Advanced DNS for Email Deliverability: A Setup Guide

Configuring advanced DNS records for optimal email deliverability.

Think of your domain’s DNS settings as its official passport. When you send an email, inbox providers like Gmail and Outlook act as border control, checking your credentials before letting your message through. The basic stamps—SPF, DKIM, and DMARC—get you past the first checkpoint, proving you are who you say you are. But for those sending at scale, basic validation isn't enough. To truly secure your passage to the primary inbox and protect your brand from impersonators, you need to go further. This guide will walk you through the essentials and then explore the strategies for advanced DNS for email deliverability that separate the pros from the amateurs.

Key Takeaways

Prioritize the "Big Three" Authentication Records: Setting up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC is the most critical step for email deliverability. Together, they act as your domain's official ID, proving your emails are legitimate and serving as your first line of defense against the spam folder.
Make DNS Maintenance a Routine: Your DNS setup isn't a "set it and forget it" task. As you add new email tools or services, your records must be updated. Schedule regular audits to catch errors and analyze DMARC reports to ensure your legitimate emails are always authenticated correctly.
Use Subdomains to Protect Your Sender Reputation: As you scale, sending all email from your main domain is risky. Isolate your marketing, sales, and transactional emails on separate subdomains so that a reputation issue with one stream doesn't damage the deliverability of your others.

What is DNS? (And Why It Matters for Your Emails)

Think of the Domain Name System, or DNS, as the internet’s phone book. When you type a website like scaledmail.com into your browser, DNS is the system that looks it up and connects you to the right server. It translates the easy-to-remember domain name into a numerical IP address that computers understand. Without it, we’d all have to memorize long strings of numbers just to check our favorite sites.

But DNS does a lot more than just direct web traffic. For anyone running email campaigns, it’s one of the most critical pieces of your entire setup. Your DNS settings hold the keys to your email deliverability, acting as a public record that verifies your identity to the world. It’s how you prove to receiving mail servers—like Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo—that you are who you say you are.

Properly configured DNS helps your emails get to the right place and protects your domain from being used for online threats like spoofing and phishing. When you send an email, the recipient's server performs a quick background check by looking at your DNS records. This check confirms that the email is legitimate and authorized by you. For marketers and businesses relying on email outreach, a solid understanding of DNS isn't just a technical detail; it's the foundation of a successful email strategy.

How DNS and Email Work Together

So, how does this "background check" actually happen? Your domain's DNS settings aren't just a single entry; they're a collection of different records, each with a specific job. Several of these records are designed specifically for email. When you send a message, the receiving server queries your DNS to find these email authentication records. It’s looking for proof that your sending platform—whether it's ScaledMail, Google Workspace, or another service—has your permission to send emails on your behalf.

By setting up the appropriate DNS records, you establish trust with email providers. This simple act of verification is what separates you from spammers and phishers. It reduces the likelihood of your carefully crafted messages ending up in the spam folder. Think of it as giving mailbox providers a reliable way to vouch for you, making them far more confident about delivering your emails to the inbox.

The Direct Link Between DNS and Inbox Placement

Let’s be direct: your DNS configuration has a massive impact on your inbox placement. A well-configured set of DNS records—specifically SPF, DKIM, and DMARC—is your first line of defense against the spam folder. These records work together to build a strong wall of authentication around your domain, which minimizes the risk of spoofing, phishing attacks, and spam classification. When mailbox providers see these records are correctly in place, they see a sender who takes security and legitimacy seriously.

This verification directly improves your sender reputation, which is the score mailbox providers use to judge how trustworthy you are. A higher reputation means your emails are more likely to land in the inbox. Without these DNS records, you’re essentially sending with an anonymous identity, making it easy for your messages to be flagged as suspicious. Getting this right is a non-negotiable step for achieving great deliverability.

The "Big Three" DNS Records for Email Authentication

Think of email authentication as your domain's digital ID card. When you send an email, receiving servers like Gmail and Outlook check this ID to verify that you are who you say you are. Without it, your messages look suspicious and are far more likely to land in the spam folder or get blocked entirely. This verification process relies on three key DNS records: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. They work together to build your sender reputation and protect your brand from being used by scammers.

