Is IP warming necessary for low volume email senders with a dedicated IP?

Summary

The consensus is that IP warming is generally recommended, even for low-volume senders with dedicated IPs. While some suggest it might be less critical for senders with strong reputations and engaged lists, most sources advise a gradual warming process to build trust with ISPs, prevent spam flagging, and establish a positive sender reputation. Key factors include list quality, prior IP/domain/ESP reputation, the specifics of sending volume and cadence, and the importance of sender authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC). Sudden surges in sending volume should be avoided.

Key findings

  • General Recommendation: IP warming is generally recommended, even for low-volume senders.
  • Reputation Matters: Building and maintaining a positive sender reputation is crucial for deliverability.
  • Gradual Process: A gradual, strategic IP warming approach is preferred over skipping the process altogether.
  • Authentication is Key: Proper sender authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is essential for email deliverability.
  • Inconsistent Viewpoints: A small number of sources have the viewpoint that it may not be critical if you already have a good sending reputation.

Key considerations

  • List Engagement: Assess the engagement level of your email list; highly engaged lists may require less aggressive warming.
  • Prior Reputation: Evaluate the previous reputation of your IP address, sending domain, and ESP.
  • Sender Authentication: Implement and verify SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records.
  • Volume and Cadence: Carefully plan the volume and cadence of your email sends.
  • Monitor Metrics: Continuously monitor deliverability metrics (complaints, bounces) to adjust sending patterns.
  • Avoid Surges: Avoid sudden increases in sending volume, which can trigger spam filters.

What email marketers say
11Marketer opinions

The necessity of IP warming for low-volume email senders with a dedicated IP is a nuanced topic. While some sources suggest it might be less critical for those with good sending reputations and highly engaged lists, the consensus leans towards recommending a gradual IP warming process. This helps establish trust with ISPs, prevent emails from being flagged as spam, and build a positive sender reputation. Factors such as list quality, previous IP reputation, ESP reputation, and the specific receivers all play a role.

Key opinions

  • General Consensus: Most sources recommend some form of IP warming, even for low-volume senders with a dedicated IP.
  • Risk Mitigation: IP warming helps prevent emails from landing in the spam folder and damaging sender reputation.
  • Trust Building: Gradual IP warming establishes trust with ISPs by demonstrating consistent sending patterns.
  • Volume Matters: While volume is a factor, establishing a pattern is more important than a total volume.

Key considerations

  • List Quality: A highly engaged list with a clean reputation might require less aggressive IP warming.
  • Previous Reputation: The previous reputation of the IP address, sending domain, and ESP should be assessed.
  • Sender Authentication: SPF, DKIM and DMARC should be set-up correctly.
  • Gradual Ramp-Up: Instead of skipping IP Warming senders should ramp-up slowly as a saftey measure.
  • Volume Metrics: Monitor deliverability metrics such as complaint and bounce rates to adjust sending patterns during the warm-up process.
  • Sudden Surges: Avoid sending in sudden surges of traffic.
Marketer view

Email marketer from Campaign Monitor shares that warming up your IP is especially important when switching to a dedicated IP address, even if you send a relatively low volume of emails. Sending providers are watching for sudden surges of traffic. Gradual and strategic IP warming is key.

May 2024 - Campaign Monitor
Marketer view

Email marketer from Litmus answers that skipping the IP warm-up process leads to more emails landing in the spam folder, a damaged sender reputation, and possibly being blocked altogether by ISPs. Warmed IPs are more trusted, even with lower volumes.

September 2023 - Litmus
Marketer view

Email marketer from Gmass explains that IP warming is essential, regardless of volume. A slow and steady approach prevents your emails from being flagged as spam. This builds trust with ISPs and improves deliverability.

January 2024 - Gmass
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks explains that IP warming may not be necessary for low volume senders or those on a shared IP. For a dedicated IP and a volume of around 100k a month, if unsure about list quality, suggests sending 20K/day to monitor complaint and bounce rates.

June 2021 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks shares that factors influencing IP warming include the previous reputation of the IP address (checking for blocklist listings), the sending reputation of your own domain, and the reputation of the ESP. Also depends on the receivers you are sending to.

November 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email on Acid responds that even with low volume, warming the IP helps show mailbox providers that you’re a legitimate sender and not a spammer. Gradually increasing sends helps build trust.

May 2024 - Email on Acid
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet explains that IP warming is less critical for low-volume senders, especially those with a good sending reputation. However, they still recommend gradually increasing volume to establish trust with ISPs.

April 2021 - Mailjet
Marketer view

Email marketer from SendGrid answers that while low-volume senders might not need as aggressive an IP warming strategy, it's still recommended to monitor deliverability metrics and adjust sending patterns accordingly, especially when using a new dedicated IP.

