What is the best IP warmup strategy for small send volumes when switching ESPs and using shared IPs?
Summary
What email marketers say15Marketer opinions
Marketer from Email Geeks suggests the given plan looks sound but advises monitoring reports closely, and emphasizes stopping sending from Hubspot before starting with SFMC to avoid problems.
Marketer from Email Geeks suggests that while 30 days is a good general guide for warming up, it can be compressed into 14 days for smaller send volumes like 5k/day, but cautions against rushing the process and to monitor bounces and complaints.
Marketer from Email Geeks recommends dmarcian.com for DMARC monitoring and explains that the subdomain's adkim and aspf values don't need to be changed when switching the policy to none.
Email marketer from Litmus recommends to segment your email list and send your most engaging content to the most engaging contacts.
Email marketer from Mailtrap Blog recommends to slowly ramp up sending and increase your email volume gradually. With a consistent approach, you build a strong sender reputation and stay within the daily sending limits imposed by ESPs and ISPs.
Email marketer from StackOverflow thread suggests that when migrating ESPs, ensure all DNS records (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) are correctly configured in the new system *before* sending any email. Verifying these settings minimizes deliverability issues from the start.
Marketer from Email Geeks advises to change the organizational domain to p=none, and addresses the issue of external domains not giving permission for reports, recommending a service like dmarcian.com for monitoring.
Marketer from Email Geeks advises to warm up based on the normal sending pattern, not the total list size, to familiarize mailbox providers with the new IP.
Marketer from Email Geeks advises to work with the tech team and Fastly to address DMARC issues for the organizational domain, emphasizing the need for Fastly to resolve the external validation problem and consider taking control of the DMARC record.
Email marketer from GlockApps Blog emphasizes the importance of list hygiene when using shared IPs, suggesting regularly cleaning email lists and focusing on engaged subscribers can protect sender reputation. Even with a shared IP, sudden spikes in volume can negatively impact deliverability.
Email marketer from Email on Acid recommends tracking deliverability metrics such as bounce rates, complaint rates, and placement rates to monitor email program's success. Use this information to adjust your strategy as needed.
Email marketer from Reddit shares a strategy focused on segmenting their list and gradually migrating subscribers to the new ESP over a few weeks, monitoring open rates and bounces closely. They also recommend starting with high-engagement segments first.
Email marketer from Mailjet Blog emphasizes that with shared IPs, focusing on consistent sending practices is paramount. Adhering to best practices ensures a high reputation, including low bounce rates and avoiding spam complaints. Volume increases should still be gradual to avoid triggering filters, even on shared IPs.
Email marketer from Webmaster Sun Forum recommends that with a small list and a shared IP, the best approach is to start with very small, consistent sends and carefully monitor deliverability. Avoiding sudden large sends and maintaining a clean list is crucial.
Marketer from Email Geeks details that for the subdomain, since the techs can edit directly, a proper DMARC record such as host: `_<http://dmarc.e1.commentsold.com|dmarc.e1.commentsold.com>` value: `v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:<mailto:9r1xysvg@ag.dmarcian.com|9r1xysvg@ag.dmarcian.com>;` should be implemented, then monitor, test and switch back to p=reject once its passing consistently.
What the experts say6Expert opinions
Expert from Spam Resource explains that when using shared IPs, it's crucial to be aware that your sending reputation is intertwined with other users on that IP. Therefore, focusing on high-quality content, list hygiene, and adhering to best practices becomes even more important to avoid negative impacts from others' behavior. A warmup is less about the IP itself and more about maintaining a good sending reputation.
Expert from Email Geeks explains the external reports comment means you won’t get reports on DMARC failures and that Fastly needs to indicate they will accept DMARC reports to see the reports.
Expert from Email Geeks recommends starting at 100-200 per day and then doubling every day for IP warmup.
Expert from Word to the Wise responds that IP warm-up strategy for small send volumes when switching ESPs and using shared IPs requires careful monitoring of your sending reputation. While the IP is shared, your domain reputation is still key. Ensure proper authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is in place before sending any emails from a new domain. Monitor your deliverability with seed lists and feedback loops to identify any issues early.
Expert from Email Geeks explains that drastic changes in volume will cause filters to look harder at the mail and warming up to a high volume then reverting to a lower volume loses the benefit of the warmup.
Expert from Email Geeks says that if normal volume is around 5K per day, then warmup should be a week, tops, and suggests dedicated IP might not be necessary for such low volumes, recommending it for send volumes of at least 100K sending at least 3x a week.
What the documentation says5Technical articles
Documentation from Amazon Web Services explains that IP warm-up is the process of gradually increasing the volume of email sent from a new IP address to establish a positive sending reputation with ISPs. This involves starting with a small number of emails and slowly increasing the volume over time, while closely monitoring deliverability metrics such as bounce rates and spam complaints.
Documentation from Microsoft provides Microsoft's Smart Network Data Services (SNDS) helps monitors IP reputation with Microsoft domains such as Hotmail, Live, and Outlook, even when using shared IPs.
Documentation from SparkPost recommends to use DMARC, DKIM, and SPF records for the domain to show ISPs that a sender is legitimate.
Documentation from Google provides Google Postmaster Tools which helps monitor sender reputation, spam rates, and other metrics, even when using shared IPs. This data is valuable for identifying and addressing deliverability problems early on.
Documentation from SendGrid on shared IP pools clarifies that while SendGrid manages the overall reputation of shared IPs, senders are still responsible for their own sending behavior. Warm-up isn't typically required in the same way as with dedicated IPs, but maintaining a healthy list and following best practices is crucial.