When you first get into cold emailing, you might not know much about SMTP and IMAP. You just hit “Send” and hope your emails get delivered.
But after a few campaigns, you’ll start paying attention to your deliverability rates. That’s when you might think about setting up a separate mailbox on a different domain just for cold emails.
If you’ve got that separate mailbox, awesome! That’s your first step towards better email deliverability. If not, consider using an external SMTP service. This will give you even more control over how your emails are sent and delivered.
Keep reading to learn what an external SMTP is, when to use it, and how it could help with your cold emails.
What Is An SMTP Provider?
SMTP, or Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, is a tool mail servers use to send, receive, and relay emails.
Instead of managing their own email servers, people can use a cold email SMTP provider like SendGrid, Mailgun, or Amazon SES. This makes email sending easier and less of a hassle.
Companies often use SMTP providers to send transactional emails. For instance, when you sign up for a website and get a welcome email, it is because of an SMTP provider.
But remember, transactional emails aren’t the same as cold emails.
What Is The External SMTP Service?
Let’s explain the external SMTP service with an example.
Imagine you send personal letters through regular mail, but you hire a special company just for your business mail. In this company, you have a private mailman with an excellent reputation who works only for you.
In this scenario, the company handling your business mail is like an external SMTP service provider. And your dedicated mailman is like a dedicated IP, ensuring your emails are sent smoothly and delivered effectively.
So, Is The External SMTP For Everyone?
I’d say it’s probably not the best choice because –
a) It needs an advanced setup for your domain and DNS servers. If you’re not comfortable with that, it might not be for you.
b) The SMTP service has extra costs, so it must be worthwhile based on a good reason and a specific situation.
If you’re running typical cold email campaigns with 1-8 messages to about 50 prospects a day, your email provider’s default SMTP service should be fine.
External SMTP providers usually offer higher daily sending limits than major email services. So, if you plan to send emails more frequently occasionally, you might consider it.
Importance Of SMTP In Email Campaigns
SMTP warming service can be beneficial because they help you send bulk cold emails. Here are a few other factors proving the same –
Structured Bulk Emails | SMTP increases the likelihood of your emails reaching the inbox. They check the sender, recipient, and content to ensure everything’s legit. This is great for sending personalized, targeted e-commerce messages. |
Better Deliverability | SMTP increase the likelihood of your emails reaching the inbox. They check the sender, recipient, and content to ensure everything’s legit. This is great for sending personalized, targeted e-commerce messages. |
Technical Support | Got questions? Your SMTP provider has you covered with professional help. They’ll make sure your mail account is set up right and fix any issues that pop up. |
Email from Your Own Hardware | Want more control? Create a local server using an SMTP address. It might be slower, but you’ll have more flexibility. |
Why Use SMTP for Cold Email?
Using SMTP for cold emails is a smart choice because it’s the backbone of how emails get sent, received, and relayed. With SMTP, you don’t need to worry about managing your own email servers, which can be a hassle.
SMTP servers ensure your emails are delivered efficiently and securely, making them more likely to reach your recipient’s inbox. They also help maintain the structure and deliverability of your messages.
How to Choose The Right SMTP Server?
Most non-technical business owners are aware of email marketing tools like Google Workspace if they want to send emails with their business domains.
Though email marketing tools like Google Workspace give you a good interface for writing and organizing email copies, internally, you send emails using an SMTP server.
Here’s my experience, I’ve also started with Google Workspace to send cold emails in the first place. But popular tools like these are extremely expensive.
Also, not every email marketing service might allow you to send cold emails (e.g- MailChimp, SendInBlue & Klaviyo). I’ve tried sending cold emails using these tools and they’ve suspended my account for sending cold emails.
Instead, you can just get an SMTP server subscription and connect with any app or CRM to send emails.
You’ll find thousands of free or paid email marketing CRM (e.g. GrowMeOrganic Email Drip Campaign) to which you can connect your SMTP server (by putting SMTP credentials) and start sending emails.
There are thousands of SMTP services like SMTP.com (easy to set up, but expensive) and Amazon SES (difficult to set up but affordable).
Or instead, you can set up your private and dedicated SMTP server, where you don’t have to pay the credit limit. You can send as many emails as you want (depending on your server’s sending capacity).
This setup is extremely complex and you need to take care of every small technical configuration.
But it is 5x – 10x times more affordable.
We can set up a dedicated SMTP server for you with a one time minimal cost. Book a call with me to discuss if it’s a good fit for you or not.
Book a call: https://tidycal.com/anant/smtp-server
Picking the right SMTP server can make a big difference. Some servers cost more, but they might have better delivery rates. In this video, we’ll break down how to choose the best SMTP server to make sure your cold email campaign hits the mark.
Setting Up SMTP for Cold Email
No worries! I’ll walk you through the basics of configuring SMTP to get your cold email campaigns up and running smoothly.