Setting up these records is non-negotiable for anyone serious about email outreach. They are the foundation of good deliverability, acting as a technical handshake between your sending platform and the recipient's inbox. Each one plays a distinct role in proving your legitimacy. SPF declares which servers are authorized to send email on your behalf. DKIM adds a digital signature to your messages to prove they haven't been altered. And DMARC tells receiving servers what to do if an email fails these checks. Getting this trio right is one of the most impactful things you can do to ensure your emails consistently reach the inbox and that your domain remains in good standing with major email providers.

SPF: Who's Allowed to Send Your Emails?

SPF, or Sender Policy Framework, is essentially a public list of all the services you’ve approved to send emails from your domain. Think of it as the official guest list for your domain's party. This TXT record lives in your DNS settings and tells receiving mail servers, "Hey, if you get an email from my domain, it should only come from one of these servers—like Google Workspace, or an email platform like ScaledMail." This simple check makes it much harder for spammers to impersonate you, as their unauthorized servers won't be on your list. It’s your first line of defense in proving your emails are legitimate.

DKIM: Sealing Your Emails with a Digital Signature

If SPF is your guest list, DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) is the tamper-proof seal on every message you send. It adds a unique, encrypted digital signature to the email's header that’s connected to your domain. When the email arrives, the recipient's server uses a public key stored in your DNS to verify this signature. If the signature is valid, it confirms two things: that the email genuinely came from your domain and that its content wasn't altered in transit. This process builds a layer of trust and is a critical signal that helps you avoid the spam folder.

DMARC: Setting the Rules for Your Domain

DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance) is the enforcer that ties SPF and DKIM together. It’s a DNS record that tells receiving servers exactly what to do with emails that fail either the SPF or DKIM checks. You can set a policy to have those emails monitored, sent to quarantine (spam), or rejected outright. But DMARC’s real power lies in its reporting function. It sends you detailed reports about who is sending email from your domain, helping you spot unauthorized use and troubleshoot deliverability issues. Implementing a DMARC policy gives you control over your domain’s reputation and visibility into your email ecosystem.

How to Set Up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC for Better Deliverability

You understand the "what" and "why" of SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. Now for the fun part: getting them set up correctly. This process might seem technical, but it's really just about adding a few specific text records to your domain's DNS settings. Think of it as giving clear instructions to the internet's mail carriers. Getting these details right is the difference between your emails landing in the inbox versus the spam folder. Let's walk through it step-by-step.

Nail Your SPF Syntax (and Dodge the 10-Lookup Limit)

This one is all about syntax. Your SPF record is a simple TXT record in your DNS that lists all the services authorized to send email for you. If you don't have one yet, you'll add a new record. For example, if you use a service like SendGrid, it might look like this: v=spf1 mx include:sendgrid.net ~all. The most important rule? You can only have one SPF record. If you already have one, don't add a second. Instead, you'll need to edit your existing record to include the new service before the ~all part. This helps you stay under the 10 DNS lookup limit, a common tripwire that can cause deliverability issues.

Generate and Split DKIM Keys Like a Pro

Think of DKIM as a tamper-proof seal on your emails. Your email service provider will give you a DKIM key to add to your DNS. For top-notch security, always opt for 2048-bit keys if you have the choice. Before you go live, use a DKIM validation tool to double-check that everything is configured correctly. When it's time to update or change keys (a good security practice!), don't just swap the old one out. Instead, create a new DNS record with a new "selector." This lets you transition smoothly without interrupting email flow. You can keep the old key active for a day or two to be safe.

Roll Out Your DMARC Policy Without Breaking Things

DMARC is powerful, so you want to roll it out carefully to avoid accidentally blocking your own legitimate emails. The best approach is to start with a "monitoring-only" policy. In your DMARC TXT record, set the policy to p=none. This tells email providers to just send you reports on emails that fail authentication, without actually quarantining or rejecting them. After you've monitored the reports and are confident that your legitimate mail is passing, you can tighten the policy to p=quarantine. The final step is moving to p=reject, which tells servers to block unauthenticated mail outright. This phased implementation is the safest way to protect your domain.

Set Up Alignment and Analyze Your DMARC Reports

The real magic of DMARC happens with alignment. This simply means checking that the domain in your "From:" address (the one your recipients see) matches the domains authenticated by your SPF and DKIM records. This is what stops scammers from spoofing your brand. Once your DMARC record is live, you'll start getting reports. These can be dense, but they contain invaluable information about who is sending email from your domain. Using a DMARC report analyzer can help you make sense of the data, spot unauthorized senders, and confirm that your authentication setup is working perfectly to protect your sender reputation.

