What are the best practices for warming up established email addresses for sales reps reaching out to inbound opted-in leads?

Summary

Warming up established email addresses for sales reps reaching out to inbound, opted-in leads requires a multifaceted approach. While some experts suggest that a warm-up may not be necessary for low-volume sending to opted-in leads, others emphasize the importance of a gradual IP/email warm-up, especially when using sales enablement tools. This involves sending low volumes of emails to the most engaged subscribers initially, gradually increasing volume while monitoring deliverability metrics like bounce rates and spam complaints. Content should be engaging and relevant to encourage interaction. Crucially, proper email authentication using SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records is essential to prevent emails from being flagged as spam. Adhering to email service provider guidelines is also paramount.

Key findings

  • Warming May Not Always be Needed: For low-volume sending to opted-in leads using established domains, a warm-up phase *might* not be required, but caution is advised.
  • Gradual Warm-up is Generally Recommended: Most sources recommend a gradual warm-up process, even for established email addresses, especially when the volume of outgoing emails is increasing.
  • Engaged Subscribers First: Begin the warm-up process by sending emails to the most engaged subscribers who are likely to interact positively with the messages (reply, click, etc.).
  • Monitor Deliverability: Closely monitor key deliverability metrics, including bounce rates, spam complaints, and unsubscribe rates.
  • Email Authentication is Critical: Ensure that SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records are correctly configured to authenticate the sending domain.
  • Relevant and Engaging Content: Send valuable, relevant content that encourages recipients to engage positively with the emails.

Key considerations

  • Sending Volume: Carefully control the sending volume during the warm-up phase, gradually increasing it over time.
  • Subscriber Engagement: Target highly engaged subscribers for initial sending to establish a positive sender reputation.
  • Email Authentication Configuration: Verify the accuracy and validity of SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records.
  • Content Quality: Focus on delivering high-quality, relevant content to avoid being marked as spam.
  • Unsubscribe Handling: Implement a clear and easy unsubscribe process and promptly honor unsubscribe requests.
  • Reputation Monitoring: Actively monitor sender reputation to identify and address any potential deliverability issues.
  • Sales Enablement Tool Considerations: If using a sales enablement tool, understand its sending limits and warm-up capabilities to align strategies.

What email marketers say
11Marketer opinions

Warming up established email addresses for sales reps reaching out to inbound opted-in leads involves a gradual process to build a positive sender reputation. Experts recommend starting with a small, highly engaged segment of your subscriber list and sending emails that encourage interaction and replies. Consistency is key, focusing on valuable content and gradually increasing sending volume while closely monitoring deliverability metrics such as bounce rates, spam complaints, and unsubscribe rates. Email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) and avoiding spam traps are also crucial.

Key opinions

  • Gradual Warm-up: A gradual warm-up process is essential. Start with a small, engaged segment and gradually increase sending volume.
  • Engaging Content: Focus on creating valuable content that encourages interaction and replies from subscribers.
  • Consistent Sending: Maintain consistent sending habits over time rather than sending large batches infrequently.
  • Monitor Metrics: Closely monitor deliverability metrics such as bounce rates, spam complaints, and unsubscribe rates.
  • Authentication: Ensure proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) to improve deliverability.

Key considerations

  • Subscriber Engagement: Prioritize subscribers who are highly engaged with your content to build a positive sender reputation.
  • Content Value: Focus on providing valuable and relevant content to encourage interaction and avoid being marked as spam.
  • Sending Volume: Carefully control the increase in sending volume to avoid triggering spam filters or exceeding sending limits.
  • Deliverability Monitoring: Actively monitor deliverability metrics to identify and address any issues that may arise during the warm-up process.
  • Spam Traps: Take precautions to avoid sending emails to spam traps, which can negatively impact your sender reputation.
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum shares the IP warm-up strategy of using dedicated IPs which slowly increase volume to avoid spam traps.

July 2022 - Email Marketing Forum
Marketer view

Email marketer from Sales Hacker suggests segmenting your list and starting with your most engaged contacts. Focus on providing value and encouraging interaction to signal positive sender reputation.

November 2021 - Sales Hacker
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailchimp advises focusing on sending engaging content to active subscribers first to build a positive reputation with ISPs.

August 2022 - Mailchimp
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit explains that when warming up an email, start with emails that encourage replies to build reputation. Also, make sure to authenticate your domain.

September 2024 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Gmass suggests using an email warm-up tool to simulate human-like email activity, improving sender reputation by sending and receiving emails automatically.

