Fix library / cold-email-deliverability-checklist
The complete cold email deliverability checklist (2026 edition)
WHAT YOU'RE SEEING
You want a complete pre-flight checklist before launching a cold email campaign.
WHY IT'S HAPPENING
Cold email deliverability depends on dozens of signals — authentication, content, infrastructure, reputation, engagement, list hygiene. Missing any one of them can tank a campaign.
How to fix it
- 1
Domain setup: SPF, DKIM, DMARC at p=quarantine or stricter.
- 2
Sending domain age > 30 days (use a subdomain if your main domain is fresh).
- 3
Sender IP not on any blacklist.
- 4
Sending domain warmed (gradual ramp over 2-4 weeks).
- 5
Email content: plain text, no calendar links, no urgency words, short.
- 6
Subject line: specific, non-templated, no all-caps, < 50 characters.
- 7
List validation: bounce rate < 2%, no scraped/purchased lists.
- 8
Daily volume: stay under 200/inbox/day for non-Workspace, 500 for Workspace.
- 9
Reply rate target: > 5%. Below that, your reputation will erode.
- 10
Continuous monitoring (this is where Conductor comes in).
Where do I add these records? (by DNS host)
Records go in the DNS panel of whoever hosts your domain, not inside Gmail or Outlook. Find your host below.
Cloudflare
- 1.Log in and pick your domain.
- 2.Open the DNS tab, then Records.
- 3.Click Add record, choose the type (TXT/CNAME), paste the Name and Value, Save.
- 4.Tip: Conductor can apply Cloudflare records for you. Connect a token on your domain page instead of doing this by hand.
GoDaddy
- 1.Go to My Products, find your domain, click DNS.
- 2.Under Records, click Add.
- 3.Pick the type, enter the Name (Host) and Value, Save. Use "@" for the root domain.
Crazy Domains
- 1.Log in, go to My Account, then Manage next to your domain.
- 2.Open DNS / Manage DNS.
- 3.Add a record, choose the type, enter the Hostname and Value, Save.
VentraIP
- 1.Log in to VIPControl, open Domain Names, click your domain.
- 2.Choose Manage DNS / DNS Zone.
- 3.Add a record with the type, name and content shown above, Save.
Squarespace / Google Domains
- 1.Open Settings, then Domains, and pick your domain.
- 2.Choose DNS Settings, scroll to Custom Records.
- 3.Add the record type, host and data, Save.
Namecheap
- 1.Go to Domain List, click Manage next to your domain.
- 2.Open the Advanced DNS tab.
- 3.Click Add New Record, set the type, host and value, and save with the green tick.
Not listed? The steps are the same everywhere: find DNS or Manage DNS, add a record, pick the type, paste the name and value shown above.
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