What are the pros and cons of sending email from subdomains vs a single domain with multiple IPs, and how can I optimize my signup process and sender reputation for a growing business with small sending volumes?

Summary

The answers to the question of whether to use subdomains or a single domain with multiple IPs for email sending highlight that the best approach depends on individual circumstances, with no inherently superior method. A key theme is optimizing sender reputation and deliverability, especially for growing businesses with small sending volumes. Strategies include: implementing gradual IP warm-up, improving engagement through segmentation and relevant content, consistently cleaning email lists, and adopting robust authentication methods like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. Simplifying signup processes with no-captcha and confirmation emails is recommended. Recognizing the prevalence of freemail addresses, particularly among small businesses, is important. It's also essential to establish feedback loops to manage bounces and complaints effectively and avoid drastic changes to the 'From:' domain due to brand recognition impact.

Key findings

  • Contextual Choice: The choice between subdomains and a single domain with multiple IPs depends on specific organizational needs.
  • Authentication is Key: Proper implementation of SPF, DKIM, and DMARC is critical for building trust with mailbox providers.
  • IP Warm-up Matters: A gradual IP warm-up is essential for new IPs or domains to build a positive sender reputation.
  • Engagement Drives Deliverability: Improving email engagement (opens, clicks) is critical for better deliverability.
  • List Cleaning: Regularly cleaning email lists to remove inactive or invalid addresses is a must.
  • Simplified Signup: Simplifying signup with no-captcha and confirmation emails is recommended.

Key considerations

  • Domain Strategy: Carefully consider the implications of using subdomains vs. a single domain; subdomains can segment reputation, but require proper management.
  • Authentication Setup: Ensure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are correctly configured and maintained for all sending domains and subdomains.
  • Sender Reputation: Proactively monitor sender reputation by tracking bounce rates, complaint rates, and engagement metrics.
  • Signup Process: Optimize signup processes to minimize friction and maximize legitimate sign-ups.
  • Segmentation and Personalization: Segment your audience and personalize content to increase relevance and engagement.
  • Adaptation: Be aware of practices of your userbase, adapting to their email usage, such as freemail.

What email marketers say
12Marketer opinions

The central question explores the strategic choice between using subdomains versus a single domain with multiple IPs for email sending, alongside optimizing signup processes and sender reputation for growing businesses with small sending volumes. The responses highlight that there isn't a definitively superior method; the best approach depends on the organization's specific needs and challenges. Key strategies for optimization include gradual IP warm-up, improving email engagement, regular list cleaning, implementing DMARC, A/B testing signup forms, and using double opt-in. Managing sender reputation through authentication and monitoring bounce/complaint rates is also crucial, as is catering to different email user bases, even if they use freemail providers.

Key opinions

  • Subdomain Segmentation: Using subdomains can help segment email traffic, protecting the main domain's reputation by isolating the impact of individual campaigns.
  • Gradual IP Warm-up: A gradual IP warm-up is critical for new domains/IPs to establish a positive sending reputation with ISPs.
  • Email Engagement: Improving email engagement through relevant content, list segmentation, and encouraging recipients to add the sender to their address book is crucial for deliverability.
  • List Hygiene: Regularly cleaning email lists by removing inactive or invalid addresses improves sender reputation and deliverability.
  • DMARC Implementation: Implementing DMARC is essential for protecting domain reputation by specifying how email receivers should handle unauthenticated messages.
  • Optimized Signup Forms: A/B testing signup forms and ensuring a simple, user-friendly process helps increase conversion rates.
  • Double Opt-In: Using a double opt-in process ensures subscribers genuinely want to receive emails, improving engagement and reducing spam complaints.

Key considerations

  • Organizational Needs: The choice between subdomains and a single domain with multiple IPs depends on the organization's specific requirements and deliverability challenges.
  • Authentication Setup: Proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is essential for building trust with mailbox providers and improving deliverability.
  • Monitoring Sender Reputation: Regularly monitor bounce rates, complaint rates, and engagement metrics to proactively address deliverability issues.
  • Catering to User Base: Acknowledge that some users, particularly in SMBs, may use freemail addresses and adapt strategies accordingly.
  • Segmentation and Personalization: Segment your audience and personalize email content to increase engagement and relevance.
  • New IP/Domain Considerations: If using new IPs or domains, implement a gradual IP warm-up strategy to avoid deliverability problems.
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet Blog shares that for new domains or IPs, a gradual IP warm-up is critical. Starting with low volumes and slowly increasing the number of emails sent each day helps establish a positive sending reputation with ISPs. Focusing on engagement (opens, clicks) and avoiding spam complaints is essential during this process.