Common DNS Hurdles (And How to Clear Them)

Getting your initial DNS records in place is a huge win, but the work doesn’t stop there. Think of it like planting a garden—the initial setup is crucial, but ongoing care is what ensures a great harvest (or in this case, great deliverability). Several common tripwires can undermine your efforts, from confusing technical details to the simple fact that your business and its tools will change over time. Let’s walk through the most frequent challenges you’ll face and, more importantly, how to handle them so your emails keep landing where they belong: the inbox.

Cutting Through the Technical Jargon

Let's be honest: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC sound more like government agencies than email tools. It’s easy to get lost in the alphabet soup, but these email authentication protocols are the foundation of your sender reputation. They prove to inbox providers that you are who you say you are. A simple typo or a misconfigured record can cause legitimate emails to be flagged as spam or blocked entirely. The key is to treat these records with care. Double-check your syntax, use validation tools to confirm everything is correct, and don’t be afraid to read up on the fundamentals. Understanding what each record does makes troubleshooting much less intimidating.

Juggling Multiple Email Services and Their Limits

Most businesses use a mix of tools to send email—one for marketing newsletters, another for transactional receipts, and perhaps a third for sales outreach. Every single one of these services needs to be properly authorized in your DNS records. This is where many people run into the SPF 10-lookup limit. It’s also a common myth that authentication only matters for marketing sends. In reality, every email sent from your domain contributes to your reputation. That’s why ongoing monitoring and adjustments are necessary. As you add or remove sending services, you’ll need to update your DNS records to reflect those changes accurately.

The Ongoing Work: Key Rotation and Maintenance

A healthy DNS setup is not a "set it and forget it" project. It requires regular maintenance to stay effective and secure. For DKIM, this means rotating your keys periodically to protect against them being compromised. For DMARC, the real work begins after the initial setup. You’ll start with a p=none policy, which just monitors your email streams. But the goal is to be more proactive. By analyzing your DMARC reports, you can confidently start advancing your policy to p=quarantine (which sends unauthenticated mail to spam) and ultimately p=reject (which blocks it completely). This active management is what turns DMARC from a simple reporting tool into a powerful shield for your brand.

Level Up Your DNS Game: Advanced Techniques

Once you’ve mastered the fundamentals of SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, you’ve built a solid foundation for your email deliverability. But why stop there? If you’re serious about scaling your outreach and protecting your brand, it’s time to explore some advanced DNS techniques. Think of these as the pro-level tools that take your email strategy from good to great. They add powerful layers of security, brand recognition, and organization that not only improve inbox placement but also make your life easier as you manage more complex campaigns.

These next steps aren't just about ticking boxes; they're about creating a more resilient and professional email presence. We'll cover how to neatly organize your different email types to protect your reputation, how to get your logo to show up directly in your recipients' inboxes, and how to add an extra layer of security to ensure your messages travel safely. We’ll even look at a clever way to simplify your DNS records. Taking the time to implement these strategies will set you apart and give you a significant edge in reaching the inbox.

Use Subdomains to Organize Your Email Streams

Think of your main domain as your corporate headquarters. You wouldn't run your marketing, sales, and customer support operations out of the same single room, right? The same logic applies to your email. Sending all your messages—transactional, marketing, and cold outreach—from the same domain is risky. A dip in reputation from one email stream can drag everything else down with it.

By using subdomains, you can create separate, dedicated channels for each type of email (e.g., updates.yourdomain.com or offers.yourdomain.com). Each subdomain builds its own sender reputation. This means if your marketing campaign gets a few spam complaints, it won’t tarnish the reputation of your critical transactional emails. You’ll need to authenticate each subdomain with its own SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records, which allows you to monitor their performance individually for more targeted optimizations.

Get Your Logo in the Inbox with BIMI

In a crowded inbox, visual recognition is everything. BIMI (Brand Indicators for Message Identification) is a DNS record that allows you to display your company’s logo right next to your message in the recipient's inbox. It’s a powerful way to build immediate trust and brand recall, encouraging more opens. When subscribers see your familiar logo, they know the email is legitimately from you, which can significantly improve engagement.