Purchase A New Domain For Cold Email
The first step is to purchase a new domain for cold email outreach to prevent your primary business domain from getting blacklisted.
You can buy a new domain that is similar to your primary domain. Buying a new domain costs you only 15$/Year, and it’s very easy to replace if it gets blacklisted.
You can check if your domain is blacklisted or not: from MXToolBox Domain Blacklist Check.
Email Authentication: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC
Authentication is about proving something is real and valid. When discussing email authentication, I refer to SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. These tools help confirm that an email is legit and really from the sender it claims to be.
SPF (Sender Policy Framework) and DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) are the main players here, ensuring emails come from the right sources.
DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance) builds on these by telling email servers how to handle messages that don’t pass SPF or DKIM checks.
Using A Non-Blacklisted IP
Many people think that the solution to avoid landing in spam is changing the email address.
E.g. :
- Changing their current email abc@domain.com to xyz@domain.com
- Changing the current domain from domain1.com to domain2.com
- Changing the subdomain from mail1.domain.com to mail2.domain.com
But, what they don’t realize is that email recipients can still trace the IP through which they’ve sent those emails. This IP address is the internet address of your SMTP server.
No matter if you change the domain or email address, your IP will still be the same. And any popular email provider can easily recognize if your IP is blacklisted or not.
Use Mail-Tester to find your email’s SMTP IP (Send a test email to the given email ID on this website).
Avoid Using Shared IPs
When you get an SMTP/Email Marketing service from extremely popular companies (like MailChimp, SMTP.com, or SendGrid), they usually offer a shared IP that a few other companies are also using.
If someone else sharing the same address ruins the IP reputation by sending spam emails or not following the standard email marketing practice, then there’s a high chance your emails will land in someone’s spam or promotional inbox.
As you can see above, a few websites will tell you whether they’ll offer you a shared or a dedicated IP.
Also, Amazon SES costs $24.9/month for each dedicated IP, whereas we can set it up for $5/month when you hire us to set up your company’s dedicated SMTP server.
Book a call: https://tidycal.com/anant/smtp-server
Using Additional IPs For Rotation
Simply, you can rotate your address for each email you send. This is especially important when you’re sending emails in bulk.
IP Rotation [Email Marketing]
In simple terms, IP rotation is changing your SMTP IP address for each email you send. It makes the recipient email provider (like Gmail, Yahoo, etc.) feel that they’re receiving those emails from different identities.
If you send 1000 emails per hour with 1 IP, then the chances of blacklisting your IP are broad, which leads your email to spam or a promotional inbox.
But, If you send 1000 emails with 10 IPs per hour, then your 1000 emails are divided into 10, Which means 1 IP is used for 100 emails only, So the risk of blacklisting will reduce by 10x 🙂
Also, if one of your IPs gets blacklisted, 9 of them can still send emails safely, and we’ll only have to warm up that 1 new IP. Otherwise, we’ll have to warm up a new IP address.
Additional Benefits of Having More IPs:
* You can use 1 IP for all your transactional emails and keep the rest for other cold email outreach.
* Companies like MailChimp or SES usually give you a shared IP or just one dedicated IP. More IPs can help you scale your email marketing outreach by ensuring your email reputation is not hurting.
P.S. Amazon SES costs 24.9$/Month for each dedicated IP whereas we can set it up for 5$/Month when you hire us to set up the dedicated SMTP server for your company.
Book a call: https://tidycal.com/anant/smtp-server
Warming Up Your Email Server
Email warmup build a reputation and increases delivery rates. It is essential when planning a large-volume cold email campaign with a new account to ensure emails land in inboxes.
In a cold email campaign, the first thing you need is to reach the recipient’s inbox. Once you are there, good engagement will build a more significant relationship.
If the email is warmed before sending cold emails, it will avoid the spam filter, deliver in the inbox, and have a higher open rate.
A few of the best ways to warm up your email servers are:
- Send emails from your fresh IP to your friends and employees and ask them to reply to your email. (Also, put it back in the primary inbox if it has landed in spam.)
- Subscribe to multiple newsletters so that you start receiving emails on your new email.
- Use an automated tool like GrowMeOrganic Email Warmup that will automatically exchange emails with a pool of its customers.
4 Best Practices For Cold Email Via SMTP
Here are some more great tips to help your bulk cold email campaigns stand out and grab more leads.
Personalizing Your Outreach
Personalization is key here. You need more than “Hey Client,” a generic “Hello,” or “Dear Sir/Madam.”.
Always use the prospect’s name and include something in the subject line and body that grabs their attention.
Crafting Effective Subject Lines
The subject line is your first impression. It’s a sneak peek at what you’re offering and can make or break your cold email strategy.
A catchy subject line grabs your attention and gets your email opened and read.
Complying with CAN-SPAM and GDPR
Laws like GDPR and CAN-SPAM ensure businesses don’t misuse email. No matter where you’re based, you need to know about these laws.
