How to warm up a new sending domain in Klaviyo

Warming up a new sending domain means building trust with mailbox providers by sending small volumes to your most engaged contacts first, then growing volume steadily. Authenticate the domain before the first send. Patience matters here, because rushing the process is the most common reason new domains struggle with inbox placement.

Have this ready.

• Access to your domain DNS settings
• A segment of your most engaged contacts
• A planned schedule of useful emails
• A way to watch bounces, complaints and inbox placement

Steps.

1. 1. Set up the domain properly

   Add the new domain in your account settings and publish the DNS records Klaviyo asks for. Wait until the domain shows as verified before sending.

2. 2. Pick a warm-up audience

   Build a segment of recent buyers and frequent openers or clickers. These people are most likely to engage, which tells providers you are a good sender.

3. 3. Start with small sends

   Send to a small slice of that audience first. Use useful content such as order related messages or a strong best seller email.

4. 4. Increase volume in steps

   Grow the audience gradually over several weeks, widening to less engaged groups only when results stay healthy.

5. 5. Keep a steady rhythm

   Send on a regular pattern rather than long gaps followed by a spike. Consistency helps providers learn your normal behaviour.

6. 6. Watch the signals

   Check bounces, complaints and unsubscribes after each send. If they rise, pause the increase and go back to your best contacts.

7. 7. Move flows over carefully

   Switch automated flows to the new domain once campaign sends are stable, so transactional style messages build reputation too.

Common pitfalls.

• Sending a full list blast on day one.
• Warming only with discount heavy emails that trigger complaints.
• Skipping authentication because the sends are small.
• Switching domains repeatedly, which resets any progress.

Check it worked.

• New domain is verified and authenticated
• Warm-up segment contains only engaged contacts
• Volume increases in small steps
• Complaint and bounce counts stay low
• Flows moved only after campaigns look stable

Klaviyo changes its interface from time to time, so treat the steps as the order of work and match the names to what you see on screen.

Rather have this done for you? See our klaviyo email marketing service or book a free audit.