Before We Get Started
Let’s get you familiar with a few terms to make things easier.
| SPF | Sender Policy Framework (SPF) is an email-authentication technique which is used to prevent spammers from sending messages on behalf of your domain. |
| DKIM | Domain Keys Identified Mail (DKIM) is an email authentication technique that allows the receiver to check that an email was indeed sent and authorized by the owner of that domain. |
| DMARC | Domain-based Message Authentication Reporting and Conformance (DMARC) is an email validation system designed to protect your domain from being used for email spoofing, phishing scams and other cybercrimes. |
| DNS | Domain Name System (DNS) is a naming database in which internet domain names are located and translated into Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. The domain name system maps the name people use to locate a website to the IP address that a computer uses to locate that website. |
| Domain | Your domain name. For example, your website address is your domain name (yourwebsite.com) |
| Registrar | The company you purchased your domain name from. Can also be your hosting provider. |
| Hosting Provider | The company with which you host/store your website files. For example: GoDaddy, AWS, 1AND1, BlueHost, HostGator, Digital Ocean, etc. |
| Email Provider | The company with which you have your email address. For example: Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook, iCloud, Office365, Hotmail.com, etc. |
| SSL | Secure Socket Layer (SSL) certificates are used to secure your website traffic (https:// vs. http://) |
| IP | Internet Protocol (IP) address. For example, 172.16.254.1. Each computer and server in the world connected to the internet has a unique IP address. |
| ESP | Email Service Provider (GMail, Yahoo, Outlook, Apple Mail, etc.) |
| ISP | Internet Service Provider (Verizon, AT&T, Comcast, Bell, Videotron, Google Fiber, etc.) |
| CAN-SPAM | The CAN-SPAM Act is a law that sets the rules for commercial email, establishes requirements for commercial messages, gives recipients the right to have you stop emailing them, and spells out penalties for violations. |
| GDPR | General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a regulation in EU law on data protection and privacy in the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA). |
| Transactional Email | Email sent from one sender to one recipient, usually related to account activity or a commercial transaction. Examples include password reminder emails, purchase confirmations, and personalized product notifications. |
| Outbound Marketing | An outbound email is any email advertising your company sends out to potential customers who didn’t request the email. Commonly known as cold email marketing. |
| Inbound Marketing | An inbound email is any email advertising your company sends out to potential customers who previously subscribed to receive email communication. Commonly known as newsletter marketing. |
Authentication (5 tasks) 🔗
Properly configured email authentication is the first step to improving deliverability and open rates.
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An SPF record allows you to define which IP addresses are allowed to send email from your domain. Answer the questions below to generate an SPF record.
Now let’s setup your SPF record by creating a TXT record for your domain. Below are general step-by-step instructions on how to add a TXT record. The process will be similar for most domain registrar companies and hosting providers with some small differences.
- Log into your Account
- Navigate to the Domains page
- You should see a list of all your domains; click on the domain
- Click on DNS or Edit DNS
- Then click on Host Records or Edit Host Records
- Now you will have the option to create a new record
- For the record Type select TXT
- For the Host/Name field enter the @ character or your domain (example.com), both are acceptable
- For the Content/Value field copy and paste the SPF record we generated for you
- For the TTL field leave it as-is to use the default value
- Click Save to complete your updates (allow up to 48 hours for your DNS changes to take full effect globally)
If these instructions are not clear enough, select instructions for some of the most popular domain registrars and hosting providers.
