How does changing ESPs and domains affect sender reputation and email deliverability?
Summary
What email marketers say18Marketer opinions
Email marketer from GlockApps discusses that a new domain will not have any sending reputation. A new domain can be used immediately; however, you have to warm it up to establish your reputation gradually.
Email marketer from Email Geeks responds stating correct. The domains that have an MX tied to it are the ones you have to really pay attention to. So if your visible From is different than the return-path, then you should be good.
Email marketer from Litmus answers that properly authenticating your domain (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is crucial for establishing trust with mailbox providers. Authentication helps verify that you are who you say you are, improving email deliverability and reducing the risk of spam filtering.
Email marketer from Sendinblue shares that changing domains can significantly impact email deliverability. A new domain lacks a sending history, requiring a reputation-building phase. Senders should focus on authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) and consistent sending practices to establish trust with ISPs.
Email marketer from Postmark shares that the choice between using a subdomain or a top-level domain depends on your specific sending needs and risk tolerance. Subdomains can be used to isolate different types of email traffic (e.g., transactional vs. marketing), while a single top-level domain can simplify brand management.
Email marketer from Reddit user u/EmailGuru123 responds that changing domains is like starting over. You lose all your previous reputation, so make sure your email list is clean and your authentication is set up correctly.
Email marketer from Email Geeks answers that if your visible From is different than the return-path, then you should be good. If the visible From your customer sees is also the one used in the return-path and DKIM, you’ll want to keep timing in mind, regardless of if it’s hard cut.
Email marketer from MailerCheck discusses that the age of your domain matters. ISPs look at domain age as a factor in determining whether or not to trust a sender. Starting with a mature domain can give you a slight advantage over a brand new domain.
Email marketer from Email Geeks responds that Spamhaus' DBL would list your entire organizational domain if a sub-domain deserves a listing.
Email marketer from Email Geeks shares the cousin domain is not good practice because by using one, you'll "teach" your recipients that your brand can have multiple domains, making it easier to impersonate your brand.
Email marketer from Email Geeks advises to change the ESP first and wait a month or two before changing the domain to minimize the impact on email deliverability.
Email marketer from Email Geeks shares that separating your subdomain based on purpose is a good thing, especially if you are spinning up a new subdomain for marketing.
Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum explains that when switching ESPs, you might see a dip in deliverability initially because your new IP address doesn't have a sending history yet. Start slowly and monitor your results.
Email marketer from Email on Acid shares that when switching ESPs you will need to warm up your new IP address. IP warming is the process of gradually increasing email volume to build a positive sending reputation with ISPs.
Email marketer from Mailjet explains that switching ESPs can temporarily affect sender reputation and deliverability. A new IP address requires a warmup period to establish credibility with mailbox providers. Poor list hygiene and authentication issues can further compound deliverability problems during the transition.
Email marketer from Email Geeks explains that changing the domain name when switching ESPs will likely have a negative impact, at least in the short term, because filters take time to adjust to changes.
Email marketer from StackOverflow user TechEmailPro discusses that domain reputation is based on your sending history, spam complaints, and engagement metrics. A new domain starts with no reputation, requiring a careful warmup strategy to avoid deliverability issues.
Email marketer from Email Geeks suggests a subdomain for your new vendor’s returnpath would be the best path if you want a transition. This lets you warm up new IPs while continuing to mail off your current platform.
What the experts say7Expert opinions
Expert from Email Geeks recommends the pain of moving all changes at once instead of twice is worth the outcome.
Expert from Email Geeks shares an argument for making all changes (ESP and domain) at once as it leads to a shorter period of disruption.
Expert from Email Geeks confirms using a subdomain of your main domain is great and there's no need to purchase an entirely new domain.
Expert from Spamresource.com answers that the transition to a new ESP requires careful planning. Warming up new IPs gradually, monitoring deliverability metrics, and maintaining consistent sending practices are crucial for minimizing disruption to sender reputation.
Expert from Word to the Wise explains that changing domains can have a significant impact on deliverability. Starting with a new domain requires building a positive sending reputation from scratch, focusing on authentication and engagement.
Expert from Email Geeks explains there’s no need to use different subdomains from a delivery perspective.
Expert from Email Geeks shares if your company has decided that “cold outreach” (AKA, spam) is the only way they’re ever going to grow and be successful and that paying for your advertising is just beyond the pale, then you should, absolutely, force them onto their own domain.
What the documentation says4Technical articles
Documentation from Google Postmaster Tools answers question about Google uses domain reputation to assess the quality of incoming emails. Domain reputation is based on factors like spam complaints, sending volume, and authentication. Poor domain reputation can lead to emails being filtered to spam or blocked altogether.
Documentation from Microsoft explains that both IP and domain reputation are critical for email deliverability. New IP addresses and domains lack a sending history and require careful management to avoid being flagged as spam. Microsoft recommends implementing authentication protocols and monitoring sender reputation metrics.
Documentation from DMARC.org explains that DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) builds upon SPF and DKIM to provide domain owners with greater control over their email channel. DMARC allows senders to specify how mailbox providers should handle emails that fail authentication checks, reducing phishing and spoofing.
Documentation from RFC explains that SPF (Sender Policy Framework) is an email authentication method that helps prevent sender address forgery. By publishing an SPF record, domain owners can specify which mail servers are authorized to send email on their behalf, improving deliverability.