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.