What is the best IP warm-up strategy after an ESP server migration?

Summary

The best IP warm-up strategy following an ESP server migration centers around gradually building a positive sender reputation. Begin by sending a low volume of emails to your most engaged subscribers, then steadily increase the volume over several weeks. Crucial elements include closely monitoring sender reputation and deliverability metrics, such as open rates, click-through rates, bounce rates, and spam complaints. Segmentation of your email list, creating engaging and relevant content, and avoiding spam traps by ensuring your list is clean and up-to-date are also vital. Consistent sending volume, as opposed to erratic sending patterns, helps avoid triggering spam filters.

Key findings

  • Start with Engaged: Prioritize sending to highly engaged subscribers to establish a positive sending reputation early on.
  • Gradual Volume Increase: Increase sending volume gradually over several weeks, rather than all at once.
  • Monitor Deliverability: Closely monitor deliverability metrics (open rates, clicks, bounces, spam complaints) to identify and address any issues promptly.
  • Segmentation is Key: Segment your email list to send relevant content to specific audience groups, boosting engagement.
  • Content Matters: Create engaging and valuable content that encourages opens, clicks, and conversions.

Key considerations

  • Sender Reputation: Building and maintaining a positive sender reputation is essential for long-term deliverability.
  • Avoid Spam Traps: Regularly clean your email list to remove inactive addresses and use double opt-in to prevent hitting spam traps.
  • Consistent Sending: Maintain a consistent sending volume to avoid triggering spam filters.
  • Ramp-Up Plan: A well-structured ramp-up plan is necessary for an effective IP warm-up strategy.
  • Adhere to Guidelines: Adhere to bulk sender guidelines for major email providers like Gmail and Microsoft

What email marketers say
10Marketer opinions

The best IP warm-up strategy after an ESP server migration involves a phased approach focused on building a positive sender reputation. Start by sending to your most engaged subscribers, gradually increasing volume over several weeks. Monitor key deliverability metrics like open rates, click-through rates, bounce rates, and spam complaints. Segmentation, engaging content, and avoiding spam traps are crucial for success.

Key opinions

  • Engaged Subscribers: Prioritize sending to highly engaged subscribers initially to generate positive engagement signals.
  • Gradual Volume Increase: Gradually increase sending volume over several weeks rather than sending large volumes immediately.
  • Monitoring Metrics: Continuously monitor deliverability metrics such as open rates, click-through rates, bounce rates, and spam complaints.
  • Segmentation: Segmenting email lists and sending relevant content to each segment helps in improving deliverability.
  • Content Engagement: Creating relevant and valuable content is vital to ensure subscribers engage with your emails.

Key considerations

  • Sender Reputation: A positive sender reputation is crucial; monitor and address any issues promptly.
  • Spam Traps: Avoid hitting spam traps by cleaning your email list and using double opt-in.
  • Consistency: Maintain a consistent sending schedule rather than sending emails erratically.
  • Feedback Loop: Adjust sending strategy based on feedback from mailbox providers.
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit explains that a typical warm-up schedule might involve sending a few hundred emails on day one, increasing to a few thousand by the end of the first week, and then continuing to scale up gradually in subsequent weeks. The exact numbers will depend on the size of your list and your existing sender reputation.

April 2023 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Litmus shares that creating engaging content is crucial during IP warm-up. Content that is relevant and valuable to your subscribers encourages opens, clicks, and conversions, signaling to mailbox providers that your emails are legitimate and wanted. This can significantly improve your sender reputation and deliverability rates.

May 2022 - Litmus
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum explains that during the IP warm-up period, it's essential to avoid hitting spam traps. This means ensuring your email list is clean and up-to-date, removing any old or inactive addresses, and using double opt-in to confirm subscriber consent. Hitting spam traps can damage your sender reputation and jeopardize your warm-up efforts.

March 2022 - Email Marketing Forum
Marketer view

Email marketer from ActiveCampaign explains that warming up an IP address effectively requires a phased approach. Start by sending to a small segment of highly engaged subscribers. Then, gradually increase the volume while monitoring deliverability metrics such as open rates, click-through rates, and spam complaints. Maintaining a positive sender reputation is crucial.

January 2023 - ActiveCampaign
Marketer view

Email marketer from EmailOnAcid shares that segmentation is vital during the IP warm-up process. By targeting your most engaged subscribers first, you demonstrate to mailbox providers that your emails are wanted and valuable. This helps to build a positive sender reputation and improves deliverability rates.

December 2024 - EmailOnAcid
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet explains that a good IP warm-up strategy involves gradually increasing sending volume over several weeks. Start by sending to your most engaged subscribers, monitor your sender reputation closely, and adjust your sending schedule based on feedback from mailbox providers.

