How should I warm up IPs after acquiring a company with 300,000 contacts?

Summary

Warming up IPs after acquiring a company with a large contact list requires a gradual, strategic approach focusing on engaged users, careful monitoring, and strong list hygiene. Experts and documentation emphasize starting with a small volume of emails sent to the most engaged subscribers, gradually increasing volume over time while closely monitoring deliverability metrics like open rates, click-through rates, bounce rates, and spam complaints. List segmentation by engagement and recency is crucial, as is maintaining a consistent sending cadence. Proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is essential for building trust with mailbox providers. Tools like Google Postmaster Tools, Microsoft SNDS, and JMRP should be used to actively monitor sender reputation. A phased rollout, careful consideration of how new subscribers might react, and rigorous list cleaning are vital to prevent triggering spam filters and maintain a healthy sender reputation.

Key findings

  • Engaged Subscribers First: Begin IP warming by sending to your most engaged subscribers to establish a positive sending reputation.
  • Gradual Volume Increase: Increase sending volume gradually over time to avoid triggering spam filters and maintain deliverability.
  • Monitor Deliverability: Closely monitor deliverability metrics like open rates, click-through rates, bounces, and spam complaints to adjust your strategy.
  • List Hygiene is Key: Maintain excellent list hygiene by removing invalid and inactive email addresses to minimize bounce rates.
  • Authentication is Essential: Ensure proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) to build trust with mailbox providers.
  • Consistent Sending: Maintain a consistent sending cadence after the initial warm-up to avoid deliverability issues.
  • Segment Your List: Segment your list by engagement and recency for targeted warm-up efforts.

Key considerations

  • Ramp-Up Schedule: Develop a ramp-up schedule based on ESP guidelines, adjusting as needed based on performance.
  • Content Relevance: Ensure your content is relevant and engaging to your audience to encourage interaction.
  • Monitor and React: Actively monitor feedback from deliverability tools and react quickly to any negative signals.
  • Phased Rollout: Implement a phased rollout, gradually introducing less engaged subscribers as your reputation improves.
  • Unexpected Volume: Be careful to avoid triggering 'unexpected volume' filters that could harm your reputation.
  • Consider Subscriber Reaction: Be mindful of how new subscribers might react to receiving emails from you and manage their expectations.
  • Sending Limits: Be aware of sending limits during warm-up process

What email marketers say
7Marketer opinions

When warming up IPs after acquiring a large contact list, experts recommend focusing on sending to engaged users first. Email marketers also state to gradually increase sending volume and maintain consistent sending habits while closely monitoring deliverability metrics like open rates, click-through rates, bounce rates, and complaint rates. They suggest also to prioritize proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) to build trust with mailbox providers and enhance deliverability. Segmenting the list by engagement and recency, and pausing or adjusting the warming schedule based on performance, is key. The consensus is that a careful and data-driven approach is crucial to avoid triggering spam filters and maintain a healthy sender reputation.

Key opinions

  • Engagement-Based Sending: Prioritize sending to highly engaged users during the initial warm-up phase to establish a positive sender reputation.
  • Gradual Volume Increase: Slowly increase sending volume over time to avoid triggering spam filters and maintain deliverability.
  • Consistent Cadence: Maintain a consistent sending schedule after the initial warm-up to avoid red flags with ISPs.
  • Monitor Deliverability Metrics: Closely monitor open rates, click-through rates, bounce rates, and complaint rates to gauge the success of the warm-up and adjust strategies accordingly.
  • Authentication Importance: Ensure proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) to build trust with mailbox providers and improve deliverability.

Key considerations

  • List Segmentation: Segment the acquired list based on engagement and recency to effectively target initial sending.
  • Ramp-Up Schedule: Develop a ramp-up schedule based on ESP guidelines and your sending volume, adjusting based on performance.
  • Content Relevance: Ensure that the content you send is relevant and engaging to the recipient.
  • Bounce and Complaint Rates: Keep a close eye on bounce and complaint rates to avoid hurting your sender reputation.
  • Pause and Adjust: Be prepared to pause or adjust your warm-up strategy if you see negative signals or performance dips.
Marketer view

Email marketer from GlockApps recommends gradually increasing your sending volume. Start with a small number of emails and increase it daily or weekly, based on your current volume. A sudden spike in sending volume can trigger spam filters and harm your deliverability.

July 2022 - GlockApps
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit suggests segmenting your list by engagement and recency. Start with those who have engaged in the last 30 days and slowly add older segments. Monitor your open rates closely, and pause if you see dips.

January 2025 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet details the importance of segmenting your email list when warming up your IP address. Segment based on engagement, and send emails to your most engaged subscribers. Use a ramp-up schedule based on the ESP guidelines, increasing the volume daily or weekly, and monitor metrics like open rates, click-through rates, and bounce rates.

December 2024 - Mailjet
Marketer view

Email marketer from EmailonAcid stresses the importance of proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC). Ensure that your email is properly authenticated before starting the warm-up process. Authentication helps establish trust with mailbox providers and improves deliverability.

February 2024 - EmailonAcid
Marketer view

Email marketer from StackExchange recommends starting with a small segment of your most engaged users and slowly increase volume over time. Watch your bounce and complaint rates closely. Make sure you're sending relevant content to your users.

December 2024 - StackExchange
Marketer view

Email marketer from HubSpot emphasizes that you should maintain consistent sending habits. After your initial warm up, you must maintain a regular sending cadence. Inconsistent volumes can raise red flags with ISPs and impact deliverability.

June 2021 - HubSpot
Marketer view

Email marketer from Litmus shares insights on warming up new IPs by focusing on engagement. Sending to disengaged subscribers during the warm-up phase can negatively impact your sender reputation. Target highly engaged subscribers initially, and gradually introduce less engaged contacts as your reputation improves.

