If you’re sending cold emails and want them to actually land in the inbox instead of rotting in spam, you can’t just blast them out whenever you feel like it. The sending schedule you choose is a big deal—maybe the biggest. This guide is for anyone who’s tired of guessing and wants a clear, honest walkthrough on setting up custom sending schedules in Mailreach to get the best shot at inbox placement.
Let’s keep it practical. You don’t need to overcomplicate this, but you do need to get it right.
Why Sending Schedules Matter (And What Happens If You Ignore Them)
When you send a bunch of emails at once, especially from a new domain or IP, spam filters light up like Christmas. Even if you’ve got great copy and warmed-up inboxes, a weird sending pattern looks suspicious to Google, Microsoft, and everyone else.
Here’s what can happen if you get sloppy with your schedule: - Your email domain gets flagged, and suddenly even your real business emails go to spam. - Engagement drops because real people aren’t even seeing your emails. - You waste time and money “warming up” inboxes only to lose reputation with dumb scheduling.
Mailreach exists to help with deliverability, but you still have to set it up right. Custom sending schedules are one of your best (and most underused) tools.
Step 1: Understand What a “Good” Sending Schedule Looks Like
Before you start clicking around in Mailreach, get clear on what you’re trying to do. Here’s what matters most:
- Consistency over volume: Slow and steady wins the race. Don’t go from 0 to 200 emails a day.
- Human-like patterns: Real people don’t send 37 emails at exactly 8:00 AM every day.
- Time zone awareness: If your recipients are in California, don’t schedule everything for 3 AM their time.
- Randomness is your friend: Small variations in send times make your activity look less robotic.
Ignore anyone who tells you to “just pick a time and blast.” That’s asking for trouble, no matter what automation tool you’re using.
Step 2: Prep Your Mailreach Account
Assuming you already have a Mailreach account (if not, set one up—it’s quick), get your sending email(s) connected and warmed up. If you’re brand new, let Mailreach’s warm-up feature run for at least 2–3 weeks before you even think about custom schedules. Don’t rush this part, or you’ll pay for it later.
Quick checklist:
- Is your domain authenticated (SPF, DKIM, DMARC)? If not, do that first.
- Are you past the initial warm-up phase? If not, wait. No schedule will save a “cold” inbox.
- Do you know your target audience’s time zone(s)? You’ll need this.
Step 3: Set Up Your Custom Sending Schedule
Here’s where you actually set up your schedule in Mailreach. The UI changes a bit over time, but the general process is the same.
1. Go to the “Sending Calendar” or “Schedule” Section
Find the section in Mailreach where you control when emails go out (usually called “Sending Calendar” or similar from your dashboard). If you’re lost, Mailreach’s help docs are pretty solid—or just poke around, you won’t break anything.
2. Choose Your Sending Days
- Best practice: Stick to weekdays (Monday–Friday) unless your audience is weirdly active on weekends.
- Pro tip: Start with 3–4 days per week, then ramp up. Don’t hit all 5 days right away if your sender is new.
3. Set Sending Hours
- Pick a window that matches your recipients’ working hours (usually 8 AM to 5 PM in their time zone).
- Avoid sending at the top of the hour or in big batches. Spread them out.
- If you’re emailing multiple countries, consider splitting schedules or using Mailreach’s time zone features (if available).
4. Choose the Number of Emails Per Day
- Start low: If you’re new, 10–20 emails per day is plenty.
- Ramp gradually: Increase by 5–10 emails per day each week, max.
- If you’re running multiple inboxes, stagger their start times.
5. Add Sending “Randomness”
Mailreach lets you randomize send times within your window. Turn this on. It’s one of the easiest ways to avoid spam filters, and there’s no downside.
6. Review and Save
Double-check your selections. Make sure you didn’t accidentally schedule 100 emails at 6:00 AM on a Saturday. Save your schedule.
Step 4: Monitor, Adjust, and Don’t Fall for “Magic” Settings
No sending schedule is set-and-forget. Here’s what actually matters after you hit save:
Watch Your Deliverability Metrics
Mailreach shows you open rates, placement reports, and alerts if things start going sideways. If you see a sudden dip in inbox placement, don’t panic—but don’t ignore it either.
- If things drop: Scale back your volume, check your schedule, and look for spam trigger words in your copy.
- If things look good: Don’t get cocky and double your send limit overnight.
Ignore the Hype
There’s a lot of nonsense advice out there—“send only at 10:07 AM for best results,” or “use AI-powered schedules for 10x inboxing.” Real talk: there’s no magic bullet. You’re aiming for steady, human-like sending. That’s it.
Pro Tips for Maximum Inbox Placement
- Use multiple sending domains/inboxes: If you need to send a lot, spread it out. Don’t let one inbox do all the heavy lifting.
- Warm up new inboxes before adding to your schedule: Don’t add cold inboxes to your main campaign schedule.
- Rotate message templates: Don’t send the exact same subject and body every time. Even small tweaks help.
- Pause if you see a spike in bounces or spam: Take a breather and figure out what changed.
- Don’t chase “best time to send” myths: Unless your audience is super niche, just stick to business hours in their time zone.
What to Avoid
- Don’t max out your sending limits: Even if Mailreach says you can send 50/day, start lower and ramp up.
- Don’t ignore spam traps: If you’re pulling from scraped lists, expect trouble.
- Don’t keep tweaking your schedule every day: Make a change, then let it run for at least a week before judging results.
Keep It Simple (and Keep Iterating)
Custom sending schedules can make a real difference—but only if you keep them realistic and pay attention to what’s actually happening. Don’t get lost in the weeds or chase gimmicks. Start simple, watch your results, and adjust as you go. Most of the “tricks” out there are just noise. Consistency, patience, and a little randomness will get you further than any secret formula.
Now go set up your schedule, hit send, and let the data tell you what’s working. If you mess up, just adjust and keep moving. That’s the real secret.