What is the best approach for warming up a new IP address for a newsletter with high volume sends?

Summary

Successfully warming up a new IP address for high-volume newsletter sending demands a multifaceted approach. It begins with gradually increasing sending volume, starting with the most engaged subscribers to establish a positive reputation with ISPs. Segmentation based on engagement, consistent sending habits, and the delivery of valuable content are crucial. Proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is vital to verify your identity and prevent spoofing. Ongoing monitoring of key metrics like open rates, click-through rates, bounce rates, and spam complaints enables prompt adjustments to your strategy. List hygiene is paramount, requiring a clean email list free of spam traps. Some strategies include utilizing every available sending day for maximum velocity, while others recommend throttling sends and distributing them over multiple days, especially for non-time-sensitive content. Simplifying the process through MTA level controls is also suggested.

Key findings

  • Gradual Volume Increase: Incrementally increase sending volume to build sender reputation.
  • Engagement-Based Segmentation: Start with engaged subscribers, expand to less engaged segments.
  • Consistent Sending: Maintain regular sending habits; avoid erratic sending patterns.
  • Valuable Content: Deliver relevant, engaging content to foster positive interactions.
  • Email Authentication: Implement SPF, DKIM, DMARC for identity verification.
  • Metric Monitoring: Track open rates, click-through rates, bounce rates, spam complaints.
  • Clean List: Ensure a spam trap-free, high-quality email list.

Key considerations

  • Sending Velocity: Decide between maximizing daily sends versus throttling and distributing sends.
  • Content Sensitivity: Consider throttling for non-time-sensitive content.
  • MTA Control: Explore simplification via MTA level controls.
  • AWS Integration: Leverage AWS for seamless traffic transitions.
  • Newsletter Volume: Distribute sends over time if newsletter volume dwarfs other sends.
  • Relevance: Send content regularly during warm-up period to build trust.

What email marketers say
12Marketer opinions

Warming up a new IP address for high-volume newsletter sends requires a strategic approach focusing on gradual volume increases, engagement, list quality, and monitoring key metrics. Begin by sending to your most engaged subscribers and progressively expanding to less engaged segments. Consistent sending habits, proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), and valuable content are essential. Continuously monitor metrics like open rates, click-through rates, bounce rates, and spam complaints to adjust your strategy and maintain a positive sender reputation. Avoid sending to unengaged users or spam traps during the initial warmup phase.

Key opinions

  • Gradual Volume Increase: Start with a small sending volume and incrementally increase it over time to establish a positive sending reputation.
  • Engagement-Based Segmentation: Prioritize sending to your most engaged subscribers first before expanding to less engaged segments.
  • Consistent Sending Habits: Maintain consistent sending volume and frequency to build trust with ISPs.
  • Email Authentication: Implement proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) to verify your identity and improve deliverability.
  • Valuable Content: Send relevant and engaging content to encourage positive engagement and improve sender reputation.
  • Metric Monitoring: Monitor key metrics like open rates, click-through rates, bounce rates, and spam complaints to identify and address any deliverability issues.

Key considerations

  • Throttle: Consider throttling sends to control volume and distribution, especially if content isn't time-sensitive.
  • List Hygiene: Ensure your email list is clean and free of spam traps to avoid damaging your sender reputation.
  • Relevance: Avoid sending irrelevant content or sending too frequently during the initial warm-up period.
  • Scheduling: Plan and schedule email sends to ensure consistent volume and frequency.
  • Bounce Rate: Pay close attention to bounce rates and address any issues to prevent negative impacts on sender reputation.
  • Sending Velocity: Some approaches suggest maximising daily sends as possible, but is usually not advised.
Marketer view

Email marketer from Litmus shares that setting up proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is crucial before starting IP warming. They explain that authentication helps verify your identity to mailbox providers, improving deliverability and preventing spoofing or phishing attempts.

May 2021 - Litmus
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum user EmailPro shares that you should plan and schedule your email sends during IP warming to ensure consistent volume and frequency. They suggest creating a detailed sending schedule that gradually increases the number of emails sent each day or week, while closely monitoring deliverability metrics.

November 2023 - Email Marketing Forum
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum user EmailGuru states you should ensure your email list is clean and free of spam traps before starting the IP warming process. Sending to spam traps can severely damage your sender reputation and deliverability.

September 2021 - Email Marketing Forum
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailchimp explains that when warming up a new IP, you should always begin by sending to your most engaged segment. This helps establish a positive sending reputation with ISPs.

March 2022 - Mailchimp
Marketer view

Email marketer from Campaign Monitor shares the importance of sending relevant content consistently. Avoid sending irrelevant content or sending too frequently during the initial warm-up period.

October 2021 - Campaign Monitor
Marketer view

Email marketer from EmailOnAcid responds that monitoring key metrics like open rates, click-through rates, bounce rates, and spam complaints is essential during IP warming. They emphasize the need to adjust your sending strategy based on these metrics to ensure optimal deliverability and sender reputation.

January 2023 - EmailOnAcid
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks suggests using every available sending day to maximize velocity when warming up an IP address, mentioning managing warmups exceeding 5 million per day using this approach.

July 2023 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from HubSpot details that monitoring bounce rates closely is crucial during the IP warming process. High bounce rates can negatively impact your sender reputation, so it's important to address any issues promptly.

December 2021 - HubSpot
Marketer view

Email marketer from Validity shares that segmentation is crucial, starting with your most engaged subscribers and gradually expanding to less engaged segments. They stress monitoring engagement metrics closely to identify and address any deliverability issues early on.

