When you send outreach emails, especially if they might be seen as promotional, it’s important to think about how they could affect your domain's reputation. The reputation of your domain helps determine whether your emails land in inboxes, spam folders, or get blocked entirely. Let's explore whether you should use a subdomain or a separate domain for your email campaigns.
Using a Subdomain
Pros:
Cost-Effective: You can avoid the expense of buying a new domain.
Branding Consistency: A subdomain keeps a link to your main domain, which can add credibility to your emails.
Cons:
Reputation Risk: Although a subdomain is somewhat independent, its reputation can still affect your main domain if problems arise.
Limited Flexibility: It might be harder to change email providers or strategies due to its link to the main domain.
Using a Separate Domain
Pros:
Risk Isolation: If the new domain has issues, your main domain remains unaffected.
Greater Flexibility: Easily adapt or rebrand without worrying about your primary domain.
Cons:
Additional Costs: Buying a new domain involves extra costs, especially if you choose a premium domain name.
Less Recognition: A new domain may lack the immediate brand recognition that a subdomain might provide.
Setup Effort: Setting up involves DNS configurations and establishing a good sending reputation.
Our Recommendation
To protect your primary domain’s reputation, consider using a separate domain for email outreach. This choice helps prevent any negative effects on your main domain if issues occur.
Best Practices for Email Outreach
Regardless of your choice, ensure you:
Keep Your Email List Clean: Regularly remove bounced emails and inactive subscribers.
Avoid Spammy Content: Provide valuable and relevant content, and steer clear of spam trigger words.
Offer an Unsubscribe Option: Make it easy for recipients to opt-out of your emails.
Authenticate Your Emails: Use SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to verify your emails and boost deliverability.
💡 Remember: Even with a separate domain, bad email practices can still get your emails flagged. Focus on best practices and provide valuable content to your audience.