How to warm up a new domain or IP for cold sending?

Warming up a new domain or IP establishes reputation before you need to rely on it. The process requires patience.

Start small: Begin with 10 to 20 emails per day. These should go to recipients likely to engage (colleagues, existing contacts, or warmup pools).

Gradual increase: Increase volume by 20% to 30% every few days, watching for deliverability problems. If issues appear, reduce volume and stabilize before continuing.

Timeline: Expect 4 to 8 weeks for meaningful warmup. Rushing guarantees problems. Domain age also matters; newly registered domains face additional scrutiny.

Monitor constantly: Watch bounce rates, spam placement, and Gmail Postmaster Tools data. Problems caught early are easier to address than accumulated damage.

Engagement focus: The goal is positive signals: opens, replies, and messages moved from spam to inbox. Pure volume without engagement doesn't build positive reputation.

Warmup cannot be skipped or compressed. A ship that leaves port before inspection clears will be turned back at every harbor it approaches.