How do ActiveCampaign and other ESPs handle DMARC records during custom return-path setup, and what are the potential issues?

Summary

ActiveCampaign and other ESPs offer tools to set up custom return paths, but potential issues arise during DMARC record handling. While ESPs like ActiveCampaign may streamline DNS setup, they might not always prevent duplicate DMARC records. Setting a DMARC policy ('none,' 'quarantine,' or 'reject') dictates how receiving servers handle authentication failures. User configuration of DMARC records in DNS is crucial. Common problems include misconfigured records, confusion among end-users, and the risk of legitimate emails being flagged as spam. Successful DMARC implementation relies on proper DKIM and SPF setup, phased deployment, continuous monitoring, and a strong understanding of DNS records and reporting.

Key findings

  • ActiveCampaign Setup: ActiveCampaign facilitates custom return-path setup but can introduce duplicate DMARC records due to DNS verification processes.
  • User DNS Role: Users must accurately configure DMARC records within their DNS zone as ESP assistance is limited post-setup.
  • DMARC Policy Options: Configuring DMARC involves selecting a policy ('none,' 'quarantine,' or 'reject'), influencing how unauthenticated emails are treated.
  • Root Causes: Primary causes of issues are inaccurate DMARC setup, misunderstandings among end-users, and incorrectly flagged legitimate emails.
  • DKIM/SPF Need: Reliable DMARC relies heavily on correctly configured DKIM and SPF records.
  • Implementation challenges: Difficulties of DMARC implementation and maintenance result in slow adoption
  • Risks of strict policies: Setting p=reject too soon can stop genuine emails from being delivered

Key considerations

  • DNS Verification: Carefully manage DNS verification processes to prevent duplicate DMARC records.
  • User Education: Inform end-users about DMARC settings to minimize confusion and configuration errors.
  • Record Accuracy: Validate the accuracy of DMARC records (syntax, policy) to avoid deliverability problems.
  • Regular DMARC Reports: Regularly analyze DMARC reports to identify and resolve any problems and authentication failures.
  • Controlled Rollout: Introduce DMARC gradually, starting with monitoring, to minimize disruption and data loss.
  • Planning and testing: Thorough planning and testing is required before deploying a 'reject' policy
  • Multi department coordination: For large organisations, it may require multiple departments to coordinate their activities

What email marketers say
11Marketer opinions

ESPs like ActiveCampaign simplify custom return-path setup but may create DMARC issues if not handled carefully. Some ESPs verify DNS records (excluding DMARC), potentially causing duplicate records. Users can configure DMARC records in their DNS zone to instruct receiving servers on how to handle messages failing authentication. Problems include misconfigured DMARC records, confusing end-users, and the possibility of legitimate emails being marked as spam. Setting a DMARC policy ('none,' 'quarantine,' or 'reject') helps manage email flow. Proper setup of DKIM and SPF is crucial before DMARC implementation. EasyDMARC, Postmark and Stackoverflow highlight the need for DNS configuration by the user and that once setup there is nothing more the ESP can do.

Key opinions

  • ActiveCampaign setup: ActiveCampaign simplifies custom return-path setup but may lead to duplicate DMARC records due to DNS verification processes.
  • DMARC Policy Configuration: DMARC policy setting includes the 'none,' 'quarantine,' and 'reject' options, each with different impacts on email delivery.
  • User Configuration: Users need to configure their DMARC records correctly in their DNS zone, as the ESP's role is limited once setup.
  • Potential Issues: Potential problems include incorrect DMARC configuration, user confusion, and legitimate emails being marked as spam due to errors.
  • DKIM & SPF Dependency: Proper setup of DKIM and SPF is crucial before DMARC to avoid issues.

Key considerations

  • DNS Verification: Be cautious about DNS verification processes during custom return-path setup to avoid duplicate DMARC records.
  • User Education: Educate end-users about DMARC settings to prevent confusion and incorrect setup.
  • Configuration Accuracy: Ensure accurate configuration of DMARC records, including syntax and policy, to avoid deliverability issues.
  • Regular Monitoring: Regularly review DMARC reports to identify and address any issues.
  • Phased Implementation: Consider phased implementation of DMARC policies.
Marketer view

Email marketer from Gmass explains how setting up DMARC with GMass is an easy process. Once you authenticate with SPF and DKIM you must decide what level of security you want for your domain. You can set a DMARC policy of “none” to simply monitor your mail stream, “quarantine” to send unauthenticated messages to the spam folder, or “reject” to tell the recipient to refuse the messages.

August 2023 - Gmass.co
Marketer view

Email marketer from SocketLabs explains the role of DMARC is to instruct receiving servers on what to do with emails that fail SPF and DKIM authentication, and to provide a mechanism for reporting email authentication results back to the domain owner. DMARC works by setting a policy in your domain's DNS records that tells receiving mail servers how to handle messages that fail authentication checks.

January 2025 - SocketLabs
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks explains that presenting a DMARC record to end-users unfamiliar with DNS settings can lead to confusion and duplicate records. He also highlights potential issues with API methods deleting comments from existing DKIM records.

May 2021 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks mentions their DNS checker validates existing DMARC records, avoiding the need for users to add a duplicate. Also, using the "Connect a Domain" button creates DNS records via API without duplicating existing DMARC records.

February 2025 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from EasyDMARC explains the DMARC quarantine tag. This directs the email receiver to place any email that fails DMARC authentication into the recipient’s spam or junk folder. The quarantine tag provides a middle-ground approach, allowing domain owners to test the waters before fully implementing a reject policy, which is more stringent.

