Do I need an IP warm-up when moving to a new ESP with shared IPs?

Summary

Despite moving to a new ESP with shared IPs, a consistent theme across various sources indicates the importance of an IP warm-up process. Although shared IPs possess an existing reputation, new senders still need to gradually increase their sending volume. This allows mailbox providers like Gmail to learn the sender's patterns and prevents the triggering of spam filters. Furthermore, a sender's reputation should be consistently monitored to ensure adherence to email marketing guidelines. Factors such as sending habits, frequency, and engagement rates contribute to the overall reputation of the shared IP. Sending a large newsletter immediately after the transition is discouraged. It's best practice to transfer suppression lists and engagement data from the prior ESP and treat the first few weeks as a soft warm-up period. While ESPs handle some aspects of IP reputation, a sender's behavior and sending practices are still crucial for maintaining deliverability.

Key findings

  • Deliverability Fluctuations: Fluctuations in metrics are expected initially as Gmail adjusts to the new IP.
  • Warm-up Still Critical: An IP warm-up is still essential for establishing sender reputation even with shared IPs.
  • Gradual Increase: Gradually increase sending volume to avoid negatively impacting your sender reputation.
  • Learning Filters: Warm-up allows machine learning filters to learn that the domain is legitimately sending from the new IPs.
  • Shared IP Isn't Fully Managed: ESPs partially manage shared IPs, but the sender's actions are still important.
  • Algorithm Analysis: ESPs use algorithms to analyze sending habits, making a warm-up period crucial.
  • Sender contribution: Individual sending behaviour impacts filtering and deliverability.

Key considerations

  • Testing for Deliverability: Utilize tools like Glock to test inbox placement and look for blacklist issues.
  • Splitting Sends: Consider splitting sends between the existing and new ESPs during the changeover.
  • Transfer Suppression Lists: It is critical to transfer your suppression lists from your former ESP.
  • Monitor Sender Reputation: Consistently track sender reputation to make sure guidelines are being followed and any issues are detected.
  • Monitor engagement rates: Pay attention to engagement rates as mailbox providers track these metrics.
  • Adhere to guidelines: Make sure sending practices align with mailbox provider guidelines.

What email marketers say
13Marketer opinions

While moving to a new ESP with shared IPs might seem like it negates the need for IP warming, the consensus is that a warm-up period is still crucial for optimal email deliverability. Even on shared IPs, mailbox providers like Gmail analyze sending patterns to assess sender reputation. A sudden spike in email volume from a new IP, even a shared one, can trigger spam filters. Therefore, gradually increasing sending volume, starting with highly engaged segments, is recommended. Testing deliverability, monitoring sender reputation, and bringing over suppression lists from the previous ESP are also essential steps. ESPs are only partially responsible, so taking the correct steps can prevent deliverability issues.

Key opinions

  • Fluctuations Expected: Expect some fluctuations in metrics and placement during migration as mailbox providers adjust.
  • Shared IP Still Needs Warming: Even with shared IPs, a warm-up is crucial to establish your sending reputation.
  • Sudden Volume Impacts Reputation: Sending a huge newsletter on day one can negatively impact sender reputation and deliverability.
  • Gradual Increase: Gradually increase sending volume, starting with engaged segments.
  • ESP Partial Responsibility: Even with shared IPs the ESP is only partially responsible; good sending habits matter.
  • Algorithms analyse: ESPs use algorithms to analyse sending habits so a new IP needs to have a warming period

Key considerations

  • Test Deliverability: Use tools like Glock to test inbox placement and check for blacklist issues.
  • Monitor Reputation: Check the new shared IPs' reputation, potentially through an anonymous client's postmaster tools.
  • Split Sends Initially: Consider splitting sends between the current and new ESPs during the transition (if SPF allows).
  • Bring Suppression Lists: Import your suppression list and engagement data from your previous ESP.
  • Monitor sender reputation: Monitor your sender reputation to make sure that no issues come about
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks shares that the biggest mistake is sending a huge newsletter on day one. States that bringing suppression list and engagement data is critical and to treat the first couple of weeks as a soft warming period.

September 2021 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from MailerLite says warming up a shared IP helps build trust with mailbox providers. Even though the IP is shared, your sending behavior can still affect your deliverability. Gradually increasing your volume and engagement helps establish a positive reputation.

May 2021 - MailerLite
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet explains that an IP warm-up is still important even with shared IPs because it establishes your sending reputation with mailbox providers, which affects deliverability. Without it, your emails might be flagged as spam.

January 2024 - Mailjet
Marketer view

Email marketer from SendGrid explains that even on shared IPs, a gradual warm-up is crucial. Sending too many emails too quickly can negatively impact your sender reputation and lead to deliverability issues. They recommend starting with small volumes and gradually increasing them over time.

April 2024 - SendGrid
Marketer view

Email marketer from Gmass says IP warming is important as ESPs use algorithms to analyse sending habits. A new IP with a sudden increase in emails is immediately suspicious and is therefore important to have a 'warming' period

November 2021 - Gmass
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks suggests leaning toward some kind of warm up process, even if not as iterative as a typical warm up, to be able to check deliverability and reputations.

