark emails as spam when they pretend to know me — but clearly don't. If a message opens with fake familiarity or misrepresents how they got my contact information, that's an instant spam flag.

David Quintero, CEO and Founder, NewswireJet

Penalize Poor Email Acquisition Practices

My response to poor email list management and shady email acquisition practices is to label the email as spam. When I receive an email newsletter from a legitimate company that I am certain I never subscribed to, I do not simply delete it or unsubscribe.

John Beaver, Founder, Desky

Efficiently Manage Inbox with Spam Button

I use the spam button to mark emails that I am aware of as unwanted or sneaking into my inbox. It is a fast and efficient method that can help me maintain a tidy inbox.

Danilo Coviello, Founding Partner, Espresso Translations

Thwart Sneaky Unsubscribe Avoidance Tactics

Instead of hitting the delete button or the unsubscribe link, I often simply mark an email as spam instead, if I feel the sender is trying to be sneaky and avoid me successfully unsubscribing.

Adam Yong, SEO Consultant & Founder, Agility Writer

Enhance Email Filtering by Reporting Spam

The decision to mark an email as spam instead of simply deleting it or unsubscribing is usually made out of the necessity to ensure that my inbox will not be disturbed in the future.

Allan Hou, Sales Director, TSL Australia

Counter Manipulative Unsubscribe Processes

When I mark an email as spam, it is because the sender was clearly attempting to engage in manipulative tactics that made it difficult to unsubscribe or otherwise prevent future emails from the sender.

Hailey Rodaer, Marketing Director, Engrave Ink

Flag Emails with Broken Personalization Tokens

If an email starts with something such as "Hi [First_Name]" or has broken formatting tokens which obviously should have auto-filled but did not, those are examples of what I mark as spam mail.

Meera Watts, CEO and Founder | Entrepreneur, Siddhi Yoga

Report Deceptive Subject Lines as Spam

When a subject line blatantly lies or attempts to manipulate with false urgency, I do not extend the courtesy of unsubscribing or even giving it a second thought. I mark it as spam immediately because it signals dishonesty from the outset.

Caleb Johnstone, SEO Director, Paperstack

Mark Fraudulent Prize Offers as Spam

When I get an email giving me a bogus prize, I do not just erase the mail but I mark it as spam. Such emails are meant to entice me by offering me some substantial prize or financial gain, and thus by getting my personal information or selling it to other entities.

Rami Sneineh, Vice President / Licensed Insurance Producer, Insurance Navy