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Summary

Migrating Email Service Providers (ESPs) involves more than just transferring lists and templates. A critical, often complex, aspect is managing your sender reputation through proper IP and subdomain warmups. When you move to a new ESP, especially if you acquire new dedicated IP addresses, internet service providers (ISPs) will view your sending as new, regardless of your domain's history. This requires a strategic approach to warming your new infrastructure to ensure continued high deliverability and avoid deliverability issues such as emails going to spam.

What email marketers say

Email marketers often face complex decisions when migrating ESPs, particularly regarding the continuity of their sending infrastructure. The general sentiment points towards a necessary warmup for new IPs, while the role of subdomains introduces nuances, especially when managing parallel sending from multiple platforms. Marketers frequently weigh the benefits of retaining existing subdomain names against the potential for a fresh start.

Marketer view

An email marketer from Email Geeks explains that when migrating to a new ESP, if there is any overlap in sending from both platforms, it is essential to set up a new subdomain. This prevents DNS conflicts that can arise if the same subdomain attempts to point to two different infrastructures simultaneously, which can severely impact deliverability.

24 Sep 2020 - Email Geeks

Marketer view

An email marketer from Quora suggests that for new IPs and domains, the most effective warm-up strategy involves starting with low volumes to highly engaged contacts. This gradual increase in sending volume helps build trust with mailbox providers and establishes a positive sending reputation from the ground up.

15 Jan 2023 - Quora

What the experts say

Deliverability experts provide critical insights into the underlying mechanisms of email reputation during ESP migration. They often emphasize that while IP plays a role in the initial acceptance of email, the domain's reputation typically carries more weight for ultimate inbox placement. Experts also highlight the importance of correct configuration and the pitfalls of mismanaging subdomain continuity.

Expert view

A deliverability expert from Word to the Wise states that preserving the exact Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) is not as critical as ensuring the integrity of the 5321.From domain during an ESP migration. While syntactically valid hostnames are important, the focus should remain on maintaining the legitimacy of the sender's primary domain.

24 Sep 2020 - Word to the Wise

Expert view

An expert from Spam Resource explains that IP addresses and domain names are all data points within reputation systems. These factors are used by mailbox providers to identify email flows and assign them a sender reputation. Therefore, changes in either require careful management to ensure continuity of trust.

24 Feb 2023 - Spam Resource

What the documentation says

Official documentation from various Email Service Providers and industry guides provides a structured framework for managing ESP migrations, with a strong emphasis on methodical IP and domain warming. These resources outline key steps and considerations to ensure that sender reputation is preserved and deliverability remains high during the transition.

Technical article

OneSignal's blog states that domain warm-up is universally necessary when migrating to a new email platform, irrespective of whether new IPs are acquired. They clarify that IP warm-up is only required when dedicated IPs are part of the new setup, distinguishing it from domain warm-up.

25 Jan 2024 - OneSignal Blog

Technical article

The AWS Messaging and Targeting Blog provides a comprehensive guide to IP and domain warming best practices for smoother transitions, specifically when migrating to Amazon SES. This guide outlines the phased approach and necessary configurations to build a solid sending reputation on new infrastructure.

03 Jul 2025 - AWS Messaging and Targeting Blog

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