domain-warmup-plan
Use this skill when you set up new domains or mailboxes for cold email and need a warm-up plan: "how do I warm up a new domain", "warm-up schedule for new inboxes", "how fast can I ramp sending". Plans domain purchase and setup, a week-by-week warm-up and ramp schedule per mailbox, the health checks that gate each step up, and what to do when a mailbox shows trouble. Produces a ramp calendar and capacity forecast for the whole sending infrastructure.Use this before sending any cold email from new domains or mailboxes. New senders have no reputation; ramping too fast is the most common way to burn a domain in its first month.
Inputs
- Target cold volume per day across the team.
- Domains and mailboxes planned (or let the plan size them).
- Start date and when the first campaign needs to go out.
The play
1. Size the infrastructure
Mailboxes needed = target daily cold volume ÷ 30-40 per mailbox. Domains needed = mailboxes ÷ 3. Add 20% spare capacity so a mailbox can rest without missing targets.
Example: 600 cold emails a day ÷ 30 = 20 mailboxes; ÷ 3 = 7 domains; plus spare = 24 mailboxes across 8 domains.
2. Set up correctly on day 0
- Domains close to the brand (variations of the company name), never misleading look-alikes of other brands.
- SPF, DKIM, DMARC published and passing; MX records set; domain redirects to the main site.
- Real sender names, photos, signatures.
3. Warm, then ramp
| Week | Warm-up emails per day | Cold emails per day | Gate to move on |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5-10, rising | 0 | Authentication passing |
| 2 | 15-20 | 0 | No spam placement in tests |
| 3 | 20-30 | 5-10 to best-fit verified contacts | Bounces < 2%, replies arriving |
| 4 | 20-30 | 15-20 | Bounces < 2%, complaints ~0 |
| 5 | 20-30 | 25-30 | Placement in inbox |
| 6+ | Keep 10-20 running | 30-40 | Weekly checks stay green |
Warm-up means real, two-way conversations with engaged inboxes. Keep a low level running while cold sending continues.
4. Gate every step
Never move up a week if bounces exceed 2%, any spam complaint arrives, or placement tests show spam. Hold the current level for another week instead.
5. Plan the capacity curve
Show when the team reaches full volume. Usually week 6. If the campaign must start sooner, start with fewer, better contacts rather than more volume.
What good looks like
- First cold sends go to the cleanest, best-fit contacts, which builds reputation from real replies.
- The plan includes spare mailboxes and a resting rotation.
- The common mistake is buying ten domains on Monday and sending 50 a day from each by Friday.
Rules
- MUST wait at least two weeks of warm-up before any cold sends.
- MUST gate each ramp step on bounce, complaint and placement checks.
- NEVER use domains that imitate another company's brand.
- NEVER exceed 50 cold emails per mailbox per day.
Example prompts
- "We want to send 500 cold emails a day starting next month. Plan the domains, mailboxes and warm-up."
- "I just set up 3 new mailboxes. Give me a week-by-week ramp."
- "Our new domain got 4% bounces in week 3. What now?"