January 2022 - Litmus

What the experts say
4Expert opinions

Experts advise a gradual and strategic approach to warming up IPs after acquiring a large contact list. Recommendations include starting with the current sending volume and gradually increasing it, while closely monitoring open and click rates to adjust the pace. Emphasis is placed on list hygiene, rigorously cleaning the list to remove invalid or inactive addresses. Experts also suggest a phased rollout, segmenting the list based on engagement and gradually introducing contacts to the mailing schedule. Consideration for how new subscribers might react, along with the potential for increased complaints and triggering 'unexpected volume' filters, is crucial for a successful IP warm-up.

Key opinions

  • Gradual Volume Increase: Start from the current sending volume and gradually increase it, while monitoring performance.
  • List Hygiene Importance: Maintaining excellent list hygiene is critical to minimizing bounce rates and avoiding spam flags.
  • Phased Rollout Strategy: Implement a phased rollout by segmenting the list based on engagement and gradually introducing contacts.
  • Engagement Awareness: Consider how new subscribers might react and manage expectations to prevent increased complaints.

Key considerations

  • Monitoring Open and Click Rates: Actively monitor open and click rates to adjust the pace of volume increase.
  • Segmenting the List: Segmenting the list based on engagement levels is important for a strategic phased rollout.
  • Preventing Unexpected Volume Triggers: Avoid sudden spikes in volume to prevent triggering spam filters and deliverability issues.
  • Minimizing Bounce Rates: Clean the list to remove invalid or inactive addresses and keep bounce rates low.
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks recommends starting from the current volume and slowly increasing it, while considering how new subscribers might react, particularly concerning engagement data and expectations, to prevent increased complaints. Also, Laura suggests being careful about triggering the "unexpected volume" filters when warming up.

April 2023 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks advises to start from current volumes and increase by 30% daily, monitoring open and click rates to adjust the pace.

August 2024 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise advises implementing a phased rollout when warming up IPs after acquiring a large contact list. They suggest segmenting the list based on engagement and gradually introducing contacts to the mailing schedule. This helps monitor sender reputation more effectively and avoids overwhelming ISPs with sudden spikes in volume.

March 2023 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from SpamResource explains that maintaining excellent list hygiene is critical during IP warming, particularly after acquiring a large contact list. They advise rigorously cleaning the list by removing invalid or inactive email addresses to minimize bounce rates and avoid being flagged as a spammer during the initial stages of warming up.

June 2024 - SpamResource

What the documentation says
5Technical articles

Technical documentation emphasizes the importance of a gradual IP warming strategy when acquiring a large contact list. Starting with a small volume of emails to the most engaged users is crucial, followed by a slow, progressive increase over weeks or months. Close monitoring of deliverability metrics (spam complaints, IP reputation, domain reputation) and sender reputation using tools like Google Postmaster Tools, Microsoft SNDS, and JMRP is essential for detecting and addressing any issues. Email authentication and following best practices are fundamental. List segmentation based on engagement and proper IP warming schedules are vital for a positive sender reputation and deliverability.

Key findings

  • Gradual Volume Increase: A gradual IP warming strategy is crucial, slowly increasing email volume over time.
  • Engaged User Focus: Start by sending a small volume of emails to the most engaged users to establish a positive reputation.
  • Reputation Monitoring: Continuous monitoring of deliverability metrics and sender reputation is essential.
  • Authentication & Best Practices: Email authentication and adherence to best practices are fundamental for successful IP warming.
  • Proactive Issue Resolution: React quickly to any negative signals to maintain a healthy sending reputation.

Key considerations

  • Segmentation for Engagement: Segmenting your list by engagement levels allows for targeted warm-up efforts.
  • Schedule Compliance: Following a structured IP warming schedule is crucial for controlled growth.
  • Tool Utilization: Using tools like Google Postmaster Tools, Microsoft SNDS, and JMRP is critical for feedback and monitoring.
  • Sending Limits Awareness: Understanding and adhering to sending limits during warm-up is vital.
  • Best Practice Adherence: Following all email sending best practices from the beginning is critical for long-term success.
Technical article

Documentation from SparkPost explains that a gradual IP warming strategy is crucial. Start with a small volume of emails to the most engaged users, slowly increasing the volume over time while monitoring deliverability metrics. Segment your list and send to the most active users first to build a positive reputation.

September 2024 - SparkPost
Technical article

Documentation from Amazon SES provides best practices on how to gradually increase the volume of emails you send through a new IP address. As you send more email, ISPs will gradually learn that your email is legitimate, which will improve your deliverability. It is important to monitor your sending limits and deliverability metrics during the warming up process.

November 2024 - Amazon
Technical article

Documentation from SendGrid outlines that a proper IP warming schedule depends on your sending volume and list hygiene. Start with your best contacts and increase gradually. Follow a schedule and carefully monitor your sender reputation to avoid deliverability issues. Ensure you are authenticating your emails and are following all email best practices.

July 2021 - SendGrid
Technical article

Documentation from Google Postmaster Tools emphasizes the necessity of monitoring your sending reputation during IP warming. Use tools like Google Postmaster Tools to track spam complaints, IP reputation, and domain reputation. React quickly to any negative signals to maintain a healthy sending reputation.

June 2021 - Google
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft details that warming up a dedicated IP involves establishing a positive sending reputation by gradually increasing email volume. Start by sending low volumes of email to known, engaged users, and progressively increase the volume over a period of several weeks or months. Actively monitor feedback from Microsoft's Smart Network Data Services (SNDS) and Junk Mail Reporting Program (JMRP) to identify and address any issues impacting deliverability.

November 2021 - Microsoft