Setup checklist#
- ☐ Verify every address through an API before it enters a sequence.
- ☐ Segregate catch-all domains and send to them at lower volume.
- ☐ Refresh verification for any lead older than 90 days.
- ☐ Enrich with 3 to 5 data points that drive the opening line.
Audit checklist#
- ☐ Confirm you are not: trusting a vendor's 'verified' label from months ago.
- ☐ Confirm you are not: treating catch-all as valid.
Ongoing monitoring#
- ☐ Weekly: review provider dashboards (Postmaster Tools, SNDS) and bounce logs
- ☐ Monthly: re-run the setup verification after any vendor or DNS change
- ☐ Quarterly: full audit against this checklist
Frequently asked questions#
What bounce rate is safe for cold email?
Under 2 percent. Above 5 percent, pause and re-verify the list before continuing.