How to warm up a dedicated IP and domain when moving from shared, especially with many automations?
Summary
What email marketers say8Marketer opinions
Email marketer from Litmus shares that IP warming is a process of slowly increasing your email volume over time. This helps establish a positive reputation with mailbox providers and ensures better email deliverability. Also, closely monitor your sending reputation during this process.
Email marketer from GlockApps details that a successful IP warming strategy includes starting with a small volume of emails sent to highly engaged subscribers, monitoring deliverability rates, and gradually increasing the sending volume over time.
Email marketer from Mailjet explains that IP warming is the process of gradually increasing the volume of emails sent from a new IP address to establish a positive sender reputation with ISPs. Start with small batches and gradually increase volume to avoid being flagged as spam.
Email marketer from ReturnPath (Validity) explains that a well-executed IP warm-up is vital for successful email delivery. Segment your audience, start with engaged subscribers, and monitor your sender score to ensure positive reputation.
Email marketer from MailerLite shares that an IP warm-up schedule should involve gradually increasing email volume each day or week. Start with small, targeted segments and continuously monitor your sending reputation to ensure healthy deliverability rates.
Email marketer from Moosend explains that the best IP warming practices include segmenting your contact list, sending to highly engaged subscribers first, monitoring deliverability metrics, and gradually increasing your sending volume. They emphasize the importance of consistency and patience.
Email marketer from ActiveCampaign shares that warming up your IP address helps establish credibility with ISPs. Start slow with your most engaged subscribers and then steadily increase the volume of emails you're sending.
Email marketer from HubSpot shares that IP warming involves gradually increasing the volume of emails you send using your new dedicated IP address. This helps ISPs learn that your IP is legitimate and sends wanted emails. Always monitor your deliverability.
What the experts say4Expert opinions
Expert from Email Geeks responds that if the current delivery/reputation is good, mostly follow the advice of your ESP, picking the more cautious options they suggest.
Expert from Word to the Wise responds that to avoid filtering during IP warm-up, senders should authenticate their email (SPF, DKIM, DMARC). Start with low volumes to highly engaged recipients and closely monitor deliverability to ensure a positive reputation.
Expert from Email Geeks explains that if you change both IP and domain at the same time, you'll be warming up the combination over the same time period. Changing one at a time still requires warming up the ip-domain pair at some ISPs when you change the one, then again when you change the other. He suggests adding SPF for the new IPs to your current domains and vice versa and if your infrastructure is DKIM friendly it might be worth considering signing with both domains for a bit. Sharing a domain across mail streams (new and old IPs) may help transfer some of your good reputation across a little better, at some ISPs.
Expert from Spam Resource explains that IP warming strategies should focus on sending to engaged users first. Gradually increase volume over time, ensuring that recipients want the email. Avoid sudden spikes in volume to maintain a positive sending reputation.
What the documentation says4Technical articles
Documentation from SendGrid shares that warming up a dedicated IP address is crucial for establishing a good sender reputation. Begin by sending to your most engaged users and gradually increase volume while monitoring deliverability metrics.
Documentation from AWS SES (Amazon Simple Email Service) highlights the importance of warming up dedicated IPs by gradually increasing sending volume. It helps establish a sending reputation and avoid deliverability issues.
Documentation from SparkPost recommends a gradual IP warm-up process to build sender reputation. Start with low volumes and increase over time, focusing on engagement and list hygiene. Monitor your deliverability using seed lists and feedback loops.
Documentation from Microsoft suggests a slow ramp-up when beginning to send from a new IP address. This will establish a positive reputation and improve delivery rates with Outlook.com and Hotmail. Monitor engagement closely.