May 2024 - Mailjet Blog
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks mentions that SMBs overwhelmingly use Gmail addresses because they don’t know how to connect the dots to make email work for their own domain.

August 2022 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks suggests not automatically sending to addresses that fail no-captcha and instead sending them for manual account manager review. Also suggests not using freemail addresses as it is highly unlikely that any legitimate business person is going to evaluate payroll software with dinky238585@gmail.com.

December 2023 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Litmus Blog shares that implementing DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) is essential for protecting your domain reputation. DMARC allows you to specify how email receivers should handle messages that fail SPF or DKIM checks, helping to prevent spoofing and phishing attacks. Monitor DMARC reports to identify and address any deliverability issues.

December 2024 - Litmus Blog
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email on Acid Blog states that A/B test different elements of your signup form, such as the headline, call-to-action, and form fields, to see what resonates best with your audience. Make sure your signup process is simple and user-friendly to reduce friction and increase conversion rates.

March 2023 - Email on Acid Blog
Marketer view

Email marketer from Campaign Monitor Blog states segmenting your email list allows you to send more targeted and relevant messages, boosting engagement. Send different content to different segments based on their interests, behaviors, and demographics to improve open and click-through rates.

April 2023 - Campaign Monitor Blog
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks explains that there's nothing inherently wrong with sending from either multiple sub-domains, or just the one domain. However, to fully address the question, more information about the organization and its deliverability challenges is needed.

April 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from HubSpot Blog explains that implementing a double opt-in process ensures that subscribers genuinely want to receive your emails. This helps build a list of engaged and interested recipients, resulting in higher open rates and better deliverability. Also, it helps to reduce the risk of spam complaints.

October 2023 - HubSpot Blog
Marketer view

Email marketer from Sendinblue Blog answers that improving email engagement is critical for deliverability. Encourage recipients to add your email address to their address book and segment your audience based on engagement levels. Regularly clean your email list to remove inactive subscribers, which helps maintain a healthy sender reputation.

February 2025 - Sendinblue Blog
Marketer view

Email marketer from Neil Patel Blog explains that using subdomains for email marketing can help segment your email traffic and protect your main domain's reputation. It allows you to isolate any negative impacts from email campaigns to a specific subdomain, preventing it from affecting your primary domain's SEO and email deliverability.

June 2024 - Neil Patel Blog
Marketer view

Email marketer from OptinMonster Blog suggests regularly cleaning your email list to remove invalid or inactive email addresses to lower your bounce rate. Using an email verification service can help identify and remove invalid addresses before sending, improving your sender reputation and deliverability.

October 2024 - OptinMonster Blog
Marketer view

Email marketer from Gmass Blog explains that cleaning your email list regularly is a must. Remove inactive subscribers and those who haven't engaged with your emails in a while. This ensures you're only sending to engaged users, improving your sender reputation and deliverability.

December 2023 - Gmass Blog

What the experts say
6Expert opinions

The collective expert advice focuses on practical strategies and key considerations for managing email deliverability. For signup processes, implementing no-captcha and confirmation emails is recommended over third-party verification. Maintaining existing domain reputation is favored over changing the 'From' domain, even if it's a freemail provider like Gmail, which is common among small businesses. IP warm-up, email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), and monitoring engagement metrics are essential for sender reputation. Managing mailing lists and establishing feedback loops are also key.

Key opinions

  • Simplified Signup: No-captcha and confirmation emails suffice for signup, replacing third-party verification.
  • Domain Reputation: Maintaining existing domain reputation is preferred over changing the 'From' domain.
  • Freemail Prevalence: Small businesses commonly use Gmail addresses, requiring consideration in email strategies.
  • IP Warm-up: Gradual IP warm-up is crucial for new IPs or domains to establish a positive sending reputation.
  • Email Authentication: Proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is paramount for trust and deliverability.

