Using and maintaining a dedicated IP address

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Using and maintaining a dedicated IP address with ActiveCampaign

In today’s email marketing landscape, the reputation of an IP address is crucial for ensuring good email deliverability. A dedicated IP address is an IP that is used solely for your email sending, providing potential benefits such as improved throughput and an isolated sending reputation. However, maintaining this dedicated IP properly is essential; neglecting it can lead to severely reduced deliverability. This article explains how to effectively use and maintain a dedicated IP address with ActiveCampaign, especially as it relates to warm-up procedures, potential risks, and best practices.

How to Access This Feature

To use a dedicated IP address with ActiveCampaign, it is important to note first that you need to be on one of the following plan types: Starter, Plus, Pro, or Enterprise. Once you have selected an appropriate plan, you may request a dedicated IP through your account settings.

Step-by-step Instructions

1. **Check Your Plan**: Ensure that your ActiveCampaign subscription includes a dedicated IP address option.

2. **Request a Dedicated IP**: If eligible, log in to your ActiveCampaign account and navigate to the account settings to make a request for a dedicated IP.

3. **Understand the Warmup Process**:

   - If your dedicated IP is pre-warmed, start by gradually increasing your send volume:
       - **Week 1**: Send less than 50k emails/day.
       - **Week 2**: Send less than 100k emails/day.
       - **Week 3**: Send up to 300k emails/day.
       - **Week 4**: Send up to 500k emails/day.
       - **Week 5**: Send up to 1 million emails/day.
       - **Week 6**: Send up to 2 million emails/day.
       - **Week 7**: Send up to 4 million emails/day.

4. **Set Regular Sending Schedules**: Ensure that you send emails regularly (ideally a few times a week) to maintain your IP's warm status.

Configuration Options and Settings

When maintaining a dedicated IP, several factors should be considered, including:

- Sending Schedule: Establish a schedule for sending emails to keep your IP address active. - User Engagement: Focus on ensuring that you are sending emails to engaged contacts only. - Email Authentication: Set up a Sending Domain with ActiveCampaign to manage DKIM, DMARC, and SPF authentication effectively.

Best Practices and Tips

- **Weekly Sends**: It is vital to send emails at least a few times a week. Daily automation traffic can help maintain your IP's warmth.

- **Engagement Monitoring**: Regularly engage with your audience and avoid sending emails to unengaged contacts. Keep track of your email open rates and interactions.

- **Using Automations**: Implement daily automations to maintain ongoing communication and keep the IP active.

- **Email Authentication**: Ensure authentication measures like DKIM, DMARC, and SPF are in place to enhance your IP reputation.

- **Google Postmaster Tools**: Utilize Google Postmaster Tools to monitor your IP and domain reputation.

Common Use Cases with Examples

- **E-commerce**: An online store uses a dedicated IP to manage promotional emails. By keeping a consistent emailing schedule and utilizing automations for cart abandonment, they maintain high engagement and protect their IP reputation.

- **SaaS Company**: A software-as-a-service organization leverages a dedicated IP to send regular updates, newsletters, and onboarding materials to users. This ensures regular engagement and minimizes the risk of their IP going cold.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues with your dedicated IP, consider the following:

- **IP Goes Cold**: If there has been no email sent for 30 days, your IP will go cold. To warm it back up, gradually increase your sending volume starting at less than 25k emails/day.

- **Negative Reputation**: If your dedicated IP gains a negative reputation due to poor practices, identify and resolve the root cause. Consult the ActiveCampaign deliverability team for guidance.

Related Features

- Automations - Sending Domain - Email Engagement

FAQ

Q1: What happens if I do not send any emails with my dedicated IP for 30 days? A1: Your dedicated IP will go cold, requiring a complete warmup from a low volume starting point.

Q2: What's the process for warming up a pre-warmed dedicated IP? A2: Gradually increase your email sending volume over a span of weeks, starting under 50k emails/day.

Q3: Can I recover from a negative sending reputation? A3: Yes, but it takes time. You must identify and resolve the source of the negative issues efficiently.

Q4: How often should I send emails to maintain my dedicated IP? A4: Aim to send emails at least a few times a week to keep your IP from going cold.

Q5: What tools can I use to monitor my IP reputation? A5: Use third-party tools like SenderScore and Google Postmaster Tools.

Q6: How does list hygiene impact my dedicated IP? A6: Poor list hygiene can lead to spam complaints and damage your IP's reputation.

Q7: What is the best way to prevent bot sign-ups affecting my list? A7: Implement captcha and double opt-in processes on your sign-up forms.

By following these guidelines and regularly engaging with your audience, you can effectively use and maintain a dedicated IP address with ActiveCampaign for optimal email deliverability. ```