October 2022 - EasyDMARC
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks shares that ActiveCampaign now allows all users to set up a custom return-path and verifies all DNS records except DMARC, advising awareness of potential duplicate DMARC record issues.

September 2022 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks agreed that existing DNS records should not be replaced with the same record, and the DMARC record should be hidden during manual setup if one already exists.

September 2021 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from EmailGeek.com responds that DMARC policy tells the recipient's mail server what to do with messages that fail authentication checks. You can set a DMARC policy of “none” to simply monitor your mail stream, “quarantine” to send unauthenticated messages to the spam folder, or “reject” to tell the recipient to refuse the messages.

December 2023 - EmailGeek.com
Marketer view

Email marketer from Postmark suggests that a common issue is incorrect DMARC configuration, such as syntax errors in the DMARC record or conflicting policies. These errors can lead to legitimate emails being incorrectly marked as spam or rejected. It emphasizes the importance of regularly reviewing DMARC reports to identify and address any issues.

October 2024 - Postmark
Marketer view

Email marketer from StackOverflow explains that you should configure DMARC records in your DNS zone and the ESP will send you aggregate reports. The user mentioned there is not much the ESP can do to help once you have configured it correctly.

September 2024 - StackOverflow
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit explains their experience with setting up DKIM in ActiveCampaign, highlighting the importance of following ActiveCampaign's instructions precisely and ensuring the DNS records are correctly configured. They note that once DKIM and SPF are properly set up, DMARC issues are less likely to occur.

July 2024 - Reddit

What the experts say
2Expert opinions

Implementing DMARC, particularly a 'reject' policy, requires careful planning and monitoring due to the risk of blocking legitimate emails. The complexity of DMARC, involving coordination across departments, handling edge cases, and understanding SPF, DKIM, and DMARC reports, contributes to its slow adoption. A phased implementation and close monitoring are essential.

Key opinions

  • Risks of 'p=reject': Deploying DMARC with a 'p=reject' policy too quickly can result in legitimate emails being blocked.
  • Complexity of DMARC: DMARC is complex due to the need for interdepartmental coordination, handling of edge cases, and understanding of technical reports (SPF, DKIM, DMARC).
  • Phased Implementation: A phased implementation approach is crucial for successful DMARC deployment.
  • Slow Adoption: The complexity of DMARC is a major factor in its slow adoption rate.

Key considerations

  • Planning & Monitoring: Thorough planning and continuous monitoring of DMARC reports are essential before implementing a 'reject' policy.
  • Interdepartmental Coordination: Ensure coordination across different departments within the organization for proper DMARC implementation.
  • Report Analysis: Understand and analyze SPF, DKIM, and DMARC reports to identify and address potential issues.
  • Gradual Rollout: Implement DMARC gradually to minimize disruption and ensure legitimate emails are not blocked.
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource explains the risks of deploying DMARC to 'p=reject' too quickly without proper planning and monitoring. Linford highlights the potential for legitimate emails to be blocked, emphasizing the importance of a phased implementation and careful analysis of DMARC reports. The risks and benefits of deploying DMARC are that rejecting too soon can prevent legitimate emails from being delivered and that the domain owner has to regularly monitor the daily reports.

August 2021 - Spam Resource
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise shares that slow adoption of DMARC could be attributed to the complexity of understanding and implementing DMARC properly. Atkins further explained that it involves coordinating with different departments and dealing with edge cases which makes it difficult to get a handle on legitimate mail streams. It involves understanding SPF, DKIM, and DMARC reports which can be overwhelming.

June 2023 - Word to the Wise

What the documentation says
3Technical articles

ActiveCampaign's documentation details the process of setting up a custom return-path by adding specific DNS records. Mailjet explains that DMARC protects email domains from unauthorized use, building upon SPF and DKIM. SparkPost emphasizes the importance of setting up a custom MAIL FROM domain to improve deliverability and sender reputation through SPF and DKIM configuration.

Key findings

  • ActiveCampaign DNS setup: ActiveCampaign requires specific DNS records to be added for a custom return-path.
  • DMARC protection: Mailjet defines DMARC as a system to protect email domains from spam and phishing, using SPF and DKIM.
  • SparkPost custom MAIL FROM: SparkPost highlights the importance of a custom MAIL FROM domain (return-path) for deliverability.
  • SPF/DKIM Required: SPF and DKIM are vital to proper DMARC configuration.

Key considerations

  • Follow DNS instructions: Carefully follow the ESP's instructions for setting up DNS records for a custom return-path.
  • DMARC Importance: Understand the role of DMARC in protecting your email domain from unauthorized use.
  • MAIL FROM Domain: Set up a custom MAIL FROM domain to improve deliverability and sender reputation.
  • Email security: Implement DMARC to protect your domain from spam or phishing attacks.
Technical article

Documentation from Mailjet explains DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) as an email validation system designed to protect email domains from being used for unauthorized purposes, such as spam or phishing. It builds on the SPF and DKIM protocols, adding a reporting function that allows senders and receivers to improve and monitor the protection of email.

October 2023 - Mailjet
Technical article

Documentation from SparkPost explains the importance of setting up a custom MAIL FROM domain (return-path) to improve email deliverability and sender reputation. This involves configuring SPF and DKIM records for the custom domain. It allows senders to control their bounce handling and align their brand with email communications.

February 2022 - SparkPost
Technical article

Documentation from ActiveCampaign Help Center explains the steps for setting up a custom return-path, which involves adding specific DNS records provided by ActiveCampaign to your domain's DNS settings. It handles the technical configuration required to align your sending domain with ActiveCampaign's servers.

June 2023 - ActiveCampaign Help Center