September 2021 - Mailjet
Marketer view

Email marketer from SendGrid shares that the best IP warm-up involves segmenting your list by engagement, starting with the most active users, and gradually increasing volume. Monitor your sender score, bounce rates, and spam complaints, and adjust your sending strategy accordingly. Consistency is key.

November 2021 - SendGrid
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks shares considerations for prioritizing emails during IP warm-up, including prioritizing highly engaged subscribers to generate high opens and low complaints, which is critical in the early stages of IP warm-up.

December 2023 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks explains that warmup is about keeping positive engagement high (opens, clicks, conversions) and negative reactions low (spam complaints, unsubscribes, bounces). They suggest starting as slowly as possible and focusing on the positively engaged.

May 2023 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from GlockApps explains that continuously monitoring your sender reputation is essential during an IP warm-up. Use tools to track your IP address's reputation, bounce rates, and spam complaints. This allows you to identify and address any issues promptly, ensuring that your warm-up process is successful.

September 2024 - GlockApps

What the experts say
2Expert opinions

Experts recommend a gradual IP warm-up by starting with low email volumes sent to engaged subscribers, then steadily increasing over weeks. Monitoring sender reputation and deliverability metrics is essential for a smooth transition. Maintaining consistent sending volume helps avoid spam filters and build a solid sender reputation; erratic volumes should be avoided.

Key opinions

  • Gradual Increase: Starting with low volumes and gradually increasing over several weeks is crucial.
  • Engaged Subscribers: Initial sends should target highly engaged subscribers.
  • Consistent Volume: Maintaining a consistent sending volume helps build a solid sender reputation.
  • Monitoring Metrics: Tracking sender reputation and deliverability metrics ensures a smooth transition.

Key considerations

  • Sender Reputation: Building and maintaining a positive sender reputation is paramount.
  • Erratic Volumes: Avoid erratic email volumes to prevent triggering spam filters.
  • Segmentation: Segmenting your list and personalizing messages enhances engagement.
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise Laura Atkins shares that maintaining a consistent sending volume during IP warm-up is crucial for building a solid sender reputation. They advise against sending erratic volumes of email, as this can trigger spam filters and negatively impact deliverability. Gradually increasing volume while monitoring engagement metrics is key to a successful warm-up process.

August 2024 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from SpamResource explains that a successful IP warming strategy involves starting with a low volume of emails to your most engaged subscribers and gradually increasing the volume over several weeks. Monitoring your sender reputation and deliverability metrics is essential to ensure a smooth transition. They highlight the importance of segmenting your list and personalizing your messages to maximize engagement.

January 2025 - SpamResource

What the documentation says
3Technical articles

Email delivery documentation emphasizes establishing a sending history by starting with small volumes and gradually increasing them, targeting engaged recipients initially. Monitoring delivery rates, user engagement, sender reputation, and addressing issues promptly are essential. A well-structured ramp-up plan is crucial for success.

Key findings

  • Establish History: Establishing a sending history is vital for new IPs, particularly with Gmail.
  • Gradual Increase: Gradually increasing volume over time is recommended by multiple sources.
  • Engaged Recipients: Starting with emails to engaged recipients is essential for a positive start.
  • Monitor Metrics: Monitoring delivery rates, user engagement, and sender reputation is crucial.

Key considerations

  • Bulk Sender Guidelines: Adhering to bulk sender guidelines is essential for successful delivery to Gmail.
  • Ramp-Up Plan: A well-structured ramp-up plan is needed for a successful IP warm-up.
  • Address Issues Promptly: Promptly addressing any delivery issues is critical for maintaining deliverability.
  • Adjust Schedule: Adjust sending schedule based on monitoring and reputation.
Technical article

Documentation from Google explains that for new IP addresses sending to Gmail, it's important to establish a sending history. They recommend starting with small volumes and gradually increasing them over time while monitoring delivery rates and user engagement. Adhering to their bulk sender guidelines is essential for successful delivery.

December 2023 - Google
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft shares that to build a positive IP reputation, senders should start with a low volume of emails to engaged recipients and gradually increase the volume. Monitoring sender reputation and addressing any delivery issues promptly is critical for maintaining good deliverability.

March 2021 - Microsoft
Technical article

Documentation from SparkPost explains that a successful IP warm-up requires a well-structured ramp-up plan. Begin by sending to your most engaged users, those who regularly open and click your emails. Gradually increase the volume over several weeks, monitoring key metrics like bounce rates, spam complaints, and engagement levels. Adjust your sending schedule as needed to maintain a positive reputation.

January 2022 - SparkPost