Every week we receive inquiries about shared IP addresses. So we spoke with Daniel Garcia Bonilla, Inboxroad’s email delivery consultant, to clarify the crucial subject and how he manages his shared IP addresses.
First, can you explain what shared IP addresses are?
A shared IP pool is a group of IP addresses that are shared among multiple email senders to send their email marketing campaigns. The email senders using the shared IP pool send their emails from the same IP addresses, which means that their email reputations are tied together.
In contrast, a dedicated IP address is an IP address that is assigned exclusively to one email sender. This means that the email sender has complete control over their email reputation and can take actions to maintain it. Dedicated IP addresses are typically used by organizations with high email volumes and strict email deliverability requirements.
The key difference between a shared IP pool and a dedicated IP address is control over the sender reputation. With a shared IP pool, the reputation of all the senders using that IP address is interconnected, and a poor reputation of one sender can negatively impact the deliverability of all other senders. On the other hand, a dedicated IP address gives the sender complete control over their sender reputation and the ability to take specific actions to maintain and improve it.
Overall, the decision to use a shared IP pool or a dedicated IP address depends on several factors, such as email volume and sender reputation goals.
A dedicated IP address is an IP address designated to send only your email. When you send emails, they’re sent from an IP that is unique and exclusive to you, giving you full control over your sender reputation.
A shared IP address is shared between you and other senders. Sender reputation can be affected by other senders.
What are some benefits and drawbacks of using a shared IP pool?
Benefits:
- Pre-established reputation: A shared IP pool may already have a positive reputation with ISPs, making it easier to achieve good deliverability rates.
- Better chances for inbox placement: Since multiple senders are using the same IP address, the volume of emails sent from a shared IP pool is typically higher than that of a dedicated IP address, which may increase the chances of inbox placement.
Drawbacks:
- Limited control: When using a shared IP pool, senders have less control over their email reputation because the reputation is shared with other senders.
- Reputation risk: A poor sender reputation from one sender in a shared IP pool can negatively impact the reputation of all other senders using the same IP address.
- Deliverability issues: When senders share an IP address, the deliverability of their emails may be impacted if another sender using the same IP address violates email marketing regulations or sends spam.
Shared IPs will definitely be an advantage to sender with low sending volume which are not able to build their own sender reputation due to their low sending volume.
With a shared IP address, other senders that follow poor practices and engage in risky sending behavior can damage your reputation—their issues may become your issues.
How do you manage your shared IP addresses to maintain high deliverability rates?
At Inboxroad, we ensure every new sender willing to use our good shared IP pool is a good sender before placing them in our high reputation pool of shared IPs. So, if you are a good sender you can take the advantage of being placed in that pool.
How does the reputation of other senders on a shared IP pool affect your own deliverability?
If other senders are bad senders, your reputation can be affected negatively, and also be blacklisted because of bad practices from other senders.
However, if other senders are good senders, your reputation can be boosted and you take advantage of it.
This is why we at Inboxroad, ensure that only good senders are placed in our good sending shared IP pool.
How can you determine whether a shared IP pool is right for your email marketing needs?
If you are going to send a low volume of emails, or you are not sending emails constantly. You are a good candidate to use a shared IP pool.
Determining whether a shared IP pool is right for your email marketing needs requires careful consideration of several factors. Here are some key steps to help you decide:
- Evaluate your email volume: If you send a high volume of emails, a dedicated IP address may be a better option since it gives you complete control over your email reputation. However, if you are going to send a small volume of emails or you are sending emails every while, then a shared IP address will fit your needs.
- Assess your email deliverability needs: If you have strict deliverability requirements or your business relies heavily on email marketing, a dedicated IP address may be necessary to ensure high deliverability rates.
- Review your email marketing practices: If you have a good email marketing program in place, follow best practices, and maintain a positive sender reputation, using a shared IP pool may be a viable option.
- Test before committing: Test sending emails from a shared IP pool before committing to it.
I sincerely hope that this article has improved your knowledge of shared IP addresses. If you would like more information, don’t be afraid to contact us via email.
