How to send from a VPS server (paid by the hour) massmailing?

I would like to send massmailing from a VPS server (paid by the hour).

These will be query emails, I am interested in bounces in case after sending it turns out that the mailing address does not exist (hard bounce). Based on this, I would like to filter out emails from my database that no longer exist.

The end result is to send queries in one go and get bounces to the address in the "Return-Path" header.

All the paid services like Mailgun, Mailchimp, etc. are too expensive considering the volumes I want to send in a short period of time.

I was told that the cheapest way would be a VPS paid by the hour with a SMTP server set up., however, I have some doubts:
- If I get flagged as a spammer (and I'm sure I will after some time), will I still be able to get bounces to the address in the "Return-Path" header despite the reduced effectiveness of the queries? Do SMTP servers send bounces if they come from a "spammer"?
- What is the easiest way to put an SMTP server on such a VPS server and hook up a domain to it? (assuming, for example, that ubuntu is running on the server). Are there any ready-made scripts for this? I would like to automate the whole setup somehow.

M9MMM said:

I would like to send massmailing from a VPS server (paid by the hour).

These will be query emails, I am interested in bounces in case after sending it turns out that the mailing address does not exist (hard bounce). Based on this, I would like to filter out emails from my database that no longer exist.

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Bad idea is to use VPS because for most of VPS you cant add more than a few IPs and you need a lot of them to avoid being flagged.

M9MMM said:

The end result is to send queries in one go and get bounces to the address in the "Return-Path" header.

Click to expand...

Most of mail servers will know exactly what you are doing and will ban you quite fast.

M9MMM said:

I was told that the cheapest way would be a VPS paid by the hour with a SMTP server set up., however, I have some doubts:

Click to expand...

You do not need smtp to just query mail servers to see if recipients are there.

M9MMM said:

- If I get flagged as a spammer (and I'm sure I will after some time)

Click to expand...

You are right, no if in this case.

M9MMM said:

, will I still be able to get bounces to the address in the "Return-Path" header despite the reduced effectiveness of the queries? Do SMTP servers send bounces if they come from a "spammer"?

Click to expand...

No, they block you and no queries will be possible.

M9MMM said:

- What is the easiest way to put an SMTP server on such a VPS server and hook up a domain to it? (assuming, for example, that ubuntu is running on the server). Are there any ready-made scripts for this? I would like to automate the whole setup somehow.

Click to expand...

You do not need SMTP server to make this work, even a PHP script can work to communicate with mail servers and query them.

It was quite a long time ago when I built this kind of project but I remember that the biggest challenge is that you will need a lot of IPs to handle large volume of emails.

Problem with VPS is not the VPS itself but the domain you use + the IP you use. If you do a good job with such VPS + unique ID, doing all the tasks that are require to warm up such server, then it will serve you long-term. But 99% of the time, it's better to purchase a mass mailing service and abide to their TOS the best you can. If you are playing with fire, then start purchasing VPS and test yourself to see if you can make it work over the time. This is more a experience than a science.

No cloud services are designed for mass mailing some block mailing ports on default.

See bounce is a common thing for that only we will use bounce handlers and you have so many free bounce handlers on internet.

Big mailing companies cannot allow any cold mailing

There are no shortcuts or cheap ways to pull this on automate.

Good luck

To send mass mailings from a VPS server paid by the hour, follow these steps:

1. Choose a reliable and reputable email delivery service that allows bulk email sending.
2. Set up your VPS server with the necessary software, such as an email server (e.g., Postfix) and an email client (e.g., Sendmail).
3. Configure your email server to handle bulk mailings efficiently, ensuring proper authentication and compliance with email protocols.
4. Prepare your mailing list, ensuring it is opt-in and complies with anti-spam regulations.
5. Use an email management software or script to automate the process, including mail merging and personalization.
6. Schedule your mailings during off-peak hours to avoid peak server usage and potential billing spikes.
7. Monitor the delivery and performance of your email campaigns, making adjustments as needed.
8. Optimize your email content, subject lines, and sender reputation to improve deliverability and response rates.
9. Regularly review and update your mailing list to maintain its quality and ensure engagement.

Remember to comply with relevant laws and regulations, respect recipients' privacy, and avoid spamming practices.

Cloud services not good for mailing , can block all spam