Do your marketing emails end up in spam, hurting your outreach? If you neglect the important step of warming up your IP and domain, this may occur. If you have ever been frustrated that your well-written emails are not getting read, you are not alone. The good news is that by using an appropriate IP and domain warm-up, you may greatly improve your email deliverability and win over ISPs (Internet service providers).

What is IP and Domain Warming?

Consider that your IP address or domain is either new or dormant. If you suddenly start sending a lot of emails from your inbox, inbox providers (like Gmail, Yahoo, and others) start to suspect you. This could lead to your emails being marked as spam. IP and domain warm-up helps you build a solid sender reputation and win over ISPs by progressively increasing the volume of emails you send.

IP vs. Domain Warm-Up

IP Warm-Up: Focuses on building the reputation of the IP address you send emails from.

Domain Warm-Up: Targets the reputation of the domain (yourcompany.com) associated with your emails.

How Does Warm-Up Build Sender Reputation?

ISPs watch your sending patterns, engagement rates, and overall email quality during warm-up. You can lessen the chance that your emails will be filtered out by gradually raising your email traffic to demonstrate to ISPs that you are not a spammer. Over time, you’ll notice better inbox placement.

Best Practices for IP and Domain Warm-Up

To get the best results from warming up, follow these tried-and-true steps:

Consistent Sending Schedules

Stick to a regular schedule to help ISPs recognize your sending pattern. If you’re unpredictable, they may flag you as suspicious. Consistency builds trust and keeps your deliverability stable.

Authenticate Your Domain

Create SPF, DKIM, and DMARC protocols to prove the authenticity of your emails. These tools:

• Prevent others from spoofing your domain.
• Build credibility with ISPs.
• Boost your chances of getting in the inbox rather than spam.

Clean Your Email List

Regularly remove unengaged users and bad email addresses. Doing so:

• Low bounce rates (fewer invalid addresses).
• Boosts engagement by focusing on active contacts.
• Improves your sender's reputation.

Avoid Purchased Email Lists

Using purchased email lists can seem alluring, but they frequently include contacts that are out-of-date or unconfirmed. Using these lists leads to:

• Higher bounce rates.
• More spam complaints.
• A damaged sender reputation. Stick to building your list organically!

An example of a 4-week IP warm-up schedule

Total Emails over 4 Weeks: 252,000

Important Notes:

• Always adjust based on deliverability performance and ISP feedback.
• Focus on high engagement at each stage to build sender reputation quickly.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Even with the greatest of intentions, mistakes can happen. Here are seven common blunders that could throw off your warm-up routine and advice on how to avoid them.

1. Sending Too Many Emails Too Quickly

• Problem: A sudden jump in email volume makes ISPs suspicious.
• Solution: Increase your email volume slowly, allowing ISPs to trust your patterns.

2. Using Unverified Email Lists

• Problem: Unverified lists often have outdated addresses, leading to high bounce rates.
• Solution: Only send emails to verified, permission-based contacts for better engagement.

3. Ignoring Negative Signals (Bounce Rates, Spam Complaints)

• Problem: High bounce rates and spam complaints send red flags to ISPs.
• Solution: Actively monitor these metrics and address issues immediately.

4. Not Tracking Engagement Metrics

• Problem: Failing to monitor opens, clicks, or unsubscribes means you’re flying blind.
• Solution: Keep track of these metrics to refine your strategy and improve future campaigns.

How WarmupIP Can Help

We can help with the daunting task of warming up an IP or domain! WarmupIP takes care of everything for you, utilizing real-time analytics and automation to make sure your emails are seen by the right people. Our goal? Helping you build a strong sender reputation and improve your email deliverability—without the hassle.

Ready to boost your email performance? Let’s get started!