Insights

What we learn running cold email

First-hand notes on cold email tools, deliverability and campaigns, from the team that runs outbound at Zheat.

• Why new cold email domains get blacklisted: shared Cloudflare name servers and SURBL

  In 2026 cold email domains were blacklisted in bulk, even before sending. What happened, why shared name servers were the fingerprint, and how to check and fix your setup.

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• Why most cold email campaigns don't book meetings: copy and inbox placement

  Cold email fails on two fronts: copy written for people who already know you, and emails that never reach the inbox. What we learned from our own campaigns, and the setup we use.

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• Instantly vs Smartlead (2026): features, pricing, and why I switched

  Instantly vs Smartlead compared on pricing, limits, warm-up, AI and add-ons, from someone who ran cold email campaigns on both and moved to Instantly.

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