Cold Email Domain Variations: The Ultimate Guide (2023)

In today's digital world, cold emailing has become a popular method for reaching out to potential clients and customers. However, getting your cold emails noticed and opened can be a challenge. That's where domain variations come in. In this ultimate guide, we'll explore everything you need to know about cold email domain variations and how they can significantly improve your email deliverability and sender reputation.

Before we dive into the specifics of domain variations, let's first understand what they are and why they are essential in cold outreach.

Cold emailing has become an increasingly popular method for businesses and individuals to reach out to potential clients, partners, and customers. However, with the rise in spam and email filters, getting your emails delivered to the right inbox can be a challenging task.

One effective strategy to improve email deliverability is by using domain variations in your email sender address. A cold email domain variation refers to the use of different domain names or slight modifications to your existing domain name.

What is a Cold Email Domain Variation?

A cold email domain variation involves using variations in the domain part of your email address to help improve your email deliverability and avoid spam filters, and protect your primary domain reputation. Instead of using the exact same domain for every email you send, you can create different variations that still direct to the same email account.

For example, our main domain is "emelia.io," and we created variations such as "getemelia.com" or "emelia.net" These variations may seem minor, but they can make a significant difference in how your emails are perceived by spam filters.

Importance of Domain Variations in Cold Emailing

Using domain variations is crucial in cold emailing because it helps you overcome one of the biggest challenges: getting your emails delivered to your recipients' inboxes instead of landing in the dreaded spam folder.

When you consistently send cold emails from the same domain, there's a higher chance that your emails will be flagged as spam. By incorporating domain variations, you increase your chances of bypassing spam filters and reaching your intended audience.

Domain variations create the impression of diversity and authenticity, making it less likely for your emails to be marked as spam. They can help you establish a positive reputation as a sender and improve your overall email deliverability.

Additionally, using domain variations can also help you track the effectiveness of your cold email campaigns. By assigning specific variations to different campaigns or target groups, you can analyze the response rates and adjust your strategies accordingly.

It's important to note that while domain variations can be effective, it's essential to maintain consistency in your email content, branding, and overall messaging. The domain variation should only be a small part of your cold email strategy and should not compromise the quality and relevance of your emails.

In conclusion, incorporating domain variations in your cold email sender address can significantly improve your email deliverability and increase the chances of your emails reaching the right inboxes. By diversifying your domain, you enhance your chances of bypassing spam filters and establishing a positive reputation as a sender. Remember to maintain consistency in your email content and branding while utilizing domain variations to maximize the effectiveness of your cold email campaigns.

Now that we have a clear understanding of what domain variations are and why they are important, let's explore how they work and the different types of domain variations you can use.

Domain variations play a crucial role in email marketing strategies. They work by creating multiple versions of your email sender address, each with a slightly different domain name. This technique is particularly useful for businesses that rely heavily on email outreach and want to maximize their email deliverability rates.

For example, if your primary domain is "yourcompany.com," you can create variations like "your-company.com" or "yourcompany-email.com." By using these variations, you can effectively distribute your email sending load and reduce the risk of being flagged as spam.

How Domain Variations Work

Now, let's dive deeper into how domain variations actually work. When you send an email, the recipient's email server examines various factors to determine whether the message is legitimate or spam. One of these factors is the domain name of the sender's email address.

By using domain variations, you can create a network of sender addresses that share a common root domain but have slightly different variations. This network helps you establish a sense of legitimacy and credibility in the eyes of email servers. It also allows you to distribute your email sending load across multiple domains, reducing the chances of triggering spam filters.

When an email server receives an email from one of your domain variations, it evaluates the reputation of that specific variation. If the variation has a good reputation and adheres to best practices, the email server is more likely to deliver your message to the recipient's inbox. On the other hand, if the variation has a poor reputation or is associated with spammy behavior, your email may end up in the spam folder.

Different Types of Domain Variations

Now that we understand how domain variations work, let's explore the different types of variations you can experiment with to enhance your email deliverability and multiply your cold outreach:

Hyphenation: Adding hyphens to your domain name is a common variation technique. For example, if your primary domain is "yourcompany.com," you can create a variation like "your-company.com." This simple change can make a significant difference in your email deliverability.

Word Order: Another variation technique involves rearranging the words in your domain name. For instance, if your primary domain is "yourcompany.com," you can create a variation like "companyyour.com." This technique adds an element of uniqueness to your sender address.

Top-Level Domains (TLDs): Using different TLDs can also be an effective variation strategy. Instead of sticking to the traditional ".com" TLD, you can experiment with other options like ".net," ".org," or country-specific TLDs. This approach can help you diversify your sender addresses and improve global email deliverability.