However, BIMI is like a reward for good behavior. To use it, you must first have a strict DMARC policy in place (p=quarantine or p=reject). This proves to mailbox providers like Gmail and Yahoo that you’re serious about preventing spoofing. Once you’ve established strong authentication, setting up BIMI is the final touch that makes your brand stand out professionally.

Secure Your Email Delivery with MTA-STS and TLS-RPT

While SPF, DKIM, and DMARC authenticate you as the sender, they don’t protect the email’s journey from one server to another. That’s where MTA-STS and TLS-RPT come in. Think of them as creating a secure, armored tunnel for your emails to travel through. MTA-STS (Mail Transfer Agent Strict Transport Security) is a protocol that tells receiving mail servers to only accept your emails over an encrypted TLS connection. This prevents man-in-the-middle attacks where an attacker could intercept and read or alter your emails in transit.

Complementing this is TLS-RPT (TLS Reporting), which sends you reports if your emails couldn't be delivered over a secure connection. These reports help you diagnose and fix potential security vulnerabilities in your email delivery path. Together, they enforce email encryption and give you the visibility needed to keep your communications secure.

Optimize Your Setup with CNAME Flattening

As your business grows, your DNS records can become complex, especially when you’re using multiple third-party services that all want a piece of your domain. Normally, DNS rules prevent you from placing a CNAME record at your root domain (yourdomain.com) if you have other records there, like MX records for your email. This can create headaches when a service requires you to point your root domain to them.

CNAME flattening is a feature offered by some DNS providers that cleverly works around this limitation. It allows you to use a CNAME at the root level, and the provider resolves it to an IP address behind the scenes. This simplifies your DNS management by letting you point your root domain where it needs to go without breaking your email setup. It’s a clean, efficient way to keep your DNS records tidy and functional as you scale.

How to Monitor and Troubleshoot Your DNS Records

Setting up your DNS records is a huge step, but the work doesn't stop there. Think of it like planting a garden—you can't just walk away and expect it to thrive. You need to check on it regularly to catch problems before they get out of hand. DNS records are not static; they can break or become misconfigured for all sorts of reasons, from a simple typo during an update to a change made by one of your email service providers. This is where proactive monitoring becomes your secret weapon for maintaining high deliverability and protecting your domain reputation. Without it, you're flying blind. A single misconfiguration can lead to widespread delivery failures that tank your campaign results and damage the trust you've built with your audience. When a record is misconfigured, your emails might start landing in spam or, worse, get rejected entirely. You might not even know it's happening until your open rates plummet and you're left scrambling to figure out why. The good news is that you don't have to be a DNS expert to stay on top of this. There are some fantastic tools and straightforward processes that make troubleshooting much more approachable, turning a potentially daunting task into a manageable and empowering routine.

Must-Have Tools for Validating Your DNS

You don’t need to be a DNS wizard to check if your records are set up correctly. There are plenty of free tools that do the heavy lifting for you. My go-to is MXToolBox, which gives you a comprehensive check-up on your SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records all in one place. Another great one is Mail Tester; it gives you a quick score on how "spammy" your email looks and points out any DNS issues that might be hurting you. For a deeper look at your DMARC data, Dmarcian is fantastic for translating those cryptic reports into actionable insights. Keeping these tools bookmarked will save you a ton of time and help you quickly diagnose any potential problems.

How to Read DMARC Reports (Without Getting a Headache)

Let’s be honest: DMARC reports can look like a jumble of code sent from a robot. But once you know what you’re looking for, they’re incredibly valuable. These reports are essentially feedback from mail servers telling you how your emails are being authenticated. The best way to start is by setting your DMARC policy to p=none. This "monitoring mode" lets you see which emails are passing or failing SPF and DKIM checks without actually rejecting them. Once you've analyzed the reports and are confident that all your legitimate mail is authenticating properly, you can gradually advance your DMARC policy to quarantine and eventually reject to block spoofing attempts.

Spotting Errors Before They Cause Delivery Failures

The biggest mistake you can make with DNS is treating it as a "set it and forget it" task. A tiny syntax error or a misaligned "From:" address can cause your emails to be flagged as spam or blocked entirely. These are often silent killers of deliverability. For example, you might have an SPF record that looks fine but has an invisible failure because of a misconfiguration somewhere down the line. Regular check-ups with the tools I mentioned earlier are your best defense. By making DNS validation a routine part of your email marketing workflow, you can catch these common setup mistakes before they ever impact your sender reputation or the performance of your campaigns.

