How to configure your DNS settings?

Let’s continue with how to configure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records.

If you want to save yourself the trouble of doing this manually, we have a simple solution for you, let us take care of it!

1. SPF (Sender Policy Framework):

SPF is an email authentication method that detects and blocks spoofing.

Allows the domain owner to specify which mail servers are allowed to send email on behalf of their domain.

Configuration steps:

1. Step 1 – Create an SPF record: This is a TXT record in your domain’s DNS.
2. Step 2 – Specify allowed servers: In the SPF record, list the IP addresses or domains of the servers that are allowed to send emails to your domain.
3. Step 3 – Specify the Policy: This can be
   • all: Only servers listed in the SPF record can send emails.
   • ~All: Soft fail; emails from servers not listed in the SPF record may be delivered but flagged.
   • all: Allows all servers to send email (not recommended).

1. Step 4 – Verification by the receiving server: The receiving server will check the SPF record to ensure that the email is coming from an authorized server.

2. DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail):

DKIM is another authentication method that allows the recipient to check whether an email has actually been sent and authorized by the owner of that domain. To do this, the email simply needs to be digitally signed.

Configuration steps:

1. Step 1 – Generate a DKIM key: This usually involves creating a public-private key pair.
2. Step 2 – Publish the public key: The public key is added to your domain’s DNS records as a TXT record.
3. Step 3 – Sign emails with the private key: When you send an email, your email server will sign it with the private key.
4. Step 4 – Verification by the receiving server: The receiving server will use the public key (from the DNS record) to verify the email signature.

3. DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Notification, and Conformance):

DMARC is based on both SPF and DKIM. It allows the sender to specify how the recipient should treat emails that fail SPF or DKIM checks. It also provides a way for the recipient to inform the sender about emails that pass and/or fail DMARC evaluation.

Configuration steps:

1. Step 1 – Check SPF and DKIM: Make sure you have SPF and DKIM configured correctly.
2. Step 2 – Create a DMARC record: This TXT record is added to your domain’s DNS. It specifies the DMARC policy for your domain.
3. Step 3 – Specify the policy: The policy can be
   • none: Take no specific action; just gather information.
   • quarantine: Place suspicious emails in the spam/junk folder.
   • reject: Directly reject suspicious emails.
4. Step 4 – Receive Reports: DMARC allows domain owners to obtain reports from ISPs on the authentication status of emails sent from their domain.

4. Email Warm-Up:

When you use a new domain to send multiple emails at once, ESPs will quickly notice and trigger your spam filters.

This is where email warm-up comes in . Email warm-up involves gradually increasing the number of emails sent to establish a positive sender reputation over time.

We talked about this at length in our article on campaign deliverability, so be sure to check it out:

5. Monitor reputation:

One of the key factors of email deliverability is your sender reputation.

DNS settings Think of it as a score that evaluates how reliable and trustworthy your emails are. It takes into account several factors like your bounce rate , spam complaints, engagement levels, and how long they’ve been with your domain. Basically everything we’ve been talking about so far.

A strong sender reputation is your ticket to staying off ESP blacklists and spam filters, and increases your chances of landing directly in your recipients’ inboxes.