Prefixes or Suffixes: Adding prefixes or suffixes to your domain name is another way to create variations. For example, if your primary domain is "yourcompany.com," you can create variations like "email-yourcompany.com" or "yourcompany-email.com." These variations maintain the core brand identity while providing additional flexibility.

When creating domain variations, it's important to strike a balance between maintaining brand consistency and ensuring email deliverability. Your variations should appear natural and consistent with your brand image, while still being distinct enough to distribute your email sending load effectively.

By leveraging different types of domain variations, you can increase the chances of your emails reaching the intended recipients' inboxes and avoid being flagged as spam. Experiment with various variations to find the optimal combination that works for your business.

Now that we understand how domain variations work, let's explore the benefits they bring to your cold email strategy.

When it comes to cold emailing, improving email deliverability is crucial. One of the primary benefits of using domain variations is the improvement in email deliverability. By distributing your email sending load across different domains, you reduce the chances of triggering spam filters and increase the likelihood of your emails landing in the inbox.

Enhancing sender reputation is another significant advantage of utilizing domain variations. When you use multiple domain variations, you establish a diverse sending infrastructure, making it harder for ISPs to associate your emails with spam. This, in turn, strengthens your reputation as a legitimate sender, increasing the chances of your emails being delivered and opened by recipients.

In addition to improving deliverability and enhancing sender reputation, using domain variations can help you avoid spam filters. Spam filters often scrutinize various aspects of an email, including the sender address. By utilizing domain variations, you can diversify your sender address, minimizing the chances of being marked as spam. This strategy allows you to reach your intended recipients' inboxes, increasing the effectiveness of your cold email campaign.

Furthermore, domain variations provide an opportunity to segment your email sending. By using different domains for different purposes or target audiences, you can track the performance of each domain and optimize your cold email strategy accordingly. This segmentation can help you identify which domain variation is most effective in terms of open rates, click-through rates, and overall response rate, allowing you to refine your approach and achieve better results.

Another advantage of domain variations is that they allow you to personalize your sender address based on the recipient's industry or location. For example, if you are targeting professionals in the healthcare industry, you can use a domain variation that includes the word "health" or "medical." This personalization can help establish credibility and relevance, increasing the chances of your cold email being opened and read.

Moreover, incorporating domain variations in your cold email strategy can enhance your overall branding and professionalism. Using a variety of domain variations demonstrates that you have a well-established online presence and a diverse range of offerings. This can instill trust in your recipients and differentiate you from generic or spammy senders.

In conclusion, using domain variations in cold emailing can have numerous benefits, including improving email deliverability, enhancing sender reputation, avoiding spam filters, enabling segmentation, personalizing sender addresses, and enhancing overall branding. By leveraging the power of domain variations, you can increase the effectiveness of your cold email strategy and achieve better results in your outreach efforts.

How to Implement Domain Variations in Your Cold Email Strategy

Implementing domain variations in your cold email strategy requires careful planning and execution. Let's explore the steps you should follow to maximize the benefits of domain variations.

When it comes to cold email outreach, using domain variations can be a game-changer. By sending emails from different domains, you can increase your chances of reaching the inbox and avoid being marked as spam. However, implementing domain variations is not as simple as just sending emails from different addresses. It requires a strategic approach and attention to detail.

Choosing the Right Domain Variations

When choosing new domain variations, consider factors such as your brand identity, industry norms, and the overall impression you want to convey. Aim for variations that don't deviate too far from your primary domain but still add an element of variety.

For example, if your primary domain is "example.com," you can consider variations like "exmpl.com" or "exampleco.com." These variations maintain the essence of your brand while providing a fresh perspective to recipients.

It's also important to research and analyze your target audience. Understand their preferences and expectations when it comes to email communication. This will help you tailor your domain variations to align with their expectations, increasing the chances of your emails being opened and read.

Setting Up Domain Variations

Once you've selected your domain variations, it's time to set them up. Depending on your email provider or CRM, you'll need to configure your email sending settings to include your chosen variations. Ensure that all variations are properly authenticated and have the necessary DNS records set up.

Authentication is crucial to establish trust with email service providers (ESPs) and improve deliverability. Implement SPF (Sender Policy Framework) and DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) authentication for each domain variation. This will verify the authenticity of your emails and prevent them from being flagged as spam.

Things cold emailers forget:

• In your DNS settings, create a redirection from your new domain to your main domain. Your prospect may take what follow the @ and put it in their web navigator directly, if they land on nothing it is not good.

• You need to create also one tracking domain if you plan to track openings and clicks. That's why on Emelia you can add one by email addresses

In addition to authentication, it's important to warm up your domain variations gradually. Start by sending a small volume of emails from each variation and gradually increase the volume over time. This helps build a positive sending reputation for each domain and avoids triggering spam filters.

