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Technical setup

SMTP Setup for Cold Email: Send from Your Own Domain

JacSend sends through your SMTP relay, not a shared platform domain. Here is how to connect your domain, authenticate DNS, and protect deliverability for cold outreach.

10 min readUpdated July 2026

Professional cold email outreach sends from an address you control, typically you@yourcompany.com on a domain with proper authentication. JacSend uses nodemailer to deliver through your SMTP credentials, so recipients see mail from you, not from a third-party sending subdomain.

This guide walks through SMTP setup options, authentication records, and how to connect your mail server in JacSend Settings before activating a campaign.

Why JacSend requires your own SMTP

Shared sending domains pool reputation across thousands of users. One bad actor can hurt everyone. When you send cold outreach from your SMTP, deliverability reflects your list quality and copy, and you build long-term domain authority for your brand.

JacSend never sends live outreach from a platform-owned domain. Preview drafts work without SMTP; actual sends require a connected mail server in Settings.

SMTP provider options for outreach

For cold outreach, use a dedicated SMTP relay on your domain rather than Gmail or Outlook SMTP. JacSend maps provider credentials directly to Settings: host, port, username, password, and from email.

Many founders use a dedicated outreach alias like hello@ or alex@ on their primary domain, or a secondary domain for outbound. Configure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC on whichever domain you send from.

  • SMTP2GO (recommended): verify your sender, create an SMTP user, then use mail.smtp2go.com on port 587 with your verified From email. Setup guide: https://support.smtp2go.com/hc/en-gb/articles/13645646122777-SMTP-User-Authentication
  • SendGrid: smtp.sendgrid.net with SMTP credentials from your SendGrid dashboard
  • Postmark: smtp.postmarkapp.com with your server token as both username and password
  • Google Workspace: smtp.gmail.com with an app password where supported; risky for automated outreach from cloud servers
  • Dedicated outreach subdomain: outreach.yourcompany.com with full SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records

SPF, DKIM, and DMARC for deliverability

Email providers verify that sending servers are authorized for your domain. SPF lists allowed senders. DKIM cryptographically signs messages. DMARC tells receivers how to handle failures.

Configure all three before scaling cold outreach. Missing authentication is one of the fastest paths to spam folders regardless of copy quality.

Connecting SMTP in JacSend

Open Settings in JacSend and enter your SMTP host, port, username, password, and from email. For SMTP2GO, use mail.smtp2go.com, port 587, the SMTP username and password from Sending → SMTP Users, and a verified sender address. JacSend encrypts credentials at rest.

Click Test connection in Settings, then use Send now on the dashboard before activating full sequences. If sends fail, confirm your sender is verified with the provider, credentials match exactly, and your provider allows SMTP from server IPs (some block datacenter ranges; check provider docs).

Security and credential hygiene

Use SMTP user credentials from your relay provider instead of your primary mailbox password where possible. Restrict SMTP users to send-only roles when your provider allows it. Rotate credentials if compromised. JacSend stores encrypted SMTP secrets and never exposes them in the client.

Domain warmup before high volume

New domains and fresh inboxes should ramp volume slowly: start with JacSend's free 5 sends, then scale through Starter and Pro plans as engagement proves out. Pair warmup with targeted lists and strong copy, not purchased contacts.

Frequently asked questions

How do I set up SMTP2GO with JacSend?
Create an SMTP2GO account, verify your sender, add an SMTP user, then enter mail.smtp2go.com, port 587, your SMTP username and password, and your verified From email in JacSend Settings. Setup guide: https://support.smtp2go.com/hc/en-gb/articles/13645646122777-SMTP-User-Authentication
Can I use JacSend without SMTP?
Yes for AI draft previews and campaign setup. Live sending and automated follow-ups require a connected SMTP server in Settings.
Does JacSend work with Gmail?
Yes, with Google Workspace or Gmail SMTP using an app password where Google allows SMTP access. Check Google's current policies for your account type.
What SMTP port should I use?
Port 587 with STARTTLS is standard. Port 465 with SSL works for some providers. JacSend supports common configurations. Refer to your provider's documentation.
Will cold email hurt my primary domain?
It can if you send low-quality mail at high volume. Many teams use a dedicated subdomain or alias, keep volumes modest, and monitor bounces. JacSend's limits encourage sustainable sending.
Is my SMTP password stored securely?
JacSend encrypts SMTP credentials at rest using your deployment's encryption key. Never share production ENCRYPTION_KEY or commit secrets to version control.

Try JacSend for your next campaign

Import contacts, preview AI drafts in your voice, connect your SMTP, and automate a focused 4-touch follow-up sequence. Start free with 5 sends included.

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