Cold Email Domain Setup Checklist
Every step from domain registration to first send. Use this checklist for every new sending domain you set up — no exceptions.
This checklist covers every step required to take a sending domain from registration to campaign-ready. Work through it in order. Don't skip steps because a previous domain went smoothly — each domain is independent and each one needs to be set up correctly on its own merits.
If you're using a fully managed infrastructure provider, most of these steps are handled for you. The checklist is most useful for operators setting up domains independently or auditing an existing setup.
Use this for every new sending domain
This checklist covers every step required to take a sending domain from registration to campaign-ready. Work through it in order. Don't skip steps because a previous domain went smoothly — each domain is independent and each one needs to be set up correctly on its own merits.
If you're using a fully managed infrastructure provider, most of these steps are handled for you. The checklist is most useful for operators setting up domains independently or auditing an existing setup.
Registration and DNS
- Register the domain through a reputable registrar. Prefer `.com`. Avoid `.xyz`, `.info`, `.biz`, and low-trust extensions.
- Choose a domain name that looks like it belongs to a real business — readable, professional, plausibly related to the brand it supports.
- Add the domain to your DNS provider. Cloudflare is the standard choice for speed, reliability, and API access.
- If purchasing an aged domain rather than registering fresh, check its history through a blacklist checker and domain history tool before committing. Previous spam use leaves damage that warmup won't fix. InfraSuite's Blacklist Checker is the first pass for the blacklist side.
- Let the domain age a minimum of 30 days before warmup. 60 to 90 days is better if you can plan ahead.
Authentication records
- Configure SPF record — authorize the mail servers or services that will send on behalf of this domain. Follow your sending platform's exact instructions for the record value.
- Verify SPF record is resolving correctly using a DNS lookup tool.
- Check that your SPF record does not exceed 10 DNS lookups. If it does, flatten it.
- Configure DKIM — publish the public key provided by your sending platform as a DNS TXT record on this domain.
- Verify DKIM record is resolving correctly and the signature is valid.
- Configure DMARC — start with `p=none` to monitor without blocking. Include an `rua` address to receive aggregate reports.
- Verify DMARC record is resolving correctly.
- Run the domain through InfraSuite's free Domain Health Check to confirm all three records are correctly configured before proceeding.
Mailbox setup
- Provision mailboxes on the domain through your infrastructure provider.
- Confirm mailboxes are accessible and sending and receiving correctly.
- Connect mailboxes to your warmup tool.
- Set warmup volume to a conservative starting point — 1 to 2 emails per day per mailbox, incrementing by 1 per day up to a maximum of 10 per day.
- Confirm warmup is actively running — don't assume, verify that warmup emails are being sent and received.
Proxy domain
- Confirm a proxy domain is configured to handle link redirects for campaigns running on this sending domain.
- Verify the redirect chain is working correctly — links in test emails should resolve to the correct destination through the proxy domain without errors.
Warmup period
- Allow a minimum of 14 days of warmup before sending any cold outreach from this domain. Do not shorten this window.
- Monitor warmup activity throughout — check that emails are being sent, delivered, and engaged with in the warmup pool.
- After 14 days, send test emails to seed addresses across Gmail and Outlook and confirm inbox placement before launching campaigns.
Pre-campaign checks
- Verify the list assigned to this domain's first campaign is fully cleaned and verified.
- Confirm the list has been randomized before import.
- Confirm spintax variations in copy all read naturally.
- Run copy through a spam checker and address any flagged language.
- Confirm suppression list is loaded and active.
- Set a conservative daily send cap per mailbox — leave room below the ceiling.
- Configure sending windows for target audience timezone.
- Configure randomized sending gaps between individual sends.
Ongoing
- Monitor bounce rate daily in the first week of any new campaign on this domain. Above 2% requires immediate investigation.
- Keep warmup running alongside live campaigns throughout the life of the domain.
- Check blacklist status periodically using a blacklist checker — or set up monitoring alerts so you know immediately if the domain gets listed. InfraSuite's Blacklist Checker is the fastest manual check.
- Re-verify lists that have been sitting unused for more than 60 to 90 days before sending to them.
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