How to Set Up Your Own Email Infrastructure

Building your own email infrastructure can save costs and give you complete control over your email delivery. This guide will walk you through the essential steps.

Why Build Your Own Infrastructure?

Before diving into the technical details, let's understand the benefits:

• Cost Savings: Reduce monthly expenses for high-volume senders
• Complete Control: Full control over deliverability and reputation
• Customization: Tailor the infrastructure to your specific needs
• Data Ownership: Keep all your data in-house

Step 1: Choose Your SMTP Server

Popular options include:

• Postfix: Robust and widely used
• Exim: Flexible configuration
• PowerMTA: Commercial solution for high volume

Step 2: Domain Configuration

Proper domain setup is crucial for deliverability:

SPF Record: v=spf1 include:_spf.yourdomain.com ~all
DKIM: Setup with proper key rotation
DMARC: v=DMARC1; p=quarantine; rua=mailto:dmarc@yourdomain.com

Step 3: IP Warmup Strategy

Don't send at full volume immediately:

• Week 1: Start with 100-500 emails/day
• Week 2: Increase to 1,000-2,000/day
• Week 3-4: Gradually increase to target volume
• Monitor bounce rates and spam complaints closely

Step 4: Monitoring and Maintenance

Set up proper monitoring:

• Deliverability monitoring
• Bounce processing
• Complaint feedback loops
• Reputation tracking

Need Help?

Setting up email infrastructure can be complex. Our consultancy services can help you get it right the first time. Contact us to learn more.