7 Tips to Warm Up Email Domain for Better Deliverability
Warming up a new sending domain is one of the most critical steps to ensure your email campaigns land in the inbox instead of the spam folder. If you’re ready to warm up email domain for better deliverability, you need a measured approach: gradual volume increases, consistent engagement tracking, and reliable tools to monitor performance. With Apollo’s AI-powered sales platform, you can seamlessly automate outreach, validate deliverability, and stay on top of sender reputation as you build trust with mailbox providers.
Tip 1: Authenticate Your Domain Properly
Before you send anything, set up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records on your DNS. These authentication protocols tell mailbox providers that you’re a legitimate sender. Without them, even small volume sends can trigger filtering engines.
- SPF: List the sending servers authorized to send on behalf of your domain.
- DKIM: Sign each outgoing message with a cryptographic signature.
- DMARC: Enforce your policy to reject or quarantine unauthorized mail.
Tip 2: Start with a Handful of High-Engagement Contacts
Kicking off your warm-up with a small batch of recipients who regularly open and reply is vital. Aim for 10–20 emails per day initially, sending only to people who expect your messages. Their positive engagement signals will boost your reputation.
Tip 3: Gradually Scale Up Sending Volume
A sudden spike in volume is a red flag for spam filters. Increase your daily send count by no more than 20–30% each day. For example:
- Day 1: 20 emails
- Day 2: 25 emails
- Day 3: 30 emails
- …and so on, until you reach your target volume.
Tip 4: Monitor Engagement Metrics Closely
Keep a close eye on open rates, click-through rates, bounce rates, and spam complaints. A sustained open rate above 50% and a bounce rate below 2% indicate healthy engagement. Apollo’s analytics dashboard lets you track these metrics in real time, so issues can be spotted and addressed immediately.
Tip 5: Maintain List Hygiene with Regular Cleansing
Invalid or outdated email addresses can cause hard bounces and damage your sender reputation. Use an email validation service to remove non-existent or risky addresses before each send. Apollo’s built-in enrichment and verification tools help keep your lists fresh automatically.
Tip 6: Vary Your Content and Cadence
Sending identical messages at the same time every day looks like automated spam. Rotate subject lines, message copy, and sending times to mimic human behavior. Mix in occasional one-to-one personal follow-ups with broader sequence steps. Apollo’s AI call assistant and sequence builder can help you craft personalized touchpoints across email, calls, and social messages.
Tip 7: Warm Up Across Multiple IPs and Subdomains
If you plan to send high volumes, delegate different streams of traffic to distinct IP addresses or subdomains. Warm each IP or subdomain in parallel, following the same volume ramp-up strategy. This approach prevents a problem on one IP from impacting all your mail.
Putting It All Together with Apollo
Warming up your email domain takes patience and discipline—but you don’t have to go it alone. With Apollo you get end-to-end support:
- Automated Warm-Up Sequences: Schedule sends in progressive batches.
- Real-Time Analytics: Track opens, bounces, and complaints instantly.
- Data Enrichment: Keep your lists accurate and active.
- AI-Driven Outreach: Craft engaging messages that drive replies.
By combining best practices with Apollo’s advanced tools, you’ll establish a strong sender reputation and maximize your email deliverability from day one.
