How Saleshandy + ColdRelay Work Together
ColdRelay (Infrastructure)
ColdRelay provides the mailboxes Saleshandy sends from. Each mailbox is a Microsoft 365 account on a dedicated, isolated Azure tenant with its own dedicated IP, fully-automated DNS (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), and a 95% inbox-placement guarantee. ColdRelay's pricing is per-mailbox: $1 (1-199), $0.85 (200-999), $0.70 (1K-4,999), $0.55 (5K+). Setup completes in 60 minutes, no warmup wait required before connecting.
Saleshandy (Sending Platform)
Saleshandy is a cold email and sales engagement platform — it handles outreach sequences, automated follow-ups, reply tracking, mailbox rotation across campaigns, and team-level reporting. Saleshandy follows a bring-your-own-mailbox model: you connect mailboxes via SMTP/IMAP credentials (or supported OAuth flows for Google/Outlook), and Saleshandy orchestrates the sending and reply detection across them.
Why use them together
Saleshandy is the brain (sequences, follow-ups, reply tracking, mailbox rotation). ColdRelay is the body (mailboxes, IPs, DNS). Pairing them gives you a clean separation: Saleshandy handles campaign logic and engagement workflows, ColdRelay handles infrastructure quality. The two sides are loosely coupled — if you ever switch sending tools, the ColdRelay mailboxes still work with any SMTP/IMAP-compatible platform.
Connect Saleshandy to ColdRelay (Step-by-Step)
- 1
Order ColdRelay mailboxes
Sign up at coldrelay.com/sign-up, pick a domain (ColdRelay handles registration for $14), and order your mailbox count. The minimum is 50 mailboxes ($50/month at the base tier). ColdRelay's automation provisions the dedicated mail server, registers the domain, and creates all mailboxes inside an isolated Azure tenant.
Note: Provisioning takes 60 minutes end-to-end. You'll receive a CSV with every mailbox's SMTP host, port, username, and password once it's complete.
- 2
Wait for DNS propagation
ColdRelay configures SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records automatically on the new domain. DNS propagation usually completes in under an hour but can take up to 24. Verify with the Email Deliverability Test at coldrelay.com/tools/email-deliverability-test — when SPF, DKIM, DMARC, and MX all show as configured, you're ready to connect to Saleshandy.
Note: Don't start sending before all four records (SPF, DKIM, DMARC, MX) verify correctly. Sending before authentication is in place causes immediate spam-folder placement and can damage the domain's reputation early.
- 3
Add an Email Account in Saleshandy
In Saleshandy, go to Email Accounts → Add Email Account → choose SMTP/IMAP (not Google or Outlook OAuth — your ColdRelay mailboxes are M365 mailboxes connected via SMTP, not via Microsoft OAuth). Saleshandy will prompt for SMTP and IMAP details separately.
Note: Saleshandy supports OAuth for personal Google/Outlook accounts, but for cold email infrastructure mailboxes the SMTP/IMAP path is correct. OAuth flows aren't designed for the multi-mailbox bulk-connect workflow.
- 4
Fill in SMTP and IMAP credentials per mailbox
For each ColdRelay mailbox, paste the SMTP host (box.YOURDOMAIN.com), SMTP port (587 with STARTTLS), SMTP username (the full email address), and the password from the ColdRelay CSV. Repeat for IMAP using port 993 with SSL. Saleshandy runs a test connection and marks the mailbox as Connected once it validates both SMTP and IMAP.
Note: If Saleshandy reports a connection failure, the most common cause is DNS records not yet propagated. Re-run the Email Deliverability Test to confirm, then retry the connection.
- 5
Set daily sending limits per mailbox
In each mailbox's Saleshandy settings, set the daily sending limit to 2 outbound emails per day. This matches ColdRelay's per-mailbox cap (designed for optimal deliverability, not maximum volume). With 50 mailboxes you can send 100 outbound emails/day; 200 mailboxes = 400/day; 1,000 mailboxes = 2,000/day. Also configure a minimum delay between sends (Saleshandy defaults are fine — 60-90 seconds works well).
Note: Going higher than 2/day/mailbox is the single fastest way to degrade deliverability. ColdRelay's pricing model assumes 2/day — if you need 5,000+ emails/day, add more mailboxes rather than pushing existing ones harder.
- 6
Enable Saleshandy's built-in warmup
Saleshandy ships with an integrated warmup feature. Turn it on for each connected mailbox and set the daily warmup count to 2 emails. Saleshandy gradually ramps the mailbox's reputation by exchanging emails with other warmup-network mailboxes and auto-marking them as 'not spam' where needed.
Note: ColdRelay mailboxes ship reputation-ready (the Azure tenant + dedicated IP isolation gives you a clean start), but running Saleshandy's warmup for the first 2 weeks of active sending is still recommended to build positive engagement signals.
