Email is still the backbone of agency outreach in 2026.
Calls don’t connect like they used to. Ads cost more every month. But email. Email still works. Only if it’s set up right.
One small mistake in LC email setup can push all your messages into spam. And once that happens, fixing it takes weeks. Sometimes months.
So this blog breaks it down in the simplest way possible. No tech talk. No fancy terms. Just what you need to do, step by step.
Why LC Email Setup Matters More Than Ever
Email companies like Gmail and Outlook are strict now. They watch how you send, what you send, and how people react to it.
If your setup looks rushed or fake, your emails won’t reach inboxes. They’ll disappear without warning.
LC doesn’t protect you from this. It just sends emails. The trust comes from your setup.
Use a Separate Domain Only for Email Sending
Never use your main website domain for email sending.
If that domain gets flagged, your entire business is at risk. Website emails, contact forms, and even internal communication can suffer.
The safer approach is to buy a new domain only for email sending. This domain should look close to your brand but not copy it exactly.
Example:
- Main site: youragency.com
- Email domain: http://tryyouragency.com
Keep it clean and readable. Avoid numbers, symbols, or long words. This domain should exist for one reason only. Sending emails safely.
Create a Real Email Inbox (This Builds Trust)
Free inboxes look suspicious. Avoid them.
Use Google Workspace or Microsoft 365. One inbox is enough to start.
Example:
Don’t create many inboxes on day one. That looks unnatural. Start with one and grow slowly.
Set Up DNS Records the Right Way
DNS records tell email providers who you are and whether you can be trusted.
This step isn’t optional.
You need to set:
- SPF to confirm who can send emails
- DKIM to prove emails aren’t changed
- DMARC to show how failures should be handled
- MX to connect your inbox
LC provides the values. You copy them into your domain settings. That’s it.
If even one record is missing or wrong, your emails can land in spam without explanation. Always double-check before moving forward.
Connect the Inbox to LC Carefully
Once DNS is ready, connect your inbox inside LC.
After connecting, test everything. Send an email to yourself. Reply to it. Make sure the reply appears inside LC.
If replies don’t sync, stop and fix it immediately. Email is a two-way conversation. If replies break, trust breaks with it.
What Kind of Emails to Send During Warm-Up
During warm-up, your goal is not sales.
Your goal is activity that looks human.
Send short, simple messages. Ask a question. Follow up on something small. Keep it natural.
Avoid links, images, or heavy formatting. Plain text works best because it looks like a real person typing, not software sending.
Replies matter a lot here. I’m not sure why exactly, but inbox providers seem to reward conversations more than clicks.
Always Use One Domain Per Client
Agencies often try to save time here. That’s a mistake.
Never send emails for multiple clients from one domain or inbox. If one client sends bad emails, every other client suffers.
Each client needs:
- Their own domain
- Their own inbox
- Their own LC connection
Yes, it takes more setup. But it protects your agency and keeps problems isolated.
What to Do If Emails Go to Spam
Even with perfect setup, issues can still happen.
If emails start landing in spam, pause campaigns immediately. Check DNS again. Reduce sending volume. Focus only on replies for a few days.
Time often fixes deliverability problems. Forcing more emails usually makes it worse.
Conclusion
LC email setup isn’t about tools or shortcuts. It’s about doing the basics the right way and giving inbox providers no reason to doubt you.
When you use a clean domain, a real inbox, correct DNS records, and slow sending habits, your emails stay where they belong. In the inbox. Once that trust is built, LC becomes powerful. Without it, nothing works.
So don’t rush this part. Set it up once. Protect it daily. Treat email like a long-term system, not a quick win. That’s how agencies keep outreach working in 2026 and avoid starting from zero again.
