Let’s start with the technical
Setting up your SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records on your DNS is essential before sending cold emails. These technical setups ensure improved email deliverability, protect your domain reputation, and reduce the risk of your emails being flagged as spam or phishing attempts.
1. Technical Essentials
SPF (Sender Policy Framework): Verifies emails sent from your domain, acting as an authenticator.
DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail): Ensures email content integrity to prevent spoofing and phishing attacks.
DMARC Records: Specifies handling of failed authentication checks, instructing providers to quarantine or reject unauthorized emails.
Optional but recommended for enhanced security.MX Records: Specifies servers accepting emails for your domain, essential for email reception.
Typically set up by default with G Suite.
2. Set up checks
Before configuring these settings on your DNS, begin by verifying if they are already implemented using SPF, DKIM, and DMARC checker tools:
SPF and DKIM checker: https://www.mail-tester.com/spf-dkim-check
DMARC checker: https://dmarcly.com/tools/dmarc-checker
Use these tools to see the status of your SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records. You may find that all of them are in place, in which case you should skip to the practical tips section of this guide.
If some, or all of these records are not in place, follow the next step on how to set those up:
3. How to set up these records?
Following your checks, you can now make the necessary setup configurations.
SPF Setup:
Go to your DNS settings (e.g., GoDaddy, Namecheap, Cloudflare, etc.) and create a new record.
Select TXT record and enter “@” in “Name.”
Paste the text below in “Value” and then save.
Done! SPF is set up.
DKIM Setup:
To configure your DKIM: Sign into your Gmail Admin Panel (accessible to administrators and/or IT department in your organization). Click on the top left menu and head to Apps > G Suite > Settings for Gmail > Authenticate Email.
Pick your domain from the drop-down list, click “Generate New Record,” and then copy the hostname and the TXT record value.
Log in to your DNS (e.g., Namecheap, Cloudflare, GoDaddy, etc.), go to the domain list, choose your domain, and pick “Add New Record” in the advanced settings and save your changes.
Go back to Google and simply click “Start Authentication.”
DMARC Setup:
Before setting your DMARC, make sure you’ve configured SPF and DKIM records for the domain. Go to your DNS settings and create a new record. Choose a ‘TXT’ record. Add the hostname (for example, _dmarc). Add the value. You can find a sample DMARC entry that you can use to create your own below:
This would will look something like this:
We won’t dive into the technicality of what this means, but just copy paste that record and you should be good to go!
Best Practices to Avoid Spam
You’re done with technical setup! Phew 
! Now, time to follow some actionable best practices to enhance deliverability and avoid being marked as spam.
1. Email warm-up
The majority of SARAL’s brand campaigns achieve a remarkable open rate exceeding 90%.How?
SARAL Auto-Warming 
: SARAL incorporates a built-in email warm-up configuration, which assists new email domains in avoiding spam filters by setting up the daily sending limit to 25, slowly ramping it up by 2 emails per day and capping it at 50.
Email warming is a 3 to 4 week process to ease in the volume slowly but surely to acclimate systems to the new activity levels of bulk cold emailing.
SARAL Human Pace Emailing 
: SARAL Email drips do not blast out emails to all campaign recipients simultaneously, as this could harm your deliverability, especially considering that the creators you're contacting have opted in to receive communication from you.
Instead, SARAL employs a sending algorithm that regulates the pace of email sending to emulate human behavior. It queues and schedules emails with randomized intervals, ensuring the emails look like they have been sent by a human.
2. Personalize your emails
Adding a personal touch to your emails can result in a 10-15% increase in response rates and greater engagement with your message.
SARAL's custom line parameters facilitate personalization of your subject line and copy by influencers' {{first name}} into your email communications.
Another effective way to personalize your emails is by maintaining a conversational tone and avoiding overly formal or distorted characters. Aim for a friendly, relatable tone to enhance the personal connection with recipients.
3. Use Spintax
Spintax is a powerful tool to enhance your email strategy by adding personalisation, avoiding spam filters, and boosting engagement. It works by rotating different lines of copy in your emails, making each one feel unique.
Spintax Format:
{line 1 | line 2 | line 3} to create variations.
Input example:
Hi {there|friend|mate}, I hope you’re {doing well|having a great day|in good spirits}!
Output:
Hi there, I hope you’re doing well!
Hi friend, I hope you’re having a great day!
Hi mate, I hope you’re in good spirits!
These variations make your emails feel more personal and relatable, helping them stand out and reducing the chances of being flagged as spam. Spintax not only improves email deliverability but also helps you build stronger connections with Influencers.
Learn more about Spintax here.
4. Avoid attachments, images, and link shorteners
When crafting your initial outreach to influencers, remember that you're talking to a person, not delivering a sales pitch. So avoid using link shorteners and attachments in your emails. These can look spammy or risky.
Instead, use regular links or text links in your emails when sharing files. Also, be careful with your email signature. Adding images or links to your company logo might affect how your email is seen by spam filters.
5. Write a personalized subject line
Aligned with the second point regarding email copy personalization, we recommend personalizing your subject line by incorporating the creator's name. SARAL's{{ first_name }}parameter is a great way to personalize subject lines.
6. Avoid using Spam triggering words
Certain words should be avoided in cold emails, as they can trigger spam filters due to their association with phishing or fraudulent activities.
To steer clear of triggering spam detectors, consider the following tips:
Avoid using overly aggressive, pushy, or sales-focused language, as well as phrases that induce fear of missing out (FOMO) or present offers that seem too good to be true.
For instance, avoid saying "free," "guaranteed," or "limited-time offer," and don't tell people to "click here/now."
Try not to use too many capital letters or punctuation marks in your emails.
Use emojis and pictures sparingly in your emails.
7. Send follow up emails
Many content creators juggle their social media passion alongside their busy schedules. Therefore, the most effective way to ensure your message reaches them is to follow up! Simple 
.
SARAL streamlines this process with follow-up templates accessible within your email campaigns.
3 tips for crafting compelling follow-up emails:
Highlight the appeal of your offer.
Foster trust by referencing other creators who are part of your community.
Set at least 3 follow up emails and test a new subject line in your fourth follow-up.
Keep it simple.
You’re all set to Launch
Congrats!
With the technical setup and tactical insights under your belt to enhance email deliverability, you're all set to launch your inaugural outreach campaign on SARAL.
Still have questions?
Reach out anytime via the support chat at the bottom-right corner of your dashboard, or email us at support@getsaral.com. We’re happy to assist!