Free sample · Path 10 · Migadu + Cloudflare + Gumroad

Mailbox Week Guide — free sample chapter

Days 0–2 plus the real 550 outgoing-limit failure from Frontcountry’s Sep 9–10, 2026 run. Lived notes only — not a vendor brochure.

Our run (context)

What we actually stood up

Domain	frontcountrymt.com
DNS	Cloudflare nameservers
Mail	Migadu · desk@frontcountrymt.com
Org registered	2026-09-09 · trial window into late Sep
Pain day	2026-09-10 — SMTP 550 after outreach batches
Seller	Gumroad frontdesk3

If your stack differs, keep the sequence and swap the buttons. We do not invent deliverability scores.

Sample — Days 0–2

Day 0 — Cloudflare baseline

Domain on Cloudflare NS. Decide local-part (desk@ / hello@ / ops@).
Screenshot existing MX/TXT before edits.
Lived note: mail needs MX + TXT, not a live website. We ran desk@ while apex had no A/AAAA yet.
Don’t delete old Workspace MX until Migadu records are ready.

Day 1 — Add Migadu + publish DNS

Create Migadu org (trial is fine to learn — trial quotas are a subset of paid).
Add domain; copy Migadu’s MX/TXT/DKIM instructions verbatim into Cloudflare DNS.
Keep one SPF TXT — merge includes later; multiple SPFs break SPF.
Wait until Migadu shows the domain active.

Day 2 — Mailbox + IMAP/SMTP proof

Create desk@yourdomain; store password in a manager
IMAP imap.migadu.com — login OK
SMTP smtp.migadu.com:465 — AUTH OK
Self-send desk@ → desk@ must work
One external send to a personal inbox — check spam once

Lesson: Auth working ≠ permission to send externally when you’re over plan/trial outgoing limits.

Failure excerpt — why this guide exists

After Path 3 outreach batches on 2026-09-10:

550 5.7.1 Reached address outgoing limits for <desk@frontcountrymt.com>

Still worked: IMAP, SMTP AUTH, self-send. Died: external RCPT. Failed retries count toward usage — don’t hammer. Backup that saved the day: public contact forms with a short pitch ready before you need them.

Operator card stub (demo)

FROM: desk@yourdomain.com
IMAP: imap.migadu.com
SMTP: smtp.migadu.com:465
DNS: Cloudflare MX+TXT per Migadu (one SPF)
DAILY BUDGET: ___ external
IF 550: stop retries → forms only → one probe after rollover

What’s in the $19 full guide

Days 3–7 (paid)

Gumroad seller / support / reply-to hygiene
Warm external proof + budgeted first outreach
Trial vs paid outgoing tables (re-check live pricing)
Forms backup playbook when SMTP is capped
Retrospect + FAQ — honesty log, not inbox-zero promises

Buy full guide — $19 Full sales page $99 review add-on

Checkout live on Gumroad. No spam guarantees. No password requests.