Avoid These DNS Mistakes That Kill Deliverability

Setting up your DNS records is a huge step, but a few common slip-ups can derail your deliverability and leave you wondering why your emails are landing in spam. Think of your DNS records as the foundation of your email program—if there are cracks, the whole structure is at risk. Getting these details right from the start saves you from major headaches down the road. Let’s walk through the most frequent mistakes so you can steer clear of them and keep your campaigns on track.

Minding Your P's and Q's: Syntax and Formatting Errors

DNS records are incredibly picky about formatting. A single misplaced comma, an extra space, or a typo can invalidate the entire record. Because this is code, not prose, there’s no room for error. Misconfigured SPF, DKIM, or DMARC records can cause receiving servers to flag your emails as spam, block them entirely, or even open the door for attackers to spoof your domain. Before you publish any record, double- and triple-check it. You can use a DNS validation tool to scan for common syntax errors and ensure everything is formatted perfectly. It’s a simple step that prevents a world of trouble.

The Danger of Incomplete Setups and Conflicting Policies

Setting up SPF and DKIM is great, but stopping there leaves a critical gap in your defenses. DMARC is the record that ties them together and tells mail servers what to do with unauthenticated mail. Unlike SPF and DKIM, which can cause immediate delivery issues when misconfigured, DMARC problems often go unnoticed, leaving your domain vulnerable while giving you a false sense of security. An incomplete setup or conflicting policies—like an SPF record that doesn't include a service you’re using—sends mixed signals. Ensure all three records are in place and that they work in alignment to present a unified, trustworthy front to inbox providers.

Why "Set It and Forget It" Doesn't Work for DNS

There's a common misconception that once you’ve configured SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, you’re done. But email authentication is not a set-it-and-forget-it task. Your email infrastructure is dynamic. Every time you add a new email service provider, marketing tool, or third-party sender, your DNS records need to be updated to authorize them. Forgetting to add a new service to your SPF record is a classic mistake that leads to legitimate emails failing authentication. Ongoing monitoring and adjustments are necessary to keep your DNS records accurate and effective. Treat your DNS setup as a living document that evolves with your business.

How to Manage Your DNS as You Scale

Setting up your DNS records is a huge first step, but it’s not a one-and-done task. As your email volume grows and your strategy evolves, your DNS management needs to keep pace. Think of it less like a one-time task and more like ongoing maintenance for a high-performance engine. A little bit of attention goes a long way in keeping your emails landing in the inbox, protecting your brand, and ensuring your outreach efforts pay off. Let’s walk through how to build a DNS strategy that grows with you.

Keep Your DNS Healthy with Regular Audits

Your DNS records are the foundation of your email deliverability, so you can’t afford to let them get dusty. A record that was perfect six months ago might need a tweak today, especially if you’ve added new email services or changed vendors. That’s why regular DNS audits are non-negotiable. Scheduling a quarterly check-in to validate your SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records ensures everything is still working as intended. Properly configured records are essential for optimizing email deliverability, and treating them as a "set it and forget it" task is a common mistake. Ongoing monitoring and adjustments are necessary to keep your authentication strong and your sender reputation intact.

Handle High-Volume Campaigns with a Solid DNS Strategy

When you’re sending thousands (or millions) of emails, your DNS strategy needs to be rock-solid. One of the best ways to manage high volume is to segment your email traffic using subdomains. For example, you can use one subdomain for marketing blasts and another for transactional receipts. This isolates the reputation of each email stream. It's critical to assign different subdomains for these purposes and authenticate each one with its own SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records. As you gain confidence in your setup by analyzing DMARC reports, you can start advancing your policy from p=none to p=quarantine and eventually p=reject. This tells inbox providers to block unauthenticated mail, giving you maximum brand protection as you scale.

Protect Your Domain Reputation with a Flawless Setup

Your domain reputation is one of your most valuable marketing assets, and a sloppy DNS setup can put it at risk. Misconfigured SPF, DKIM, or DMARC records can do more than just hurt your deliverability—they can open the door for phishers to spoof your domain, tricking your customers and damaging your brand’s credibility. A single syntax error in your SPF record or a misaligned DKIM key can cause legitimate emails to be flagged as spam. By ensuring all three authentication protocols are correctly implemented and aligned, you create a robust defense against email spoofing. This flawless setup sends a clear signal to mailbox providers that you take email security seriously, which helps build and maintain a stellar sender reputation.

