How long does it take to warm up an IP address for sending 25 million emails per day?
Summary
What email marketers say12Marketer opinions
Email marketer from Reddit shares that if you have great engagement, a faster warmup is possible, but still gradual. If you're starting from scratch, even with good engagement, it's likely to take at least a month or two. Prioritize quality data and monitoring
Email marketer from Litmus explains that warming up an IP address for a consistent, large volume like 25 million emails daily involves a structured process. They suggest starting with a smaller, highly engaged segment and gradually increasing volume over several weeks, while constantly watching deliverability metrics and adapting your strategy to ensure good sender reputation.
Email marketer from GlockApps recommends the need for gradual increases in email volume when warming up an IP address. This involves spreading out the sending volume over a number of weeks or months. Volume increases should be calculated as small percentages of the previous total and should be applied no more than once every 7-10 days.
Marketer from Email Geeks shares if targeting only a single MBP, that may take longer, meaning the number of destinations may increase the warm up period.
Marketer from Email Geeks notes that some ISPs just don't accept emails fast enough from a single IP address. So it also depends on what's on your list.
Marketer from Email Geeks explains that the volume of emails is less important than user engagement. Sending a large campaign with low engagement is bad for ISPs. Sending 25M/day through 1 IP requires every user to be highly engaged and also notes that 1 IP for 25M is a bottleneck.
Email marketer from SendGrid mentions that the duration for warming up an IP address for high-volume sending is influenced by the sender's reputation, list quality, and engagement levels. It’s crucial to monitor bounce rates, spam complaints, and unsubscribe rates, adjusting the sending schedule accordingly. A gradual increase in volume over several weeks to months is a general practice.
Email marketer from Validity (ReturnPath) shares the importance of list segmentation and reputation building for a smooth IP warm-up. When dealing with high-volume email programs, warm up the IP with the most engaged recipients as this builds your reputation and ensures higher deliverability.
Email marketer from HubSpot shares that it is not possible to warm an IP to send 25 million emails quickly. Warming an IP requires a large sending history built slowly to show ISPs a positive reputation. If you're working with an existing email marketing program, you can add to that positive reputation slowly by adding volume over a period of a few months, and building your reputation
Marketer from Email Geeks shares academically, 25M/day on a single IP could take 180-190 day warmup, if every user is highly engaged. It could take 150 days if users crave emails. Stating it is just extrapolated math and may not be realistic.
Email marketer from Mailjet shares that when warming up a new IP address, especially for high volumes, a gradual and carefully planned approach is required. Monitor sender reputation closely during the warmup period. Starting with your most engaged users, and gradually increasing volume over several weeks is essential. The specific timeframe depends on response rates and list hygiene.
Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum shares that IP warmup duration is not fixed and highly depends on the specific sender. With a good reputation and clean list, a faster warmup is possible. If starting from scratch, be prepared for a longer process, potentially several months, to establish a positive sending history.
What the experts say2Expert opinions
Expert from Spam Resource explains that when warming up an IP, particularly for high volumes like 25 million emails per day, the duration isn't a fixed number. It depends on various factors including list hygiene, sender reputation, and recipient engagement. Starting with a small, engaged segment and gradually increasing volume while monitoring deliverability is essential. The exact timeframe can vary from weeks to months.
Expert from Word to the Wise (Laura Atkins) responds that new senders warming up IPs for very large volumes (like 25 million/day) need to approach it cautiously and strategically. Factors such as authentication setup, list quality, and engagement patterns all heavily influence how quickly you can ramp up. Plan for a long warmup phase and monitor very closely.
What the documentation says4Technical articles
Documentation from Microsoft SNDS explains that during IP warmup, particularly for high-volume sending, you should utilize the Smart Network Data Services (SNDS) to monitor your IP reputation. Pay attention to complaint rates and spam trap hits. A successful warmup involves maintaining low complaint rates and avoiding spam traps.
Documentation from Google Postmaster Tools recommends closely monitoring your sender reputation using their tools during IP warm-up, especially when planning for high-volume sending. Track spam rates, IP reputation, and feedback loop complaints. Addressing any issues immediately is critical for successful deliverability and avoiding blocks.
Documentation from AWS explains that for sending large volumes of emails, such as 25 million per day, the best practice is to gradually increase sending limits. AWS recommends starting with a small volume and steadily increasing it based on engagement metrics. Monitoring deliverability and adjusting the schedule is critical to avoid being flagged as spam. The exact timeframe depends on the sender's reputation and engagement quality.
Documentation from SparkPost explains that for sending 25 million emails per day, the IP warmup duration can vary significantly. It depends on factors like list quality, engagement, and infrastructure. A gradual ramp-up is crucial, starting with smaller volumes and progressively increasing over weeks or months. Consistent monitoring of deliverability metrics is essential to adjust the warming schedule.