Warming Up A New Domain For Cold Email. Best Practices

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If you're a salesperson or a marketer, you know that cold emailing can be a powerful way to generate leads, book meetings, and, ultimately, close deals. But what happens when you're working with a brand-new domain?

You might be tempted to jump right in and start blasting out emails, but hold your horses!

That's where email warm-up comes into play.

So, what is email warm-up, you ask?

Think of it as a pre-game warm-up before a big match. You wouldn't want to hit the field without a good stretch, right? The same principle applies here.

Email warm-up is the process of gradually introducing your new domain to email service providers (ESPs) and establishing a positive reputation over time. This can help improve your deliverability rates, avoid the spam folder, and keep your emails out of the dreaded "blacklist" zone.

But before we dive deeper into email warm-up, let's take a step back and define what cold email is, and why it's so important.

What Is Email Warm Up?

Email warm-up is the process of gradually increasing the volume and frequency of emails sent from a new domain to establish a positive sender reputation with ISPs and email clients. Simply put, it's a way to introduce your domain to the email world slowly and methodically.

Email warm-up is an onboarding process for your domain's email address. It's like starting a new job - you must learn the ropes and build trust with your colleagues. Similarly, when you start sending emails from a new domain, you need to build trust with email clients and ISPs.

By gradually increasing the volume and frequency of emails you send, you give ISPs and email clients time to assess your reputation and determine whether your emails are legitimate. This helps you avoid being marked as spam or sent to the junk folder, which can significantly impact your email campaign's effectiveness.

Why Is Warming Up A New Domain Important?

Warming up a new domain is crucial if you want to avoid having your emails flagged as spam or sent to the recipient's junk folder. Let's face it, we've all been guilty of ignoring emails in our spam folder.

Don't let your emails suffer the same fate!

To establish a positive sender reputation, it's essential to start with a low volume of emails and gradually increase the frequency and volume over time. It's like starting a new workout routine, you can't expect to run a marathon without training first.

The same goes for cold email campaigns, you need to build up your reputation before you start sending a large volume of emails.

During the warm-up period, there are some best practices you need to follow to ensure success. Use a clear and concise subject line that accurately reflects the content of your email. Avoid spam trigger words that can get your email flagged as spam. And most importantly, provide a clear opt-out option to build trust with your recipients.

Monitoring your email metrics is also critical during the warm-up period. It allows you to gauge the effectiveness of your strategy and make adjustments if necessary. Don't be afraid to pivot and try new approaches if your open rates, click-through rates, or bounce rates are not where you want them to be.

Warming up a new domain helps establish trust with ISPs and email clients, which can increase the chances of your emails being delivered to the recipient's inbox. Don't rush the process, take your time, and follow the best practices.

And remember, just like any new relationship, building trust takes time and effort.

Best Practices To Warm Up a
New Domain For Cold Email

Start with a low email volume and gradually increase frequency

When it comes to warming up a new domain for cold email, one of the most important best practices is to start with a low email volume and gradually increase the frequency over time. This strategy helps to build trust with ISPs and email clients, as it shows that you're not just blasting out a massive number of emails all at once.

But how do you determine what a "low email volume" actually is?

The answer will depend on a number of factors, including the size of your email list, the frequency with which you plan to send emails, and the goals of your campaign. In general, though, you'll want to err on the side of caution and start with a smaller number of emails than you might think you need.

As you begin to ramp up your email volume, be sure to monitor your email metrics closely. This will help you identify any issues early on, such as high bounce rates or low open rates, and make adjustments as needed.

And remember, just because you're increasing your email frequency doesn't mean you should sacrifice quality or relevance. Your cold email campaigns should always be targeted, personalized, and valuable to your recipients.

Of course, starting with a low email volume doesn't have to mean sending boring, unremarkable emails. In fact, it's an opportunity to experiment with different subject lines, email copy, and calls to action. Think of it as a chance to hone your craft and perfect your cold email strategy.

So go forth, experiment, and find the email volume and frequency that works best for your campaign!

Use a reputable email service provider to avoid being flagged as spam

It's important to use a reputable email service provider when sending cold emails from a new domain. This is because using a less reputable service can increase the likelihood of your emails being flagged as spam.

When choosing an email service provider, it's important to consider factors such as deliverability rates, reputation, and compliance with email marketing laws. A good email service provider can also provide you with warm-up tips and strategies to help you establish a positive sender reputation.

Using a reputable email service provider can also help you stay compliant with anti-spam laws and regulations. This can help you avoid potential fines or legal trouble down the road.

So if you want to avoid your emails being marked as spam, choose your email service provider wisely.

As the saying goes, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

Personalize your emails to establish a connection with the prospect

When it comes to cold emailing, it's important to remember that you're trying to establish a connection with someone who has likely never heard of you or your business. Personalization is key to making that connection and increasing the chances of a response.

Start by addressing the recipient by name and use language that resonates with them.

Research their interests or pain points and tailor your message accordingly. If you're reaching out to someone in a specific industry, use industry-specific language and references to show that you understand their field.

You can also use personalization to add value to your message. Include relevant content, such as a blog post or case study, that you think the recipient will find interesting or useful. This not only shows that you've done your research, but it also adds value to your message and increases the likelihood of a response.

However, be careful not to go overboard with personalization. It can be a fine line between personalized and weird. Avoid using overly familiar language or assumptions about the recipient's personal life.

Avoid using spam trigger words or phrases in your subject line and content

You want to make sure your emails don't get caught in spam filters, and avoiding these words and phrases can help.

Using words like "buy now", "limited-time offer", or "free" might seem tempting, but they could be flagged as spam. Instead, try to craft your subject lines and content to be engaging and attention-grabbing, without relying on these common spam trigger words.

Also, keep in mind that different industries may have their own set of trigger words, so do some research to find out what words to avoid in your specific niche.

Remember, the goal is to get your emails into the recipient's inbox, not their spam folder. So, take some time to craft thoughtful, personalized content that will resonate with your target audience and avoid those spam trigger words.

Monitor email metrics to determine the effectiveness of your warm-up strategy

By tracking metrics such as open rates, click-through rates, and bounce rates, you can get a better understanding of how your emails are performing and whether your warm-up strategy is working.

If your open rates and click-through rates are low, it could be a sign that your emails are being marked as spam or sent to the junk folder. This may indicate that you need to adjust your warm-up strategy to build more trust with ISPs and email clients.

On the other hand, if your bounce rates are high, it could mean that your email list needs some cleaning up.

Removing invalid or inactive email addresses can help improve your sender's reputation and increase the chances of your emails being delivered to the recipient's inbox.

Conclusion

Email warm-up is a critical step in any successful cold email campaign.

By gradually introducing your new domain to email service providers and building a positive sender reputation, you can increase the chances of your emails being delivered to the recipient's inbox.

Starting with a low email volume and gradually increasing the frequency, using a reputable email service provider, and following best practices such as avoiding spam trigger words and providing clear opt-out options are all key to a successful email warm-up.

Remember, building trust takes time and effort, so take your time, monitor your email metrics, and make adjustments as necessary to ensure the success of your cold email campaign.
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