November 2023 - SendGrid
Marketer view

Email marketer from an Email Marketing Forum responds that the main advantage of IP warming, even with low volumes, is establishing a consistent sending pattern. This helps ISPs learn your sending habits and recognize you as a legitimate sender, especially important when starting with a dedicated IP.

March 2025 - Email Marketing Forum
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit explains that if you're sending to a small, highly engaged list with a clean reputation, IP warming might be less critical. However, cautions against skipping it entirely, suggesting a slow ramp-up as a safety measure.

April 2021 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from GlockApps shares that even with a low sending volume on a dedicated IP, a warm-up strategy can reduce deliverability issues by establishing sender reputation. They advise that consistent and gradual increases in volume are more important than the total volume itself.

December 2023 - GlockApps

What the experts say
3Expert opinions

Experts generally agree that IP warming is crucial even for low volume senders with dedicated IPs. While one expert suggests that at low volumes, IP warming may handle itself to some degree, the importance of establishing a positive sending reputation and building trust with ISPs is emphasized. Sudden volume increases can trigger spam filters. Establishing consistent sending patterns is crucial, irrespective of the mail stream volume.

Key opinions

  • IP Warming Crucial: IP warming is generally necessary, even with low sending volumes on a dedicated IP.
  • Reputation Building: Warming builds a positive sending reputation and establishes trust with ISPs.
  • Volume and Cadence: Volume specifics per send and cadence are crucial factors.
  • Pattern Establishment: IP warming helps establish your sending patterns, allowing ISPs to learn and trust your mail stream.

Key considerations

  • Volume Specifics: Pay attention to the specifics of volume per send and sending cadence.
  • Sudden Increases: Avoid sudden increases in sending volume, as this can trigger spam filters.
  • Trust Establishment: Focus on building trust and establishing credibility with ISPs.
  • Build Reputation: Take IP Warming steps to build a positive sending reputation and trust with ISPs.
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource explains that even with low volumes, IP warming is crucial for a dedicated IP. This helps establish a positive sending reputation and trust with ISPs, especially since a sudden increase in volume can trigger spam filters.

March 2022 - Spam Resource
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks answers that at low volumes, IP warming tends to handle itself. However, the specifics of volume per send and cadence are crucial. At a low volume for a dedicated IP, it's a bit risky.

July 2023 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise (Laura Atkins) shares that IP warming helps establish your sending patterns with ISPs, allowing them to learn and trust your mail stream. It is a key step to build sender reputation, irrespective of volume.

December 2021 - Word to the Wise

What the documentation says
4Technical articles

Documentation consistently emphasizes the importance of IP warming, even for low-volume senders using dedicated IPs. A key aspect is building a positive sender reputation by gradually increasing sending volume, starting with highly engaged users. Sender authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is also deemed crucial for establishing legitimacy and protecting the sending reputation. Ultimately, the goal is to demonstrate trustworthiness to ISPs and improve deliverability.

Key findings

  • Crucial Step: IP warming is considered a crucial step, even for low-volume senders with a dedicated IP.
  • Sender Reputation: Building a positive sender reputation is essential for good deliverability.
  • Gradual Increase: Gradually increasing sending volume is necessary to establish legitimacy.
  • Authentication Required: Sender authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is crucial for protecting sender reputation.

Key considerations

  • Start Small: Begin with a small volume of highly engaged users.
  • Consistent Habits: Maintain consistent sending habits and engagement metrics.
  • Sender Authentication: Implement SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to authenticate your emails.
  • Gradual Increase: Gradually increase the sending volume to prove legitimacy over time.
  • New IPs: New IPs require IP warming and authentication.
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft shares that new IPs have no sending reputation, so you need to "warm up" the IP by gradually increasing volume to prove your legitimacy. Low volumes don't negate the need, but can make the process quicker.

January 2024 - Microsoft
Technical article

Documentation from Google Postmaster Tools shares that sender reputation is crucial, even for low-volume senders. Consistent sending habits and engagement metrics contribute to building a positive reputation over time, which is what IP warming aims to achieve.

May 2022 - Google
Technical article

Documentation from Mailchimp responds that sender authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is crucial for a new IP to show that you are a legitimate sender and helps to protect your sending reputation. IP warming without proper authentication can be ineffective.

October 2021 - Mailchimp
Technical article

Documentation from SparkPost shares that even with a dedicated IP and low volume, IP warming is a crucial step. Start with a small volume of highly engaged users and gradually increase sends to build a positive reputation.

November 2023 - SparkPost