Send 50,000 emails from a domain you registered yesterday and you'll spend the next month digging out of the spam folder. New domains need a warm-up.
Why warm-up works
Mailbox providers watch how recipients react to your early sends. Low volume from engaged recipients signals a legitimate sender; a sudden flood of cold contacts signals a spammer.
A simple ramp
| Week | Daily volume | Send to |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 50–100 | Your most engaged contacts |
| 2 | 250–500 | Recent openers and clickers |
| 3 | 1,000+ | Broaden gradually |
| 4+ | Scale | Full lists, watching metrics |
Keep an eye on bounces and complaints at every step. If a metric spikes, hold volume steady until it settles before ramping again.
Patience here pays compound interest: a well-warmed domain reaches the inbox for years.