When people trust you, they’re more likely to become customers. Following GDPR and CAN-SPAM helps you build that trust the right way.
Monitoring Deliverability and Open Rates
Tracking these metrics helps you understand how your audience interacts with your emails. A high open rate means you are grabbing attention.
If engagement rates are low, it might mean your content isn’t resonating. By monitoring these numbers, you can tweak your email strategies to boost engagement.
What Are The Tools and Software Required for SMTP Cold Email Campaigns?
Looking to launch successful cold email campaigns? Check out these top tools and software:
SMTP Providers: SendGrid, Mailgun, Amazon SES
SMTP platforms like SendGrid or MailGun take care of all the technical needs for you. These service providers handle everything behind the scenes to ensure your emails are properly formatted, sent, and delivered.
They manage all the complicated infrastructure, so you don’t have to worry about it.
Here is an interesting POV shared by a Reddit user on what matters more than the platform being used.
“I’m fairly new to the game but from what I understand it doesn’t necessarily matter which platform you use, it’s the open tracking and unsubscribe features within those platforms that get flagged and lower deliverability. Sendgrid gets flagged by my Sophos business grade email filtering service if it gets detected, for instance.”
The platform you use for cold emailing matters less than avoiding open tracking and unsubscribe links, which can hurt deliverability. To maximize success, skip these features and include a simple text-based opt-out option like “reply with ‘stop’” in your email signature. This approach helps keep your emails from being flagged as spam.
Cold Email Automation Tools
Cold email automation tools make sending tons of emails simpler.
Take GrowMeOrganic, for instance—it lets you connect unlimited SMTP and IMAP accounts, so you can send and receive emails from various sources without a hitch. This boosts your campaign’s reliability and ensures your emails land in the right inboxes.
Tracking and Analytics Solutions
Tracking and analytics solutions help with SMTP cold emails by providing insights into email performance, like open rates and click-through rates.
They allow you to see who engages with your emails, helping you refine your strategy and improve future campaigns. This way, you can make data-driven decisions to increase your email effectiveness.
Integrating CRM with SMTP
Integrating your CRM with SMTP helps streamline your cold email campaigns by automating the sending process and tracking interactions directly within your CRM.
This integration allows for personalized email content, better targeting, and improved follow-up, ultimately enhancing your outreach effectiveness.
Conclusion
It’s tempting to rush through cold email campaigns, but the real winners are the ones who stay patient, diligent, and consistent. Aim for at least a 50% open rate and a 5% reply rate.
If your numbers are lower, tweak and test until you hit your targets. Try testing with batches of 100-200 prospects and personalize your emails to make a huge difference!
Popular SMTP services can get pricey as your cold email outreach grows. So, the best and most cost-effective solution is to go for a dedicated SMTP server with multiple dedicated IPs.
Hire us to set up an SMTP server for your company. But, before you take any decision, I want you to know:
- We’ve been in this game for 5 years, and I promise you won’t find prices like ours anywhere online.
- We’ll set up your email server to ensure top-notch deliverability and reputation.
- Plus, you’ll have dedicated support, and I’m just a call away if you need help with anything.
FAQs –
Q 1. What Is The SMTP Server For Email Addresses?
An SMTP server, or outgoing mail server, is like the mailman for your emails, handling all the messages you send out. Think of a mail server as the post office for email, collecting, managing, and delivering your messages.
Q 2. What Happens If You Send Cold Emails With An SMTP Provider?
If you send cold emails with an SMTP provider, they might land in the Promotions or SPAM folder because SMTP providers are designed for bulk, HTML-heavy emails to opted-in users.
Q 3. What Are SMTP Providers Used For?
SMTP providers like SendGrid are used to send and manage outgoing emails. They ensure your messages are delivered efficiently and reliably to the recipient’s inbox.
Q 4. What Are The Companies Offering An External SMTP Service?
Companies like SendGrid, Mailgun, and Amazon SES offer external SMTP services. These services handle email-sending needs and ensure messages reach their destinations reliably.
Q 5. What Is The Best SMTP Server For A Small Business?
Remember there are limits on size, attachments, and how often you can send emails. For small businesses, using SMTP servers like SendGrid, Amazon SES, or Google Workspace is a great choice. They offer reliability, scalability, security, and good pricing.
Q 6. How To Send 1 Million Emails At Once?
Whether you have 1,000 or a million emails, you need two things. A good bulk email service to handle your list and a professional SMTP provider to ensure your emails get delivered.
Q 7. How Many Cold Emails Should You Send Per Day?
If you’re new to cold emailing, start by sending 10-20 emails a day. Once you get the hang of it and add some automation, you can boost that number.
About Post Author
Anant Gupta
Growth Hacker, Marketing Automation Enthusiast & Founder of GrowMeOrganic