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How do you migrate an email sending domain from one platform to another?

Summary

Migrating an email sending domain effectively requires careful planning and execution, focusing on preserving sender reputation, minimizing disruptions, and maintaining deliverability. Experts and marketers advise against creating entirely new domains, as it can lead to consumer confusion, potential phishing risks, and loss of existing sender reputation. Subdomains are the preferred alternative. Key steps involve updating SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records to authenticate the new sending platform, gradually warming up new IP addresses, and continuously monitoring deliverability metrics like bounce rates and spam complaints. Segmenting email lists for phased migration, exporting and testing email templates, and informing subscribers about the change are also essential. DNS delegation to providers is discouraged due to security concerns. A rollback plan, using multiple IPs for high-volume sending, setting up feedback loops, and regularly reviewing email authentication settings all contribute to a successful migration. Switching MX records needs to be carefully considered as the records can only point to one provider at a time.

Key findings

  • Subdomain Preference: Using subdomains is preferred over creating new domains to maintain brand continuity and sender reputation.
  • MX Record Management: MX records can only point to one provider at a time, requiring careful timing when switching between platforms.
  • IP Warming: Gradually warming up new IP addresses is crucial for establishing a positive sender reputation.
  • DNS Authentication: Updating SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records is essential for authenticating the new sending platform.
  • Deliverability Monitoring: Continuously monitor deliverability metrics to identify and address any issues during and after migration.
  • Phased Migration: Segment email lists and migrate in batches for easier monitoring and troubleshooting.
  • DNS Delegation: Avoid delegating subdomains to providers due to security concerns.
  • Rollback Plan: Having a rollback plan is critical in case of unforeseen issues during the migration process.

Key considerations

  • Domain Choice: Carefully consider the choice between new domains and subdomains, prioritizing brand recognition and minimizing phishing risks.
  • Sender Reputation: Protect and migrate your existing sender reputation to the new platform to maintain deliverability.
  • DNS Configuration: Accurately configure DNS records (SPF, DKIM, DMARC, MX) to ensure proper email authentication.
  • Subscriber Communication: Inform subscribers about the migration and encourage them to update their address books.
  • Security: Prioritize DNS security and avoid delegating subdomains to third-party providers.
  • Fallback Strategy: Always keep the old email platform running until you're fully established with the new one
  • Testing: Thoroughly test email templates in the new platform to avoid rendering or functional issues.

What email marketers say

15 marketer opinions

Migrating an email sending domain involves several key steps to ensure deliverability and maintain sender reputation. Experts recommend against creating entirely new domains due to potential brand confusion and loss of existing reputation. Instead, using subdomains is favored. Setting up the same subdomain for both providers during migration is possible, but MX records can only point to one provider at a time. Gradual IP warming and monitoring deliverability metrics like bounce rates and spam complaints are crucial. It's also important to export and test email templates, segment email lists for phased migration, and inform subscribers about the change. DNS delegation to providers is discouraged due to security concerns. Utilizing multiple IPs for high-volume sending, setting up feedback loops, and having a rollback plan are also recommended. Regularly reviewing email authentication settings is essential for maintaining a positive sender reputation.

Key opinions

  • Subdomain Preference: Using subdomains is preferred over creating new domains to maintain brand continuity and sender reputation.
  • MX Record Management: MX records can only point to one provider at a time during the subdomain setup for both providers.
  • IP Warming: Gradually warm up new IP addresses by increasing sending volume to establish a positive sender reputation.
  • Deliverability Monitoring: Continuously monitor deliverability metrics (bounce rates, spam complaints) to address issues during and after migration.
  • Template Testing: Export and test email templates in the new platform to ensure correct rendering and functionality.
  • List Segmentation: Segment email lists and migrate in batches, starting with engaged subscribers, to manage deliverability.
  • DNS Delegation: Delegating subdomains to providers is discouraged due to security concerns.
  • Rollback Plan: Have a rollback plan to quickly revert to the old platform if issues arise during migration.

Key considerations

  • Brand Continuity: Avoid creating new domains to prevent brand confusion and maintain recognition.
  • Sender Reputation: Protect and migrate your existing sender reputation to the new platform for optimal deliverability.
  • DNS Configuration: Carefully configure DNS records (SPF, DKIM, DMARC, MX) to ensure proper email authentication.
  • Subscriber Communication: Inform subscribers about the migration and encourage them to update their address books.
  • Security: Prioritize DNS security and avoid delegating subdomains to third-party providers.
  • Fallback Strategy: Always keep the old email platform running until you're fully established with the new one

Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks says that they do not encourage to delegate their subdomains and that DNS plays a critical role in security, and delegating a part of it is convenient, but might be dangerous. He suggests contacting them and tell them you want a double-run.