- 7
Configure mailbox rotation and your first sequence
In Saleshandy, create a sequence, import your prospect list, write your steps (initial email + follow-ups with cadence), and assign your ColdRelay mailboxes as the sending pool. Saleshandy's mailbox rotation feature distributes sends across all assigned mailboxes, respecting each one's daily cap. Use Saleshandy's spintax support on subject lines and opening lines to avoid mailbox fingerprinting.
Note: The Spintax Generator at coldrelay.com/tools/spintax-generator produces the syntax Saleshandy expects. Subject-line variation is the highest-leverage anti-fingerprinting move.
- 8
Monitor deliverability ongoing
Run the Email Deliverability Test weekly to verify SPF/DKIM/DMARC stay passing. Watch Saleshandy's per-mailbox health indicators and bounce/spam-complaint rates. ColdRelay automatically monitors blocklists — you'll get an alert if any of your dedicated IPs hit a major blocklist (Spamhaus, Barracuda, SORBS, SpamCop). Pause any mailbox showing elevated bounces and investigate before resuming.
Note: ColdRelay's 95% inbox-placement guarantee is contingent on following the 2/day/mailbox cap. Exceeding the cap voids the guarantee, and Saleshandy makes it easy to accidentally push higher — double-check the per-mailbox limit on every new sequence.
Key Considerations for Saleshandy + ColdRelay
Daily send limits per mailbox
Set Saleshandy's per-mailbox daily limit to 2 outbound + 2 warmup = 4 total/day MAX. This is ColdRelay's optimal-deliverability cap. Going higher is the single biggest cause of mailbox burnout we see across customers. Scale total volume by adding more mailboxes — not by pushing existing ones harder.
Dedicated IPs end shared-IP risk
Each ColdRelay mailbox is on a dedicated IP within your isolated Azure tenant. On shared-infrastructure providers, your IP reputation is co-mingled with random other senders — bad actors on the same IP damage everyone's deliverability. With ColdRelay your IP reputation is entirely your own, which matters more as Saleshandy scales your volume across more mailboxes.
Use SMTP/IMAP, not OAuth, for ColdRelay mailboxes
Saleshandy supports Google and Outlook OAuth for personal accounts, but ColdRelay mailboxes should always be connected via the SMTP/IMAP path. The OAuth flows aren't designed for the multi-mailbox bulk-connect workflow that cold email infrastructure requires, and they don't expose the per-mailbox controls you need.
Saleshandy's warmup vs ColdRelay's reputation-ready mailboxes
ColdRelay's Azure tenant isolation plus dedicated IPs gives each mailbox a clean reputation from day one — no 2-3 week warmup wait. Saleshandy's built-in warmup is still valuable for the first 2 weeks to build positive engagement signals (opens, replies, not-spam marks), but you can begin live sequences right away rather than waiting.
Switching cost is low
If you decide Saleshandy isn't the right fit and want to switch to Instantly, Smartlead, EmailBison, or another sender later, your ColdRelay mailboxes work with any platform that supports custom SMTP/IMAP. You don't lose the infrastructure investment, and the per-mailbox credentials stay the same.
Domain-rotation strategy
ColdRelay caps each domain at 100-150 mailboxes for deliverability reasons. If you need 500+ mailboxes, you'll order multiple domains. Saleshandy handles multi-domain campaigns natively — assign mailboxes from each domain to separate sequences or sub-pools to spread risk and isolate domain-level reputation issues.
Pricing Snapshot
ColdRelay
ColdRelay's per-mailbox cost ranges from $1.00 (1-199 mailboxes) down to $0.55 (5,000+). Domain registration is $14/year, one-time. For 200 mailboxes: 200 × $0.85 = $170/month + $14 annual domain cost. The 50-mailbox minimum keeps the base infrastructure economically viable.
Saleshandy
Saleshandy's Outreach plans are tiered by prospect/email volume and seats. The entry Outreach plan starts in the ~$36/month range and covers a modest prospect count; Pro-level plans scale up to roughly $199/month for higher-volume teams. Mailbox rotation, warmup, and reply tracking are included across the paid tiers. Check saleshandy.com/pricing for current numbers — they update periodically.
Total monthly
A typical 200-mailbox cold email operation: ColdRelay infrastructure at ~$170/month + Saleshandy at a mid-tier plan = a few hundred dollars per month combined. At 1,000 mailboxes: ColdRelay $700/month + Saleshandy on a higher-volume plan. Compare against Google Workspace at $6+/mailbox/month: 200 GW mailboxes alone would be $1,200/month before Saleshandy's sender cost — ColdRelay turns that into a fraction of the spend.
Common Issues + Fixes
⚠ Saleshandy reports SMTP connection failed when adding a mailbox
The most common cause is DNS records not yet propagated. Run the Email Deliverability Test at coldrelay.com/tools/email-deliverability-test against the domain — if SPF, DKIM, DMARC, or MX is still resolving, wait up to 24 hours from ColdRelay provisioning and retry. If all four records pass but the connection still fails, double-check that SMTP port 587 is used with STARTTLS (not port 465 with implicit TLS) and that the SMTP host is the full box.YOURDOMAIN.com value from the CSV.
