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Does using a new email address on the same domain affect email deliverability?

Summary

Using a new email address on the same domain presents both opportunities and challenges for email deliverability. While filters might not inherently penalize the new address, a lack of established sender reputation necessitates a strategic approach. Warming up the IP address/email address gradually, focusing on engagement, and following best practices are crucial. Domain authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is essential to prove legitimacy. Maintaining list hygiene, adhering to sending limits imposed by providers like Gmail and Exchange Online, and monitoring engagement metrics are also important. While using 'noreply' addresses may not always have a statistically significant impact, it's generally not recommended. Successful deliverability requires a multi-faceted approach combining technical configuration, responsible sending practices, and constant monitoring.

Key findings

  • Sender Reputation is Key: A new email address starts with a neutral or nonexistent sender reputation, making initial sending behavior critical.
  • Warming Up is Essential: Gradually increasing sending volume helps build a positive sender reputation with mailbox providers.
  • Authentication Matters: Domain authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) verifies the sender's identity and improves deliverability.
  • Engagement Signals Count: Opens, clicks, and positive interactions demonstrate that recipients want the emails.
  • List Hygiene is a Must: Cleaning the email list by removing unengaged subscribers improves deliverability and sender reputation.
  • Sending Limits Apply: Google Workspace and Exchange Online enforce sending limits that must be observed to avoid deliverability issues.

Key considerations

  • Implement a Warm-Up Strategy: Carefully plan and execute a gradual IP/email address warm-up process.
  • Focus on Engagement: Send valuable, relevant content that encourages recipients to open and interact with the emails.
  • Authenticate the Domain: Configure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records to authenticate the sending domain.
  • Clean the Email List Regularly: Remove unengaged subscribers to maintain a healthy list and improve engagement rates.
  • Stay Within Sending Limits: Monitor sending volume to avoid exceeding the limits imposed by mailbox providers.
  • Monitor Deliverability Metrics: Track bounce rates, spam complaints, and engagement metrics to identify and address any issues.
  • Test Thoroughly: Test your email's journey through seedlists to ensure inbox placement before sending real campaigns.
  • Consider 'Noreply' Addresses Carefully: Evaluate the potential impact of using 'noreply' addresses and consider alternatives if possible.

What email marketers say

10 marketer opinions

Using a new email address on the same domain can affect email deliverability due to a lack of established sender reputation. Key aspects include the importance of warming up the new IP address or email address with low sending volumes initially, building a positive sender reputation through valuable content and good engagement, authenticating your domain (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), and maintaining list hygiene to avoid spam complaints and low engagement rates. Using "noreply" addresses can also negatively influence deliverability in some cases. Monitoring bounce rates and spam complaints is critical to ensure you aren't being flagged as spam.

Key opinions

  • Sender Reputation: A new email address lacks sender reputation, making initial sending behavior crucial.
  • IP Warming: Gradually increasing sending volume is essential to establish a positive sender reputation when using a new IP address or email address.
  • Authentication: Authenticating your domain (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is vital for proving that you're authorized to send emails.
  • Engagement Metrics: Factors such as spam complaints, bounce rates, and engagement metrics significantly impact deliverability.

Key considerations

  • Gradual Warm-Up: Start with low sending volumes and gradually increase to avoid triggering spam filters.
  • Content Quality: Send valuable content that recipients engage with to build a positive sender reputation.
  • List Hygiene: Maintain a clean email list by removing unengaged subscribers to avoid low engagement rates and spam complaints.
  • Domain Authentication: Ensure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records are correctly configured to authenticate your domain.
  • Avoid "Noreply": Consider avoiding "noreply" email addresses, as they can negatively impact deliverability and user experience.
  • Monitor Metrics: Closely monitor bounce rates and spam complaints to identify and address deliverability issues.

Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks explains that using a “noreply” email address is a single data point and won't impact deliverability alone but can push you over the edge if you are already close to the line. It also violates best practices.

22 Jul 2021 - Email Geeks

Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailchimp states that authenticating your domain (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is vital for deliverability, especially with a new email address. Authentication helps prove that you're authorized to send emails from your domain.

25 Feb 2023 - Mailchimp

What the experts say

6 expert opinions

Using a new email address on the same domain may or may not affect deliverability depending on several factors. While filters themselves might not treat a new address differently, lower delivery rates can occur if global filters flag the mail as bulk unless overridden by allow-lists. Following best practices like gradual IP/domain warm-up and building a solid reputation through engagement and adherence to standards is crucial. List hygiene, employing sunset policies, and implementing list-unsubscribe headers are also important. Testing through seedlists before sending to subscribers is a must in order to ensure good inbox placement.

Key opinions

  • Initial Filter Impact: Filters might not immediately penalize a new email address on the same domain.
  • Global Filter Influence: Global filters perceiving mail as bulk can lower deliverability, unless allow-lists override.
  • Warm-up Importance: Gradually warming up new IPs and domains by sending slowly is essential for building a good sender reputation.
  • List Hygiene: Maintaining clean email lists, implementing sunset policies, and providing easy unsubscribe options improves deliverability.
  • Seedlist testing: Testing seedlists ensures good inbox placement before sending to real subscribers.

Key considerations

  • Monitor Global Filters: Pay attention to how global filters are categorizing your mail (inbox vs. bulk).
  • Implement Warm-up Strategy: Slowly increase sending volume when using new IPs or domains to build reputation.
  • Practice List Hygiene: Regularly clean your email list and remove unengaged subscribers.
  • Follow Best Practices: Adhere to email sending standards and best practices to avoid deliverability issues.
  • Test Seedlists: Test your email's journey through seedlists to ensure inbox placement before sending real campaigns.

Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource shares that you must get through the seedlist process before sending to actual subscribers. Sending real emails with a new address straight to the inbox helps establish your email's legitimacy to inbox providers.

18 Dec 2022 - Spam Resource

Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise responds that new IPs sending from a new domain, or a new subdomain need to take special care to build reputation slowly and follow best practices to avoid deliverability issues.

13 Jul 2022 - Word to the Wise

What the documentation says

4 technical articles

Using a new email address is affected by factors related to sending limits, engagement, and adherence to SMTP standards. Google Workspace and Exchange Online have defined sending limits that, if exceeded by the new address, can negatively affect deliverability. Proving recipient engagement is also important, and low engagement (opens, clicks) from a new address can also harm deliverability. Following SMTP standards and ensuring proper authentication and message formatting is crucial for any new email address.

Key findings

  • Sending Limits: Gmail and Exchange Online have specific daily sending limits that affect new email addresses.
  • Engagement Matters: Proving recipients want your emails (high engagement) is crucial for deliverability.
  • SMTP Standards: Adhering to SMTP standards regarding authentication and formatting is essential for all email addresses.

Key considerations

  • Stay Within Limits: Ensure the new email address operates within the sending limits of Gmail or Exchange Online.
  • Drive Engagement: Focus on sending content that generates opens and clicks to demonstrate value to recipients.
  • Proper Authentication: Properly authenticate the new email address using SPF, DKIM, and DMARC.
  • Formatting: Ensure messages are correctly formatted per SMTP standards

Technical article

Documentation from SparkPost emphasizes the importance of engagement. A new email address requires proving that your emails are wanted by recipients, and low engagement rates (opens, clicks) can negatively impact deliverability.

19 Nov 2023 - SparkPost

Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft explains that Exchange Online has specific sending limits, and using a new email address within this environment is subject to these limits. Exceeding these limits can trigger restrictions and impact deliverability.

30 Jan 2024 - Microsoft

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