8 Jun 2023 - Email Geeks

Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks shares that you can choose to switch MX the day you start with provider B, or the day you start sending more emails with B than with A, or the day you stop sending with A entirely and that it depends on your plan, and he's not sure there's a perfect solution for that.

9 Dec 2024 - Email Geeks

What the experts say

5 expert opinions

Migrating an email sending domain effectively requires careful planning and execution, focusing on preserving sender reputation and minimizing disruption. Experts strongly advise against creating new domains to avoid consumer confusion and potential phishing risks, recommending subdomains instead. Subdomain warming is still necessary, although to a lesser extent than a full domain. Maintaining existing sender reputation by warming up the new IP and monitoring deliverability is essential. Using different return paths at two different providers simultaneously is possible, with minimal customer-visible changes. A detailed migration timeline and assessment of current setups are vital for a smooth transition.

Key opinions

  • Subdomain Preference: Experts recommend using subdomains instead of new domains to prevent consumer confusion and potential phishing risks.
  • Subdomain Warming: While not as intensive as domain warming, subdomain warming is still necessary due to Google's domain/IP analysis.
  • Return Path Flexibility: Different return paths can be used simultaneously at two different providers.
  • Reputation Migration: Migrating sender reputation is crucial and involves warming up the new IP and monitoring deliverability.
  • Careful Planning: Careful planning, including DNS changes and a migration timeline, is essential for a smooth transition.

Key considerations

  • Domain Choice: Avoid creating new domains; use subdomains to maintain brand recognition and avoid phishing concerns.
  • Reputation Preservation: Focus on preserving and migrating your sender reputation to ensure continued deliverability.
  • Deliverability Monitoring: Monitor deliverability metrics during and after the migration to identify and address any issues promptly.
  • Phased Implementation: Implement the migration in phases to minimize disruptions and allow for easier troubleshooting.

Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains that creating a new domain causes more consumer confusion and can train them to be phish victims, so she generally doesn’t recommend it. She prefers to use subdomains when migrating.

18 Dec 2024 - Email Geeks

Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains you’ll also need to do a piece of subdomain warming, not as much, but Google does look at IP / domain combo.

14 May 2024 - Email Geeks

What the documentation says

5 technical articles

Migrating an email sending domain requires careful configuration of DNS records and adherence to email authentication protocols to ensure deliverability. Updating SPF records with the new platform's sending IP addresses or domain names is crucial to authorize email sending. Implementing DKIM records adds a digital signature to authenticate emails and prevent tampering. DMARC policies define how receiving servers should handle emails that fail authentication checks. Correctly configuring all necessary DNS records (SPF, DKIM, DMARC, MX) is paramount to avoid deliverability issues. Setting up Feedback Loops (FBLs) is important for identifying and removing subscribers who mark emails as spam, which improves sender reputation.

Key findings

  • SPF Record Update: Update SPF records to include the new platform's sending IP addresses or domain names.
  • DKIM Implementation: Implement DKIM records to digitally sign emails and ensure they are not tampered with.
  • DMARC Policy Setup: Set up DMARC policies to control how receiving servers handle unauthenticated emails.
  • DNS Record Configuration: Correctly configure all necessary DNS records (SPF, DKIM, DMARC, MX) in the new platform.
  • Feedback Loop Setup: Set up Feedback Loops (FBLs) to identify and remove spam complainers.

Key considerations

  • Authentication: Proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is essential for ensuring deliverability.
  • DNS Management: Accurate and timely updates to DNS records are critical during the migration process.
  • Reputation Monitoring: Monitoring and maintaining sender reputation is essential to avoid deliverability problems.
  • Spam Complaint Handling: Implementing Feedback Loops allows you to quickly identify and remove subscribers who mark emails as spam.

Technical article

Documentation from AWS explains that carefully updating DNS records is crucial for a smooth migration. Ensure that all the necessary records (SPF, DKIM, DMARC, MX) are correctly configured in the new platform's DNS settings. Incorrect DNS settings can lead to deliverability issues.

7 Sep 2022 - AWS Documentation

Technical article

Documentation from Google Workspace Admin Help explains that you should update your domain's SPF records to include the sending IP addresses or domain names of the new email platform to authorize it to send emails on behalf of your domain. This helps prevent your emails from being marked as spam.

24 Jan 2024 - Google Workspace Admin Help

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