⚠ Mailbox connects but warmup never starts sending
Saleshandy's warmup needs to be toggled on per mailbox after the initial connection — it's a separate switch from the SMTP/IMAP setup. Go to Email Accounts → the specific mailbox → Email Warm-up, enable it, and set the daily warmup count to 2. If it's already enabled and still not sending, pause and re-enable warmup to force Saleshandy to rebuild the schedule.
⚠ Emails landing in spam at Gmail despite passing SPF/DKIM/DMARC
Run the Email Deliverability Test against the domain to confirm authentication is still passing. If it is, check Google Postmaster Tools for the domain's spam-rate and IP reputation. The most common post-authentication cause is exceeding the 2/day/mailbox cap in Saleshandy — double-check the per-mailbox daily limit hasn't been bumped up on any sequence. Subject-line patterns triggering spam filters is the second most common cause; use the Subject Line Generator to test alternatives.
⚠ Saleshandy's reply tracking shows no replies even though prospects are responding
Saleshandy polls IMAP on port 993 with SSL. Verify the IMAP credentials in the mailbox settings match the ColdRelay CSV — most commonly, the IMAP password is the same as the SMTP password but it can drift if a mailbox was reset. Use Saleshandy's Test Connection button to re-validate. If the connection passes but replies still don't surface, check Saleshandy's reply detection rules — overly aggressive auto-reply filters can hide real replies.
⚠ Inbox-placement test shows missing DKIM
ColdRelay's DKIM is on the domain's _dkim.YOURDOMAIN.com selector. If a third-party placement test reports missing DKIM, it usually means the test ran before DNS propagation completed. Wait 24 hours from provisioning and re-test. If still missing after a full day, contact ColdRelay support — a deliverability consultant is included at higher mailbox volumes and can confirm the records are in place at the registrar level.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need ColdRelay if I already have Saleshandy?
Saleshandy is a sending and engagement platform — it doesn't provide mailboxes or DNS. You need an infrastructure provider (ColdRelay, Google Workspace, etc.) underneath it. Many Saleshandy users start with Google Workspace mailboxes ($6+/mailbox/month) and switch to ColdRelay because the infrastructure is purpose-built for cold email at a fraction of the cost ($0.55-$1.00/mailbox).
Is ColdRelay better than Google Workspace for use with Saleshandy?
For cold email at any scale beyond a handful of mailboxes: yes. Google Workspace charges $6+/mailbox/month and shares some risk across all GW senders. ColdRelay charges $0.55-$1.00/mailbox/month, gives each customer a dedicated Azure tenant with dedicated IPs, and bakes SPF/DKIM/DMARC automation into provisioning. The infrastructure quality is closer to enterprise-grade at indie-tool prices, which makes scaling Saleshandy sequences past 100+ mailboxes economically viable.
How many mailboxes do I need to scale to my target send volume?
ColdRelay's per-mailbox cap is 2 outbound emails/day for optimal deliverability. So if you want to send 1,000 emails/day through Saleshandy, you need 500 mailboxes. The Mailbox Calculator at coldrelay.com/tools/mailbox-calculator lets you input your target volume and gives you the exact mailbox count plus pricing tier.
Can I connect ColdRelay mailboxes to Saleshandy via OAuth instead of SMTP/IMAP?
No — and you wouldn't want to. Saleshandy's OAuth flows are designed for personal Google or Outlook accounts. ColdRelay mailboxes are M365 mailboxes hosted on an isolated Azure tenant and are designed to connect via SMTP/IMAP, which is the standard for cold email infrastructure and exposes the per-mailbox controls (daily limits, rotation, warmup) that bulk-mailbox workflows need.
Will Saleshandy's warmup feature work properly with ColdRelay mailboxes?
Yes. Saleshandy's warmup network is provider-agnostic — it operates over standard SMTP/IMAP, which is exactly how ColdRelay mailboxes are connected. Enable warmup at 2 emails/day per mailbox after the initial connection and let it run for at least 2 weeks alongside live sequences. ColdRelay mailboxes ship reputation-ready, but warmup still builds positive engagement signals (opens, replies, not-spam marks) that help long-term inbox placement.
Will my Saleshandy sequences break if I switch to ColdRelay from another provider?
No. Switching infrastructure providers mid-campaign requires reconnecting each mailbox in Saleshandy (new SMTP/IMAP credentials), but sequence logic, follow-up cadence, prospect lists, and reporting stay intact. The transition takes a few minutes per mailbox. We recommend pausing active sequences during the swap to avoid deliverability blips while mailboxes are being reconnected.
What if Saleshandy's deliverability looks bad with my ColdRelay mailboxes?
That's almost always a campaign-content issue (subject lines triggering spam filters, link density too high, sender names looking off) rather than an infrastructure issue. ColdRelay's 95% inbox guarantee means the infrastructure is doing its job. Use the CAN-SPAM Checker at coldrelay.com/tools/can-spam-checker and the Subject Line Generator to validate campaign content. ColdRelay's deliverability consultant (included at higher mailbox volumes) can help diagnose persistent issues.