When you’re using email marketing platforms like MailChimp, Active Campaign, Infusionsoft (Keap), Hubspot, etc… it’s important to setup the necessary domain validation records to ensure your emails having the best chance of getting in your contact’s inbox.
There domain validation records need to be updated in your registrars DNS zone settings. The validation records typically include the…
- SPF Record
- DKIM Record
- DMARC Record
Each of these will records should be provided by your email marketing platform in your settings or advanced settings. In my email platform, I entered my domain name that I was sending emails from and it generated the records based on the domain name.
Some email platforms have additional records that also need to be added.
Each of these records need their own TXT record created or modified in your DNS settings.
These records could be located in one of two places:
- They could be with your registrar / domain manager (like Go Daddy)
- They could be managed with your hosting provider (like BlueHost or Siteground)
Where do I find these records?
Start with your domain registrar (I use Go Daddy). Log into your account and look for the DNS Manager. If you have never modified your Name ServerI for your domain, the DNS settings will be with your domain registrar. If you have modified your Name Server’s record for your domain, then all your DNS records will be managed with your hosting provider.
Personally, I update my Name Servers to point to my hosting provider. I’m logged into my hosting platform more than I am with domain registrar.
Once logged into your hosting provider, log into your cPanel.
On your cPanel dashboard, look for Advanced DNS Zone Editor.
Before you start editing any records, it can’t hurt to do a quick search (control F for PCs or command F for Macs) to make sure there aren’t any existing records. You can only have one record for each.
Modifying your SPF Record
If you need to modify a record, it’ll likely be the SPF record.
According to Google, the SPF record stands for Sender Policy Framework record. It’s used to indicate to mail exchanges which hosts are authorized to send mail for a domain.
Well, there you have it, straight from Google.
If there is an existing SPF record, it often starts with v=spf1.
Once you find it, copy it and paste it for safe keeping for a few minutes (just in case you mess something up).
I’ve modified my SPF record with wrong information but here’s an example of what it looks like with multiple records…
v=spf1 +a +mx +ip4:38.308.12.111 +a:ns1.us.siteground.us +include:_spf.mailspamprotection.com +include:activecampaign.com ~all
Before I added my Active Campaign SPF record, my SPF record looked like this:
v=spf1 +a +mx +ip4:38.308.12.111 +a:ns1.us.siteground.us +include:_spf.mailspamprotection.com ~all
When you add records to your SPF, you typically update it with “+include:” and then the record.
I recommend always checking your SPF records after making the updates. MxToolBox has worked great for me when performing this check – https://mxtoolbox.com/spf.aspx
Now let’s add the DKIM record
Your DKIM record (Domain Keys Identified Mail) 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. This is done by giving the email a digital signature.
Your DKIM record should be provided by your email marketing platform. It usually has something like “dk._domainkey” in the name field and the record starts with v=dkim10928…lots more numbers….etc
Some email marketing platforms have more TXT records than others. Most of the time there is a verify button that let’s you know if the records were added correctly (thank goodness).
Once you have these complete, you’re in the clear and your emails will be much closer to reaching the inbox folder.