- Log in to your GoDaddy Domain Control Center
- Select your domain to access the Domain Settings page
- Under Additional Settings, select Manage DNS
- Select ADD below the table of your existing DNS records
- Choose TXT from the record options drop down menu
- For the Host field enter the @ character or your domain (example.com), both are accepted
- For the TTL field enter 1440
- For the TXT Value field paste the SPF record we generated for you
- Select Save to complete your updates (allow up to 48 hours for your DNS changes to take full effect globally)
- Sign in to your BlueHost account
- On the left side of your screen click Domains
- Next to the domain you’re setting up, click the Manage down arrow and select DNS
- Scroll to the TXT (Text) section and click Add record
- For Host Record, enter @
- For TXT Value, paste the SPF record we generated for you
- For the TTL, leave the default value of 4 hours
- Click Save
- Sign in to your CloudFlare account
- Select the domain you wish to setup
- Click on the DNS tab
- Click on Add Record
- For Type select TXT
- For Name enter the @ character
- For TTL, leave it on Auto
- For the Content field paste the SPF record we generated for you
- Click Save
- Once saved, switch the Proxy Status to DNS only
- Log in to your account in the DigitalOcean DNS Panel
- Click on the domain you want to modify
- Click the Add Record button
- Select the TXT record type
- Type your subdomain or @ (to indicate your current domain name) in the first field
- Paste the SPF record we generated for you in the second field
- Click on the Create button to save all the modifications you did on the page
- Sign in to your eNom account
- In the header, under Domains, click My Domains
- On the My Domain page, select the domain name that you’re verifying
- In the Manage Domain drop-down list, choose Host Records
- On the Edit Host Records page, if there is not already a blank row, click the + new row button to add a new host record row.
- In the new row, set the Host Name field to the name of your subdomain (e.g. “mail” if your email address is [email protected]), or leave it blank if you do not use a subdomain
- Select TXT from the Record Type drop-down menu
- Paste the SPF record we generated for you in the Address field
- Click the save button
- Log in to your Account Manager
- Click Domains on the menu bar at the top of the page
- Click the Domain Name that you wish to manage. If you only have one domain, you will automatically be redirected to its management page
- Scroll down to the DNS Settings section and click the Hamburger Menu on the right, then select Add Record (or to update an existing record: hover your cursor over the TXT Record and click the Modify option that appears on its right)
- Select TXT Record from the drop-down menu, then click the Add button
- Enter the Sub Domain if necessary, followed by the Text Record in the corresponding fields
- Click Update
- Log in to your IONOS account
- For the desired domain, click on the gear symbol under Actions and select DNS
- Click Add Record and select TXT under Type
- In the Host name field, type the @ character
- In the Value field, paste the SPF record we generated for you
- Click Save, the TXT record has now been added
- Log in to your Namecheap account
- Choose Domain List on the left and click on the Manage button next to your domain
- Navigate to the Advanced DNS tab from the top menu and click on the Add new record button
- Select TXT Record for Type, paste the SPF record we generated for you into the Value field and for the Host field enter the @ character or your domain (example.com)
- Click on the Save all changes button. Normally, it takes 30 minutes for newly created host records to take effect.
- Log in to your DreamHost account
- On the left menu, click on the Manage Domains link
- Click on the DNS link below your desired domain
- For Name enter your subdomain or leave this field empty if you want the SPF to be applied to your main domain
- For Type select the TXT record type
- For Value paste the SPF record we generated for you
- Click on the Add Record Now! button
- Log in to your HostGator account
- On the Dashboard, click Launch cPanel
- Scroll down to the Domains section and click Advanced Zone Editor
- Open the instructions for the TXT record you want to add to your domain’s DNS records
- Under Add a Record, from the Type list, select TXT
- In the Name field, enter your domain name (which looks like mydomain.com)
- In the TTL field, enter 3600
- In the TXT Data field, paste the SPF record we generated for you
- Click Add Record. The new TXT record now appears in the Zone File Records table.
- Log in to your Hostinger account
- In the header, click on Domains
- Next to the domain click on Manage
- Scroll down to the Advanced section and click on DNS Zone Editor
- Chose which domain’s DNS Zone you wish to manage
- Right on top of DNS Zone Editor, you will see a section for adding a new record
- For the Type dropdown select TXT
- For the Name field enter the @ character
- For the Content or Value field paste the SPF record we generated for you
- Once you’re done click on Add Record
- Log in to your HostMonster account
- Go to the Domains menu at the top and click the Zone Editor sub menu
- Select your domain name from the drop-down
- Scroll to Add DNS Record at the top of the Zone Editor
- For the Name field type your domain name (example.com)
- For the TTL field enter 14400
- For the Type dropdown select TXT
- For the TXT Value field paste the SPF record we generated for you
- Click Add Record