In order to avoid spam filters and landing in the primary inbox, there are a few best practices to remember, to not see your cold emailing efforts being toasted.

Which email service provider choose?

It is common knowledge that Google Workspace and Microsoft have the best deliverability performance, but it's more about the fact that when you send emails to people from email accounts that have the same providers, it works best. But now that we did a lot of cold email campaigns from different providers it was working great also, even Namecheap.

Warm up your email addresses before launching your cold outreach.

You can use tools like Mailreach to warm up your domain reputation and IP addresses before start sending emails.

What about sending volume?

Start sending emails slowly with your new domain, then increase up to 100-150 outbound emails per day maximum.

Avoid spam complaints

In order to follow can spam act, you should add an unsubscribe link in your cold emails, we know that sometimes people don't want to add them, but keep in mind that if your target doesn't know how to easily unsubscribe, they will have no choice that to block you, and this will cause you more deliverability issues than anything else.

Also, to avoid being set as spam, try not to be too aggressive with your follow ups, if they are too close to each other, people will more likely be annoyed.

Testing and Optimizing Domain Variations

As with any aspect of your cold email strategy, it's essential to continuously test and optimize your domain variations. Monitor the performance of each variation and make adjustments as necessary to ensure optimal deliverability and engagement rates.

Track metrics such as open rates, click-through rates, and response rates for each domain variation. Analyze the data to identify patterns and trends. Are certain variations performing better than others? Are there any specific subject lines or email content that resonate more with recipients? Use this information to refine your approach and maximize the effectiveness of your domain variations.

Remember to stay up-to-date with industry best practices and changes in email deliverability standards. Email service providers constantly update their algorithms, so it's crucial to stay informed and adapt your strategy accordingly.

In conclusion, implementing domain variations in your cold email strategy can significantly improve your outreach efforts. By carefully choosing the right domain variations, setting them up correctly, and continuously testing and optimizing, you can increase your chances of reaching the inbox and generating meaningful engagement with your target audience.

Looking ahead to the future, we anticipate several trends and developments in cold email domain variations that you should keep an eye on.

As technology continues to advance at a rapid pace, the world of cold email is also evolving. In 2023, we expect to see increased automation and customization in domain variation tools. AI-powered solutions will help businesses generate highly effective domain variations that are personalized to their specific audience, leading to even better email deliverability rates.

Imagine a world where every cold email you send is tailored to perfection. With the help of advanced AI algorithms, businesses will be able to create domain variations that resonate with their target audience on a whole new level. From using the recipient's name in the domain to referencing their recent activities or interests, the possibilities for personalization will be endless.

Not only will these personalized domain variations improve email deliverability rates, but they will also enhance engagement. When recipients receive an email that speaks directly to their needs and interests, they are more likely to open it, read it, and take the desired action. This level of customization will revolutionize the cold email game and give businesses a competitive edge.

How to Stay Ahead with Your Cold Email Strategy

To stay ahead in the ever-evolving world of cold email, it's crucial to continually adapt and refine your strategy. Stay updated on the latest best practices, tools, and techniques related to domain variations to ensure your cold emails continue to reach and engage your target audience.

One key aspect to consider is the importance of maintaining a strong sender reputation. As domain variations become more prevalent, it's essential to establish yourself as a trusted sender. Building a positive reputation involves consistently delivering valuable content, avoiding spammy practices, and adhering to email marketing guidelines.

By incorporating domain variations into your cold email strategy, you can significantly improve your email deliverability, enhance your sender reputation, and avoid spam filters. However, it's important to strike a balance. While personalization is crucial, it's also important not to overdo it. Bombarding recipients with overly customized emails can come across as intrusive and may backfire.

Experimentation is key when it comes to domain variations. Test different approaches, analyze the results, and refine your strategy accordingly. What works for one audience may not work for another, so it's essential to understand your target market and tailor your domain variations accordingly.

Staying informed about industry trends and advancements in domain variation tools is also crucial. As technology continues to evolve, new tools and techniques may emerge that can further enhance your cold email strategy. By keeping a finger on the pulse of the industry, you can stay ahead of the curve and ensure your cold email campaigns remain effective.

In conclusion, the future of cold email domain variations is exciting and promising. With careful planning and thoughtful execution, domain variations can be a game-changer for your cold email campaigns. Stay ahead of the curve, experiment with different variations, and watch your cold email success soar!

• Always answer even if your potential client replies they are not interest, first it is a good sales reps practice, but also it warm up your email accounts.

• Great email signature is important, but don't lose your potential customers with too many links on it, unless your call to action is in your signature

• Enjoy our muli-sender feature to do big cold email campaign easily with your different email accounts.