Everything you need to know about cold email terminology. From authentication protocols to engagement metrics, master the language of email outreach.
A DNS record that specifies which mail servers are authorized to send email on behalf of your domain.
A cryptographic signature added to emails that proves they came from your domain and weren't tampered with in transit.
A policy that tells receiving mail servers what to do when SPF or DKIM checks fail for emails from your domain.
Configuration entries in your domain's DNS that control email routing and authentication.
DNS records that specify which mail servers receive email for your domain.
The ability of your emails to successfully reach recipients' inboxes rather than being blocked or sent to spam.
A score assigned to your email-sending identity based on your historical sending behavior and recipient engagement.
The reputation score assigned specifically to your sending domain, affecting all mailboxes on that domain.
The reputation score assigned to the IP address used to send your emails.
The process of gradually increasing email volume from a new domain to build sender reputation before full-scale sending.
A database of domains or IPs identified as spam sources, used by email providers to filter incoming mail.
A numerical rating indicating how likely an email is to be flagged as spam based on content and sender factors.
Words, phrases, or formatting patterns that increase the likelihood of an email being flagged as spam.
The percentage of sent emails that fail to deliver and are returned by the receiving server.
A permanent email delivery failure, typically because the email address or domain doesn't exist.
A temporary email delivery failure that may resolve itself, such as a full mailbox or server issue.
The percentage of sent emails that receive a reply from recipients.
The percentage of delivered emails that were opened, typically measured using tracking pixels (which we avoid).
The percentage of email recipients who opt out of receiving future emails.
Unsolicited outreach email sent to prospects with no prior relationship, used for sales, partnerships, or networking.
Email sent to someone with whom you have some prior connection or context, resulting in higher response rates.
A planned series of emails sent over time to a prospect, typically including an initial email and follow-ups.
Automated emails sent based on time intervals or trigger events, used for nurturing leads over time.
An email sent after an initial contact attempt to re-engage a prospect who hasn't responded.
The final email in a sequence that signals you won't continue reaching out, often generating last-minute responses.
A detailed description of the type of company that would benefit most from your product or service.
A semi-fictional representation of your ideal buyer, including their role, goals, challenges, and behavior.
A methodology for ranking prospects based on their likelihood to convert, combining fit and engagement signals.
A domain configured to accept emails to any address, making it impossible to verify specific email addresses through standard methods.
The process of confirming that an email address is valid, deliverable, and belongs to a real person.
The standard protocol used for sending emails between servers across the internet.
Metadata attached to every email containing routing information, authentication results, and sender details.
Maximum number of emails you can send per time period, set by your email provider and best practices.
Intentionally slowing down email sending to stay within safe limits and avoid triggering spam filters.
Restrictions imposed by email providers on how fast you can send emails, preventing abuse and maintaining system stability.
Understanding the terminology is step one. Our platform handles the technical details so you can focus on writing great emails that get replies.