Why and How Sales & Marketing Teams Should Warm Up An Inbox
When you're sending out cold emails, there's nothing worse than having the email reach the junk folder. Luckily there's a way to greatly increase your odds of hitting their inbox, called "mailbox warming." Mailbox warming is when you gradually increase the amount of emails you sent out, and have the target email addresses respond to you, to increase your "reputation".
Similar to going to a social gathering alone, vs going to a social gathering with some well known people, if people see you conversing with them, it improves your reputation.
In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the importance of mailbox warming, its benefits, and effective strategies to warm up your inbox and maintain its warmth, along with authoritative links to relevant sources and products.
Why is Mailbox Warming Important?
If you have a brand new domain or IP address, email providers may treat your emails with suspicion. This is due to the high number of spam and phishing attacks happening in 2023.
One such technique involves examining the sender reputation of the domain or IP address from which the email is sent. Sender reputation is a measure of an email sender's trustworthiness and quality, determined by factors such as email sending volume and frequency, bounce and complaint rates, recipient engagement, and the presence of spam traps or blacklisted IP addresses.
A low sender reputation may result in your emails being flagged as spam or rejected by email providers. Mailbox warming addresses this issue by building up your sender reputation with email providers through a gradual increase in email volume and frequency.
How do I warm up my inbox and keep it warm?
Warm-up inbox services work by automating the process. They gradually increasing the amount of emails they send out daily to increase your reputation. These services send emails to a network of real, active email addresses that engage with your messages, simulating genuine interactions. By opening, reading, and replying to your emails, these services help boost your email engagement rate and sender reputation. Additionally, they may offer tools for monitoring your email deliverability metrics, such as bounce rates, complaint rates, and open rates.
Can show me an example of an email thread genearted by a inbox warm up service?
Email Thread Example
From: warmupbot@example.com To: user@example.com Subject: Catching Up After So Long!
Hey [User's Name],
It's been a while since we last caught up! How have you been? I remember the last time we spoke, you were planning a trip to Europe. How did that go?
Hope to hear from you soon!
Warm regards,
WarmUp Bot
From: user@example.com To: warmupbot@example.com
Hey WarmUp Bot,
Yes, it's been quite some time! The trip to Europe was fantastic. Visited a few countries and had some amazing experiences. How have you been?
Cheers,
[User's Name]
From: warmupbot@example.com To: user@example.com
Hi [User's Name],
That sounds like a dream trip! I've been good, just keeping busy with my usual routines. By the way, have you tried any new restaurants in town recently? I'm always on the lookout for recommendations.
Take care,
WarmUp Bot
From: user@example.com To: warmupbot@example.com
Hello WarmUp Bot,
Glad to hear you're doing well. I recently tried a new Italian place downtown, and it was delightful. You should definitely check it out!
Best,
[User's Name]
To effectively warm up your mailbox, consider utilizing the following tools and strategies:
Monitor your bounces and complaints: Keeping track of bounced or undeliverable emails and the number of complaints or unsubscribes you receive is crucial in the mailbox warming process. This information can be used to adjust your sending frequency, segment your email list, or troubleshoot any issues affecting your deliverability.
Segment your email list: Dividing your email list into smaller groups based on shared characteristics or interests is known as segmentation. By doing so, you can tailor your emails to be more relevant and engaging to your prospects, which in turn can boost your engagement rate and sender reputation.
Use a double opt-in process: Double opt-in is a method of confirming that a prospect wants to receive emails from you. When a prospect signs up for your email list, send them a confirmation email requiring them to click a link to verify their subscription. This helps you build a clean and engaged email list, reducing bounces and complaints.
Use an email verification service: Email verification services check the validity and deliverability of email addresses. By using such a service to clean your email list and remove invalid or undeliverable email addresses, you can minimize bounces and enhance your sender reputation. Some popular email verification services include ZeroBounce, NeverBounce, BriteVerify, and EmailListVerify.
Engage with your prospects: Interacting with your prospects and fostering relationships through your emails is essential for improving your sender reputation. By sending targeted, personalized, and relevant emails and encouraging your prospects to reply or interact with your emails, you can boost your engagement rate and sender reputation.
Leverage a consistent sending schedule: Maintaining a consistent sending schedule is essential for improving your sender reputation. Consistency helps email providers recognize your domain or IP address as a legitimate sender, increasing the likelihood of your emails being delivered to your prospects' inboxes. Avoid sending large batches of emails at irregular intervals and instead, establish a regular sending pattern that aligns with your target audience's preferences.
Authenticate your emails: Implementing email authentication protocols like SPF (Sender Policy Framework), DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail), and DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) can further enhance your sender reputation. These protocols verify your domain and IP address, making it more difficult for spammers to impersonate your identity, and providing a level of trust for email providers. By implementing these measures, you not only improve the deliverability of your emails but also protect your brand's reputation.
In conclusion, mailbox warming is a crucial process for sales and marketing professionals aiming to enhance the amount of prospects they can reach.
By progressively increasing your email volume and frequency, you can develop a solid sender reputation. A variety of tools and strategies are available to warm up your mailbox, such as using an email delivery service, monitoring bounces and complaints, segmenting your email list, employing a double opt-in process, and utilizing an email verification service. By investing in your sender reputation, you can connect with more people and forge stronger relationships with your prospects and drive more sales for your business.