January 2022 - Gmass
Marketer view

Email marketer from Woodpecker.co shares that starting with a small number of emails sent to highly engaged contacts is essential. Monitor deliverability and gradually increase sending volume based on performance.

January 2025 - Woodpecker.co
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks shares the warming up strategy to subscribe to newsletters, send emails to internal people, and start with one or two emails a day to the best leads.

August 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Neil Patel Blog explains that a gradual warm-up is crucial. Start by sending emails to your most engaged subscribers and gradually increase the volume over time.

April 2022 - Neil Patel Blog
Marketer view

Email marketer from Klenty responds by sharing to closely monitor bounce rates, spam complaints, and unsubscribe rates, and adjust your sending strategy accordingly to maintain a healthy sender reputation.

July 2022 - Klenty
Marketer view

Email marketer from Lemlist shares that email warm up works by gradually increasing sending volume to engaged subscribers over time to build positive sender reputation with ISPs.

March 2022 - Lemlist
Marketer view

Email marketer from SendGrid responds by stressing the importance of consistent sending habits over time, rather than sending large batches infrequently, to maintain a positive sender reputation.

April 2023 - SendGrid

What the experts say
3Expert opinions

When warming up established email addresses for sales reps reaching out to inbound, opted-in leads, there are differing viewpoints. One perspective suggests that if the volume of emails is low, warming up may not be necessary, and it's best to start sending. However, other experts emphasize the importance of a gradual IP warmup process, involving sending low volumes to the most engaged users initially and then progressively increasing the volume over time.

Key opinions

  • Warming Optional: For low-volume sending to opted-in leads, warming up might not be essential.
  • Gradual Warmup: IP warmup is still recommended, involving a gradual increase in sending volume to engaged users.
  • Best Subscribers First: Start by sending emails to the most engaged subscribers during the warmup phase.

Key considerations

  • Volume: Consider the volume of emails being sent; lower volumes might not require a warm-up period.
  • Engagement: Prioritize engaged subscribers during the initial phase of sending.
  • Progression: If warming up, ensure a gradual progression in sending volume over time.
Expert view

Expert from SpamResource explains that for warming up new IPs for email sending you should start slow and ramp up gradually by sending email to only your best subscribers first, then slowly add more subscribers over time

October 2024 - SpamResource
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that IP warmup is still important, and that you should send low volumes of emails to your most engaged users first and then increase the volume over time.

December 2022 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains that if the emails are for inbound opted-in leads through sales enablement tools, there is no need to worry about warming up the email address. At the volumes being sent, there won't be much reputation either way, so it's best to just start using it.

July 2023 - Email Geeks

What the documentation says
4Technical articles

Warming up established email addresses for sales reps reaching out to inbound opted-in leads involves adhering to email authentication best practices and sender guidelines. Setting up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records is critical to prevent emails from being marked as spam. Additionally, honoring unsubscribe requests, sending relevant content, and following guidelines for bulk senders, especially when increasing sending limits, are essential for maintaining a positive sender reputation and ensuring deliverability.

Key findings

  • Email Authentication: Proper configuration of SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records is essential for preventing emails from landing in the junk folder.
  • Gmail Best Practices: Adhering to Gmail's best practices for bulk senders, including email authentication, honoring unsubscribe requests, and sending relevant content, helps increase sending limits.
  • Enhanced Security: Implementing DMARC enhances security, prevents spoofing and phishing, and provides reporting to monitor email flows.

Key considerations

  • Technical Setup: Ensure accurate and up-to-date configuration of SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records.
  • Content Relevance: Focus on sending relevant and engaging content to subscribers.
  • Unsubscribe Handling: Handle unsubscribe requests promptly and efficiently.
  • Bulk Sender Guidelines: Follow specific guidelines for bulk senders to avoid being flagged as spam.
Technical article

Documentation from Google Workspace Admin Help explains that to increase sending limits, consistently adhere to Gmail's best practices for bulk senders, including authenticating your email, honoring unsubscribe requests, and sending relevant content.

August 2023 - Google Workspace Admin Help
Technical article

Documentation from RFC-Editor details the specifics of how to implement SPF records to authorise hosts to send email on behalf of a domain.

November 2022 - RFC-Editor
Technical article

Documentation from DMARC.org explains implementing DMARC to enhance security, prevent spoofing and phishing, as well as reporting to monitor email flows.

February 2025 - DMARC.org
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft details that ensuring your SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records are correctly configured is critical to prevent emails from landing in the junk folder.

June 2023 - Microsoft