SendGrid dedicated IP warmup schedule

Goal: a dedicated IP with a solid reputation.

Step 1. Finish domain authentication and reverse DNS first. Warming an unauthenticated IP wastes the ramp.

Step 2. Start with a small daily volume to your most engaged recipients: recent openers and clickers. ISPs weight engagement heavily when evaluating a new IP.

Step 3. Increase volume gradually over several weeks, watching deferred events per domain. A deferral spike means you are ramping too fast; hold or reduce.

Step 4. Only shift the bulk streams over once the IP handles the engaged segment cleanly. Keep the old path running until the new IP proves itself.

Step 5. Keep the IP warm: steady volume, no long gaps. An IP idle for 30+ days needs re-warming.

Verify: deferral rate stays low through the ramp and inbox placement on seed tests improves week over week. Pitfall: moving a stale list to a fresh IP burns the IP; clean the list before the warmup.