How do I warm up a new domain/IP for cold email?

Warming a new domain or IP for cold email requires methodical execution over weeks.

Week 1: Send 10 to 20 emails daily to people who will engage (team members, partners, warmup pools). Focus on getting opens and replies.

Weeks 2 to 3: Increase to 30 to 50 emails daily. Begin mixing in some actual prospects, but prioritize quality over quantity. Continue monitoring engagement.

Weeks 4 to 6: Scale to 50 to 100 emails daily if metrics remain healthy. Watch Gmail Postmaster Tools for reputation indicators. Any decline means slowing down.

Weeks 6 to 8: Reach target sending volume gradually. By now, you should have established baseline reputation. Continue monitoring and adjust as needed.

Key principles:

• Patience matters more than speed
• Quality engagement beats raw volume
• Problems require immediate response
• Domain age helps (register domains weeks before warmup begins)
• Automated warmup tools can help but aren't magic solutions

Cold email warmup takes longer than marketing warmup because engagement signals are inherently weaker.