Is warming up an IP address during the November to December holiday season a bad idea?

Summary

The consensus from email marketing experts, technical documentation, and community discussions indicates that warming up an IP address during the November to December holiday season is generally a bad idea. The primary reasons are the increased email volume, heightened spam filtering by ISPs, and recipient fatigue, which collectively make it significantly more challenging to establish a positive sending reputation for a new IP. Although some suggest it's possible with careful planning, audience segmentation, and close monitoring, the prevailing advice is to either begin IP warming well before the holiday season or postpone it until after. Trying to establish your IP reputation during this period will most likely lead to deliverability issues and possibly negatively impact your overall sales goals.

Key findings

  • Increased Email Volume: Email volume spikes dramatically during the holiday season, leading to more scrutiny from ISPs.
  • Heightened Spam Filtering: ISPs implement stricter spam filters to manage the increased volume, making it harder for new IPs to break through.
  • Recipient Fatigue: Recipients experience inbox overload, resulting in lower engagement rates.
  • Difficult Reputation Building: It's significantly more challenging to build a positive sending reputation for a new IP address amidst the holiday chaos.
  • Remediation is Tougher: Postmaster teams are swamped with requests during the holidays, making it harder to resolve deliverability issues.
  • Sudden Spikes Impact Reputation: Documentation shows Sudden spikes in email volume can negatively impact your sender reputation.
  • Worst Time of Year: The end of the year is the worst time of year to start using a new IP address or domain to send emails.

Key considerations

  • Audience Segmentation: If you must warm up an IP during the holidays, segment your audience carefully and target highly engaged recipients.
  • Careful Planning and Content: Is critical during this period
  • Monitor Reputation Closely: Track your sending reputation and engagement metrics diligently to identify and address any issues promptly.
  • Gradual Ramp-Up: Follow a gradual ramp-up schedule to increase your sending volume slowly and steadily.
  • Consider Delaying: Weigh the potential risks and benefits carefully and consider postponing IP warming until after the holiday season.
  • Sales Goals: Be aware that it can negatively impact your overall sales goals.
  • Start Early (If Possible): If unavoidable, ensure you start the process as early as possible.

What email marketers say
11Marketer opinions

Warming up an IP address during the November to December holiday season is generally considered a risky strategy due to increased email volume, stricter ISP scrutiny, and recipient fatigue. While some experts suggest it's possible with careful planning, thoughtful audience segmentation, and close monitoring, most advise against it. The competition for inbox placement intensifies, making it harder for a new IP to establish a positive sending reputation. Waiting until after the holiday season is often recommended for a smoother IP warmup process.

Key opinions

  • Increased Volume: Holiday season email volume spikes, leading to more scrutiny and throttling from ISPs.
  • Tougher Reputation Building: It's more difficult for a new IP to build a positive sending reputation amidst increased competition and spam.
  • Recipient Fatigue: Higher email volumes lead to recipient fatigue, reducing engagement rates.
  • Risky Deliverability: New IPs face increased risk of deliverability issues due to heavy traffic.
  • Worst Time of Year: The end of the year is the worst time of year to start using a new IP address or domain to send emails.

Key considerations

  • Audience Segmentation: If IP warming is unavoidable during the holidays, thoughtful audience creation is key.
  • Careful Planning: Careful planning and content strategy is crucial.
  • Close Monitoring: Close monitoring of sending reputation is essential to avoid any problems.
  • Patience: Patience is needed to warm up an IP address slowly.
  • Is Waiting An Option: It is often recommended waiting until after the holiday season for a smoother IP warmup process
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks mentions that mail during the holidays is subject to more scrutiny and throttling due to increased volume. They recommend waiting, particularly for IP warming, as the busy period introduces extra risk and variables.

June 2023 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from SendGrid Blog shares that higher volumes and recipient fatigue can make it more challenging to achieve good engagement rates during the holiday season. A new IP address will face additional scrutiny making establishing a positive reputation difficult.

July 2021 - SendGrid Blog
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks shares that the biggest deliverability issue around the holidays is senders reaching into the bottom of the segmentation barrel, leading to poorer performance. While it could affect senders on shared IPs, warming during that period isn't inherently bad.

May 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from GMass Blog states that the end of the year is the absolute worst time to start sending from a new IP address or domain. It is far better to wait until the new year.

December 2023 - GMass Blog
Marketer view

Email marketer from ActiveCampaign Blog explains that you need to build up sending reputation with a new IP address by warming up an IP address slowly. Avoid increasing sending volumes during periods of high sending as this could ruin your IP reputation.

