GovTech
3/26/2026

What is this “warmup” thing you talk about?

Written by John Kitsmiller

What is Warmup?

Email warmup is the process of gradually building a positive reputation for a new (or inactive) email address or domain so that your messages land in people’s inboxes instead of spam.

What it actually is:

 Email warmup means starting with very low‑volume sending and slowly increasing the number of emails over several weeks, while simulating natural engagement (opens, replies, marking as important, moving out of spam). This helps email‑service providers (like Gmail, Outlook, etc.) see your account as legitimate and “safe” rather than spammy.

Why it matters:

 Improves deliverability: more of your cold emails reach the primary inbox, not spam or junk. Helps avoid blocks: suddenly blasting 100+ emails/day from a fresh domain looks suspicious; warmup keeps you under those thresholds while reputation builds. Supports higher volume later: once warmed, you can scale sequential campaigns without tanking sender reputation.

How it’s usually done:

 

It is automated using warmup tools that connect to your mailbox, send “fake” but human‑like emails, and generate opens/replies from a network of real inboxes.

How long does it take:

 Warmup should be done for at least 14 days.

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