November 2022 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks advises to test before sending on the new shared IPs with a tool like Glock to ensure inbox placement and check for blacklist issues. Also recommends checking for a postmaster of an anonymous client to see the new shared IPs' reputation and splitting sends between the current and new ESPs during the transition.

July 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Snov.io uses an example schedule for IP warming by increasing daily sends. Using example figures, day one is 50 emails, increasing to 1000 by day 20

December 2021 - Snov.io
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit user u/EmailNewbie shares experience that even when moving to a new ESP with shared IPs, they still experienced better deliverability by slowly ramping up their sending volume. This helped them avoid being flagged as spam.

November 2021 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from ExpertSender details that even on a shared IP address, you need a gradual ramp-up. Start with your most engaged segments and slowly increase your volume each day. This helps establish a positive sender reputation with mailbox providers.

June 2023 - ExpertSender
Marketer view

Email marketer from ActiveCampaign emphasizes that even if you're using shared IPs, gradually increasing your sending volume is vital. This helps mailbox providers learn your sending patterns and avoids triggering spam filters.

April 2021 - ActiveCampaign
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks explains that while you won’t be penalized, you may see fluctuations in metrics and placement as you migrate because Gmail and others will need to adjust to you sending from different IPs.

November 2021 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from StackExchange community member User456 explains that even with shared IPs, the ESP is only partially responsible. The sender still needs to demonstrate good sending behavior by warming up the IP to avoid spam filters, even if the IP already has a good reputation.

November 2023 - StackExchange

What the experts say
3Expert opinions

Even when moving to a new ESP with shared IPs, experts recommend warming up the IP address. While the ESP manages the overall reputation of the shared IPs, senders still contribute to it through their sending habits, frequency, and engagement rates. Warming the IP gives machine learning filters time to learn the domain is legitimately sending from those IPs. A sudden increase in email volume without warming can negatively impact the IP's reputation and cause deliverability problems.

Key opinions

  • Machine Learning: Warming gives machine learning filters time to learn legitimate sending patterns.
  • Holistic Signals: Mailbox providers assess multiple signals, including IP reputation and sending habits.
  • Sender Contribution: Senders contribute to the shared IP's reputation through their sending practices.
  • Deliverability Impact: Lack of warm-up and sudden increase in volume can hurt deliverability.

Key considerations

  • Gradual Warm-up: Slowly increase sending volume to establish a positive sending reputation.
  • Monitor Engagement: Pay attention to engagement rates as mailbox providers track these metrics.
  • Maintain Consistency: Ensure consistent sending habits to maintain a healthy IP reputation.
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource explains that even if you're moving to a shared IP, warming it up is still a good idea, as mailbox providers look at a wide variety of signals, including the reputation of the IP address and the sending habits of users on that IP.

June 2024 - Spam Resource
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains that warm-up is needed to move slowly and give the machine learning filters time to learn that the domain is legitimately coming off the new IPs.

April 2024 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that the ESP manages the reputation of shared IPs and you still contribute to it with your sending habits, frequency, and engagement rates. Not warming the IP may cause deliverability problems as your sudden increase in emails impacts the IPs reputation.

February 2025 - Word to the Wise

What the documentation says
4Technical articles

Even with shared IPs, documentation from various providers like SparkPost, Google Postmaster Tools, Microsoft, and AWS recommends a gradual IP warm-up. While shared IPs have an established reputation, new senders must gradually increase sending volume to help mailbox providers learn their sending patterns and prevent triggering spam filters. It's also crucial to monitor sender reputation and ensure sending practices align with guidelines, as a sudden change in patterns can still negatively impact deliverability.

Key findings

  • Existing Reputation: Shared IPs have an existing reputation, but new senders still need to warm up.
  • Learning Patterns: Gradual increases help providers learn your sending patterns.
  • Spam Prevention: Warming reduces the risk of triggering spam filters.
  • Sender's impact: Individual sending behaviour impacts filtering and deliverability.

Key considerations

  • Monitor Reputation: Monitor your sender reputation and ensure good practices.
  • Align with Guidelines: Ensure sending practices align with mailbox provider guidelines.
  • Gradual Increase: Slowly and gradually increase your sending volume.
Technical article

Documentation from Google Postmaster Tools advises that while using shared IPs can mitigate some deliverability risks, it's still essential to monitor your sender reputation and ensure your sending practices align with their guidelines. A sudden change in sending patterns can still trigger spam filters.

January 2022 - Google Postmaster Tools
Technical article

Documentation from SparkPost shares that while shared IPs have an existing reputation, new senders still need to gradually increase their sending volume. This helps mailbox providers learn your sending patterns and prevents triggering spam filters.

November 2024 - SparkPost
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft outlines that it is important to be aware of your sender reputation. While the reputation of shared IPs are partially managed by ESP, your individual sending behavior (e.g., sudden volume increases) impacts filtering and deliverability.

September 2021 - Microsoft
Technical article

Documentation from AWS states that whilst it is true shared IP addresses often have established reputations, new users should still warm up their sending IP addresses to reduce the risk of being flagged as spam. The documentation details a gradual process of sending emails to engaged users and slowly increasing the volume

November 2021 - AWS