Key considerations

  • Signup Process: Prioritize user-friendly signup processes to reduce friction.
  • Domain Choice: Carefully consider the impact of changing the 'From' domain on existing reputation and brand recognition.
  • Authentication Configuration: Ensure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are correctly configured for all sending domains.
  • Reputation Management: Monitor engagement metrics and address bounces/complaints to maintain a healthy sender reputation.
  • Feedback Loops: Establish feedback loops to receive notifications about complaints and bounces promptly.
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks states that changing the From: domain is not a great idea, as it’s discarding all their history and reputation and brand recognition, even if the From: domain is gmail.com.

January 2022 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise emphasizes the importance of IP warm-up, particularly when using new IPs or domains. Gradual increases in sending volume and monitoring engagement metrics are crucial. They also address the impact of bounces and complaints on sender reputation, urging proactive management of mailing lists and the establishment of feedback loops.

March 2025 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource explains proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is paramount for establishing trust with mailbox providers. Correctly configured authentication reduces the likelihood of emails being marked as spam. They also recommend the use of a dedicated IP address for better control over sender reputation.

February 2022 - Spam Resource
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks says that many small businesses use Gmail addresses, even when they have their own domain for web presence. This is especially true for self-signup services.

December 2024 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks suggests that instead of using a third-party email verification setup, implementing no-captcha on the signup page and sending a confirmation email with a required click-through link is a sufficient and standard practice for SaaS self-signup.

November 2023 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks suggests completely redoing the existing system. They both agree a good starting point is the point that Ken highlights.

January 2023 - Email Geeks

What the documentation says
4Technical articles

The documentation collectively emphasizes the importance of proper email authentication, managing sender reputation, and understanding subdomain behavior. Subdomains can inherit reputation from parent domains but also establish their own, and they require proper authentication (SPF, DKIM). Maintaining low bounce and complaint rates through feedback loops and prompt removal of hard bounces is also crucial.

Key findings

  • Subdomain Reputation: Subdomains inherit reputation but can also establish their own, affecting parent domains if misused.
  • SPF for Subdomains: Subdomains can have their own SPF records for delegated sending authority.
  • DKIM Configuration: DKIM should be properly configured for both main domains and subdomains.
  • Bounce/Complaint Rates: Low bounce and complaint rates are crucial for sender reputation.
  • Feedback Loops: Setting up feedback loops enables monitoring of complaints and bounces.

Key considerations

  • Authentication: Ensure proper SPF, DKIM, and DMARC configuration for all sending domains and subdomains.
  • Subdomain Management: Manage subdomain sending practices to prevent negative impact on parent domain reputation.
  • Reputation Monitoring: Continuously monitor sender reputation metrics to identify and address issues promptly.
  • Key Rotation: Rotate DKIM keys periodically to enhance security.
  • Bounce Handling: Promptly remove addresses that generate hard bounces from your mailing lists.
Technical article

Documentation from AWS details that maintaining low bounce and complaint rates is crucial for sender reputation. Set up feedback loops to receive notifications about complaints and bounces. Immediately remove addresses that generate hard bounces from your list to prevent further deliverability issues.

October 2021 - Amazon Web Services Documentation
Technical article

Documentation from RFC 4408 defines the Sender Policy Framework (SPF) and how it applies to subdomains. It explains that subdomains can have their own SPF records, allowing for delegation of sending authority. This is important for managing sender authentication across different parts of your organization or for different email streams.

January 2022 - RFC 4408
Technical article

Documentation from Google Workspace Admin Help explains that subdomains inherit some of the parent domain's reputation, but they can also establish their own. If a subdomain sends spam, it can negatively impact the parent domain's reputation. Proper authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is crucial for both domains and subdomains.

January 2023 - Google Workspace Admin Help
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft explains that DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) should be properly configured for both the main domain and any subdomains used for sending email. Correct DKIM configuration helps ISPs verify the authenticity of your emails and improves deliverability. They also advise to rotate DKIM keys periodically for security.

June 2023 - Microsoft Documentation