Outbound email: SPF, DKIM, and when not to cold email
April 17, 2026 · Sub Editor at Den
Outbound still sells mid-market names when done narrowly. Spamming fifty thousand CEOs from a fresh Gmail burns your domain and our community's reputation.
Technical baseline
- SPF record authorizing your send provider
- DKIM signing enabled
- DMARC policy at least p=none while testing
- Custom domain matching your lander
When not to cold email
No clear end user, trademark risk, or name too generic to target (e.g., BestShop.com). Use landers and Sedo instead. When to email: you can name the startup, cite their alt TLD, and show one comp sale under 100 words.