What is a cold email infrastructure partner?

A cold email infrastructure partner like port587 designs, builds, and operates the technical systems behind B2B outbound email: dedicated sending domains, mailbox setup, DNS authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), warmup schedules, deliverability monitoring, and reputation management. The goal is to ensure cold emails reliably reach prospects' inboxes.

How much does cold email infrastructure cost?

Cold email infrastructure pricing varies by volume and complexity. port587 offers tiered plans based on sending volume, number of domains, and scope of management. Typical engagements range from foundational infrastructure setup to full done-for-you outbound operations including lead generation and campaign management.

How is port587 different from Apollo or Instantly?

Apollo and Instantly are software platforms you operate yourself. port587 is an infrastructure partner that builds and runs the underlying systems for you: domains, mailboxes, deliverability, lead sourcing, and campaign operations. You focus on strategy and closing; we handle the technical execution.

Do you also provide B2B lead data?

Yes. port587 operates a B2B SaaS leads database at data.587.agency with 100,000+ verified companies. You can search, filter, and export leads by industry, geography, company size, revenue, and funding stage. It is available as a self-serve product with pay-per-lead pricing.

What types of companies does port587 work with?

port587 primarily works with B2B SaaS companies, lead generation agencies, and outbound-focused teams. Our infrastructure and services are designed for teams that rely on cold email as a core pipeline channel and need reliable deliverability at scale.

Do I need DMARC for cold email?

Yes. In 2024, Google and Yahoo made DMARC mandatory for bulk senders. Even for low-volume cold email, DMARC significantly improves your chances of reaching the inbox. Start with p=none for monitoring and tighten over time.

What's the SPF 10-lookup limit?

SPF records can only include 10 DNS lookups. Each 'include:' statement counts as one. If you exceed 10, SPF fails entirely. We design SPF records that stay under the limit while covering all your sending services.

PlaybooksSPF/DKIM/DMARC

SPF, DKIM, and DMARC setup for cold email

The DNS authentication layer is the foundation of cold email deliverability. If SPF, DKIM, or DMARC are misconfigured, nothing else you do matters. Here's how to get it right.

Who this is for

Technical founders, DevOps, or ops leads setting up DNS records for cold email sending domains.

Typical sending volume

Authentication setup is the same regardless of volume. This is step zero for any cold email infrastructure.

Common challenges

Set up DNS records following a blog post but emails still fail authentication checks.
Not sure whether DMARC should be 'none', 'quarantine', or 'reject' for cold email domains.
Multiple sending tools using the same domain with conflicting SPF includes.
Emails pass SPF but fail DKIM, or vice versa, and you can't figure out why.

What we cover

Complete SPF record design: correct includes, no duplicate entries, staying under the 10-lookup limit.
DKIM key generation and rotation for each sending platform connected to the domain.
DMARC policy configuration appropriate for cold email (alignment, reporting, enforcement).
Verification testing to confirm all three protocols pass before any sending begins.

Infrastructure blueprint

Step 1: Inventory all services that will send email from this domain.
Step 2: Build SPF record with correct includes, staying under 10 DNS lookups.
Step 3: Generate DKIM keys for each sending service and add to DNS as TXT records.
Step 4: Set DMARC record starting with p=none for monitoring, then tighten.
Step 5: Test with Google Admin Toolbox, MXToolbox, or mail-tester.com to verify all pass.

Success metrics

Playbook

SPF, DKIM, and DMARC all passing on 100% of test emails.
DMARC alignment achieving 'pass' status in DMARC reports.
No authentication failures on daily sending within the first 30 days.

Want us to handle the setup? We'll build this infrastructure for you and hand it over production-ready.