Why a Solid DNS Setup is Your Secret Weapon

Think of your DNS records as the foundation of your entire email strategy. It’s the technical, behind-the-scenes work that can feel a bit intimidating, but getting it right is the difference between your messages landing in the inbox or getting lost in the spam folder. When you send an email, receiving servers at places like Google and Microsoft perform a quick background check on your domain to verify you are who you say you are. A solid DNS setup gives them all the right answers, building a layer of trust that is absolutely essential for successful outreach. It’s not just a technical checkbox; it’s your passport to the inbox.

Improve Your Sender Reputation and Inbox Placement

Every time you send an email, you’re building (or breaking) your sender reputation. This is the score that mailbox providers assign to your domain, and it directly determines whether your emails reach the inbox. Proper DNS authentication with SPF, DKIM, and DMARC is the first and most critical step in building a positive reputation. These records act as your domain’s official ID, proving to providers that your emails are legitimate. When you establish this trust, you drastically reduce the chances of being flagged as spam. A clean DNS setup is one of the most effective ways to improve your sender reputation and achieve consistent inbox placement.

Stop Scammers from Spoofing Your Brand

Without proper DNS authentication, your domain is vulnerable to spoofing—where scammers send malicious emails pretending to be you. This can do incredible damage to your brand’s credibility and land you on blocklists, even if you didn’t send the harmful messages yourself. Setting up DMARC, in particular, is like giving mailbox providers a clear set of instructions on what to do with unauthenticated mail sent from your domain. It tells them to reject or quarantine suspicious messages, effectively stopping scammers in their tracks. This not only protects your customers and prospects from phishing attacks but also preserves the integrity of your domain for your own legitimate campaigns.

Watch Your Email Performance Metrics Climb

Ultimately, all this technical setup translates directly into better campaign results. When more of your emails land in the primary inbox, your open rates naturally increase. Higher open rates lead to more clicks, more replies, and more conversions. This positive engagement creates a powerful feedback loop, signaling to mailbox providers that your emails are wanted, which further strengthens your sender reputation. While DNS configuration alone won't guarantee success—you still need a great offer and a clean list—it creates the opportunity for your message to be seen. Getting your DNS right is the foundational step that allows all your other marketing efforts to pay off, and it's a core part of any high-volume sending strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm not very technical. Is setting up these DNS records something I can handle on my own? Absolutely. While the acronyms can seem intimidating, the process itself is usually straightforward. It involves copying and pasting specific text values into your domain provider's settings—like GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Cloudflare. Most email services provide you with the exact records you need, along with step-by-step instructions. The key is to be meticulous. Double-check for typos before you save, and use a free validation tool afterward to confirm everything is working correctly.

If I can only set up one thing right now, what should it be? That's a common question, but the truth is that SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are designed to work together as a team. Setting up only one is like locking your front door but leaving the windows wide open. If you have to start somewhere, begin with SPF and DKIM, as DMARC relies on them to function. However, you should plan to implement all three as soon as possible to create a complete authentication framework that properly protects your domain and sender reputation.

I use several different services to send email. How do I manage that in my SPF record? This is a critical point that trips many people up. You can only have one SPF record for your domain. If you use multiple services, you must merge their information into that single record. You'll add an include: statement for each new service within your existing record, making sure to place them before the final ~all mechanism. This is also where you need to be mindful of the 10 DNS lookup limit; if you authorize too many services, your SPF record can break.

My emails seem to be delivering fine. Why should I bother with all this? Think of it as preventative maintenance for your brand. Even if your deliverability seems okay now, a lack of proper authentication leaves your domain vulnerable to being spoofed by scammers. If someone starts sending malicious emails that look like they came from you, your sender reputation could be ruined overnight, and your legitimate emails will start landing in spam. Setting up these records is a proactive step to protect your reputation and ensure your emails continue to reach the inbox long-term.

How do I know if I've made a mistake setting up my records? You don't have to guess. There are many free online tools, like MXToolBox, that can check your DNS records in seconds and tell you if they are valid. For DMARC, the best way to check your work is to start with a monitoring policy (p=none). This allows you to receive reports on which emails are passing and failing authentication without affecting your email delivery. These reports give you the data you need to find and fix any configuration issues before you enforce a stricter policy.