While a dedicated IP does offer control over your sending reputation, it’s not always necessary. If you’re new to email marketing or have a relatively small email list, you may not yet have the email volume to support a dedicated IP. In that case, a shared IP may be a more cost-effective option.
However, if you send high volumes of email (typically more than 150,000 emails per month) or need to ensure maximum deliverability, a dedicated IP is a wise investment.
Additionally, if you are concerned about how documentation and record keeping other people’s email habits may affect your reputation, having a dedicated IP eliminates that risk as well.
Best Practices for Sending Email with Dedicated IP
The key to success when using a dedicated IP address for email marketing is to maintain a strong sender reputation and send your emails at the right volume, timing, and frequency.
The benefits of a dedicated IP are the 5 advantages of hiring a hubspot partner agency many, you have full control over your email deliverability and sender reputation.
Here are some best practices to help you get the most out of your dedicated IP:
1. Gradually Increase Email Sending
If you are using a Dedicated IP for the first time, it is very important that you do not start sending large email campaigns directly. If you start sending large volumes of emails from a previously inactive server, you may trigger spam filters.
The warm-up process involves gradually text services increasing your sending volume over a period of time. This will help you slowly build your IP’s reputation and ensure that email services like Gmail, Yahoo, and Outlook don’t flag your emails as spam.
So start by sending small amounts of emails every day and increase your sending volume every 24 hours. This gradual increase shows ESPs (Email Service Providers) that you are a legitimate sender and not a spammer.
2. Be Consistent
Maintaining a consistent email sending schedule is crucial to the health of your dedicated IP. Inconsistent email activity or irregular campaigns can damage your sender reputation and increase the risk of being flagged as a spammer.
With a shared IP, your traffic is spread out across multiple senders, meaning that even if you don’t send emails every day, the overall traffic will be consistent.
However, with a dedicated IP, you are the only person using the IP, so it is important to plan your email campaigns carefully to ensure a steady flow of traffic. Sending high-quality content regularly will ensure that your IP remains reliable and you avoid deliverability issues.
3. Use Authentication Protocols (SPF, DKIM, DMARC)
- SPF (Sender Policy Framework) : SPF prevents impersonation and forgery by ensuring that only authorized servers can send emails from your domain.
- DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) : DKIM helps prove the authenticity of your emails by adding a digital signature to your messages.
- DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance) : DMARC builds on SPF and DKIM by verifying the authenticity of your email, handling delivery errors, and providing you with detailed reports about your email traffic.
By implementing these protocols, you send a clear signal to email providers that your messages are legitimate.