June 2022 - Validity
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet explains that a gradual IP warming strategy is key, starting with your most engaged subscribers and slowly increasing volume over time. They emphasize consistent sending and monitoring deliverability metrics to adjust the pace as needed.

December 2022 - Mailjet
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit user EmailGrows shares that on reddit they suggest segmenting your list by engagement level and starting with the most engaged subscribers for IP warming. They advise monitoring open and click rates to adjust sending volume accordingly. Also recommends avoiding sending to unengaged users during the initial warmup phase.

November 2023 - Reddit
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks suggests that unless the newsletter contains time-sensitive content like flash sales, it is better to set a throttle and distribute the sends over multiple days.

February 2024 - Email Geeks

What the experts say
5Expert opinions

Warming up a new IP address for newsletters involves establishing consistent sending habits and building a good sender reputation. Distributing newsletter sends over a longer period can help manage volume spikes. Simplifying the process using MTA-level controls is suggested. Leveraging features from providers like AWS to transition traffic between shared and dedicated IPs can minimize service interruptions. Beyond volume, engagement, list quality, and authentication are critical factors in building a positive reputation with ISPs.

Key opinions

  • Consistent Sending: Establishing consistent sending volume and frequency is vital for a good sender reputation during IP warming.
  • Distribution of Sends: Distributing newsletter sends over a longer duration (e.g., a month) can manage volume effectively.
  • MTA Level Controls: Simplifying IP warming by setting MTA levels helps automate the sending rate management.
  • Engagement Matters: Beyond just volume, engagement (opens/clicks) is a critical component for a good sender reputation.
  • List Quality: Maintaining a clean email list with engaged subscribers is crucial for successful IP warming.
  • Authentication: Proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is essential for proving sender legitimacy and improving deliverability.

Key considerations

  • Volume Management: When newsletter volume dwarfs other sends, consider distributing it over a longer time.
  • Simplification: Explore simplifying IP warming via MTA level control if the technical aspects are complex.
  • Provider Features: Consider leveraging features offered by ESPs like AWS to help transition traffic between IPs seamlessly.
  • Holistic Approach: IP warming isn't just about volume; ensure engagement, list quality, and authentication are addressed.
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks recommends simplifying IP warming by setting MTA levels and allowing them to manage the sending rate.

October 2023 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks shares an approach of distributing a monthly newsletter slowly over the course of the entire month to manage sending volume during IP warming, especially when the newsletter volume dwarfs other sends.

November 2023 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise responds that building a good sender reputation through careful IP warming involves more than just volume. Engagement, list quality and authentication are critical for establishing a positive reputation with ISPs.

July 2021 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks shares their experience of informing AWS about the IP warmup when moving Big App to dedicated IPs, utilizing AWS's feature to send some traffic over the new dedicated IPs and some over the old shared IPs for seamless service.

December 2022 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from SpamResource.com explains the importance of establishing consistent sending habits during the IP warming process. This includes consistent volume and frequency of sends to build a good reputation.

February 2024 - SpamResource.com

What the documentation says
4Technical articles

Effective IP warming for newsletters involves gradually increasing email volume, starting with your most engaged users and consistently monitoring key metrics like bounce rates and spam complaints. It is essential to send valuable content that encourages positive engagement (opens and clicks) to signal that your mail is wanted by recipients. Avoid sending large spikes of email, as this can trigger spam filters. Utilize tools like Google Postmaster Tools to proactively manage your sender reputation and deliverability, especially to Gmail users.

Key findings

  • Gradual Volume Increase: Warming an IP requires a gradual increase in sending volume over time.
  • Engaged Users First: Begin sending to your most engaged users to establish a positive reputation.
  • Consistent Volume: Maintain a consistent sending volume to avoid triggering spam filters.
  • Valuable Content: Sending content that recipients find valuable improves engagement and sender reputation.
  • Proactive Monitoring: Using tools like Google Postmaster Tools allows you to monitor sender reputation and address issues promptly.

Key considerations

  • Bounce Rates: Closely monitor bounce rates and take action to reduce them.
  • Spam Complaints: Monitor spam complaints and address any underlying issues immediately.
  • Engagement Signals: Pay attention to open rates and click-through rates as indicators of engagement.
  • Avoid Spikes: Avoid sending large spikes of email volume, which can negatively impact deliverability.
  • Gmail Deliverability: Specifically focus on Gmail deliverability and sender reputation within Google Postmaster Tools.
Technical article

Documentation from SendGrid emphasizes the importance of sending valuable content during the IP warming process. They explain that positive engagement (opens, clicks) signals to mailbox providers that your mail is wanted, improving your sender reputation and deliverability.

August 2024 - SendGrid
Technical article

Documentation from Amazon SES explains that warming up an IP address involves gradually increasing the volume of email you send over that IP. They advise beginning with a small number of emails to your most engaged users, and slowly increasing the volume over time, while closely monitoring bounce rates and spam complaints.

July 2022 - Amazon SES
Technical article

Documentation from SparkPost explains that consistent sending volume is vital for successful IP warming. They advise against sending large spikes of email, as this can trigger spam filters and negatively impact your sender reputation. Instead, they recommend gradually increasing volume over time.

August 2023 - SparkPost
Technical article

Documentation from Google Postmaster Tools shares that it is important to use Google Postmaster Tools to monitor your sender reputation, spam complaints, and other deliverability metrics during IP warming. They emphasize the importance of addressing any issues promptly to maintain a positive sender reputation and ensure optimal deliverability to Gmail users.

June 2023 - Google