March 2025 - ActiveCampaign Blog
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet Blog explains that warming up an IP address during the holiday season can be risky due to increased email volume and stricter ISP scrutiny. They suggest being extra cautious and closely monitoring your sending reputation during this period.

October 2022 - Mailjet Blog
Marketer view

Email marketer from StackExchange mentions that IP warmup involves establishing a positive reputation with ISPs. Given the heavy email traffic around the holidays, new IPs will likely face deliverability issues.

December 2021 - StackExchange
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks notes that while it's not the best time, warming can be done during the holidays with thoughtful audience creation and content. Close monitoring and patience are key, especially when migration deadlines necessitate it.

April 2021 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Litmus Blog explains that in general they would not recommend starting an IP warmup during the holiday season. With the increased email volumes, warming up an IP can be difficult.

September 2021 - Litmus Blog
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit shares that warming up during the holidays can be tricky. With the increased competition and spam, it takes time for the IP to gain a good sending reputation.

March 2021 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email on Acid Blog explains that while not impossible, warming up an IP during the holiday season presents unique challenges. Because ISPs are more vigilant, there is less room for errors. Careful planning and monitoring is crucial.

October 2024 - Email on Acid Blog

What the experts say
4Expert opinions

Experts generally advise against warming up an IP address during the November to December holiday season due to the challenges posed by increased email volumes, strained postmaster resources, and diluted engagement. They suggest the conflicting goals of IP warming (targeted interaction) and holiday sending (mass outreach) make it a less effective time to establish a positive sending reputation. It's recommended to start as early as possible or postpone IP warming until after the holiday period.

Key opinions

  • Strained Resources: Postmaster teams are overwhelmed during the holidays, making remediation tougher.
  • Diluted Engagement: High email volumes make it harder to achieve meaningful engagement for IP warming purposes.
  • Conflicting Goals: The goals of IP warming and holiday sending are fundamentally different.
  • Difficult Traction: High email volumes make it much harder to gain traction with IP warming.
  • Best Time To Avoid: Never do IP warming during the busiest part of the holiday sending season.

Key considerations

  • Start Early: If possible, begin IP warming well before the holiday season.
  • Delay Until After: Consider delaying IP warming until after the holiday period for better results.
  • Potential Sales Impact: Be aware that attempting IP warming during the holidays could negatively impact overall sales goals.
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource answers explains that it is best to start as early as possible, and never during the busiest part of the holiday sending season.

February 2022 - Spam Resource
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains that remediation during the holidays is tougher because postmaster teams have a larger number of requests and stats aren't as good, creating a bad combination.

April 2021 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks agrees with others, stating it's not an ideal time for warmup. The goals of warmup (interaction from a small group) and holiday sending (reaching as many as possible) are different. It can work if needed, but overall sales goals may suffer.

March 2022 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that high email volumes can make it much harder to gain traction with your IP warming. It's better to wait until after the holiday season.

June 2022 - Word to the Wise

What the documentation says
3Technical articles

Technical documentation from SparkPost, Google, and Microsoft generally advises against initiating an IP warmup during peak sending times like the November/December holiday season. The core concern is that increased email traffic and heightened spam filtering during this period make it significantly more challenging to establish a good sending reputation quickly. Sudden spikes in email volume, common during the holidays, can negatively impact sender reputation, as gradual increases are necessary to build trust with ISPs.

Key findings

  • Discouraged Warmup: Generally advises against starting an IP warmup during peak sending times like the holiday season.
  • Increased Traffic & Spam: Increased email traffic and heightened spam filtering make it harder to establish a good sending reputation quickly.
  • Negative Impact: Sudden spikes in email volume can negatively impact your sender reputation.
  • Gradual Increases: Gradual increases in email volume are necessary to build a positive reputation.

Key considerations

  • Time Management: Is it possible to manage a gradual increase in sending volume over time during the holiday peak?
  • Traffic & Filtering: Heightened spam filtering requires additional precautions.
  • Reputation Impact: Monitor sender reputation closely to mitigate potential negative impacts of holiday sending practices.
Technical article

Documentation from SparkPost explains that it generally advises against starting an IP warmup during peak sending times like the holiday season (November/December). The increased email traffic and heightened spam filtering make it harder to establish a good sending reputation quickly.

October 2024 - SparkPost Documentation
Technical article

Documentation from Google explains that sudden spikes in email volume can negatively impact your sender reputation. They recommend gradually increasing sending volume over time, which is difficult to manage during the holiday peak.

August 2021 - Google Documentation
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft shares that gradual increases in email volume are necessary to build a positive reputation. Sending too much too soon is problematic, and the holiday season often encourages higher volume.

December 2022 - Microsoft Documentation