How do I properly set up a DMARC record on Wix and when should I change the policy?

Summary

Setting up DMARC on Wix involves adding a TXT record in the advanced DNS settings with '_dmarc' as the hostname. The DMARC record should begin with 'v=DMARC1;' and include a policy tag (p=none, quarantine, or reject). Implement DMARC policies incrementally, starting with 'p=none' to monitor traffic via DMARC reports, then transitioning to 'p=quarantine' and 'p=reject' after verifying SPF and DKIM alignment. Utilize online tools to validate the DMARC record. Ensure you avoid common mistakes like incorrect syntax, missing SPF/DKIM records, and neglecting report monitoring. Be aware of stricter upcoming email authentication policies and coordinate with providers if using shared IPs. The benefits include improved deliverability and brand protection.

Key findings

  • Wix Hostname: The DMARC record must have '_dmarc' as the hostname within Wix's DNS settings.
  • Policy Staging: DMARC policies should be implemented in stages: 'none' for monitoring, 'quarantine', and finally 'reject'.
  • Reporting: Analyzing DMARC reports is critical for understanding authentication failures and refining SPF/DKIM.
  • SPF/DKIM Priority: SPF and DKIM records are prerequisites and must be properly aligned before enforcing DMARC policies.

Key considerations

  • Monitoring: Continuous monitoring of DMARC reports is essential to identify issues and adjust configurations.
  • Syntax Validation: Validate DMARC record syntax and publication using online tools.
  • Shared IP Coordination: When using shared IPs, coordinate with the email provider for proper SPF and DKIM alignment.
  • Upcoming Changes: Mailbox providers are moving towards stricter authentication, making proper DMARC setup crucial.
  • Common Mistakes: Avoid common mistakes such as incorrect syntax, missing SPF/DKIM, and premature use of 'reject'.

What email marketers say
13Marketer opinions

Setting up DMARC on Wix involves adding a TXT record with '_dmarc' as the hostname and the DMARC policy as the value. Begin with 'p=none' to monitor traffic, then move to 'p=quarantine' and finally 'p=reject' after analyzing DMARC reports and ensuring SPF and DKIM are properly aligned. Monitor DMARC reports continuously to identify issues and tune configurations. Coordination is vital when using shared IP addresses.

Key opinions

  • DMARC Hostname: The DMARC record on Wix must have '_dmarc' as the hostname.
  • Policy Progression: DMARC policy should be implemented in stages: 'none', 'quarantine', then 'reject'.
  • Reporting Importance: Analyzing DMARC reports is crucial for identifying authentication failures and potential spoofing.
  • SPF/DKIM Alignment: Proper SPF and DKIM alignment is necessary before enforcing stricter DMARC policies.

Key considerations

  • Monitoring: Continuous monitoring of DMARC reports is essential for identifying issues and tuning configurations.
  • Syntax: Incorrect syntax is a common mistake; use online tools to validate the record.
  • Shared IPs: Special considerations apply when using shared IP addresses; coordination with the provider is needed.
  • Mailbox provider changes: Mailbox providers are moving towards stricter authentication policies.
Marketer view

Email marketer from StackOverflow recommends using online tools like MXToolbox or DMARC record checkers to verify that the DMARC record is correctly published and formatted after adding it to the DNS settings.

November 2021 - StackOverflow
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit explains that when setting up DMARC on Wix, ensure that the hostname is '_dmarc' and the value contains the DMARC record itself (e.g., 'v=DMARC1; p=none;'). Also ensure there are no conflicting TXT records.

January 2025 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from URIports shares that it's crucial to analyze DMARC reports to identify sending sources, authentication failures, and potential spoofing attempts. Understanding these reports helps refine your SPF and DKIM configurations before moving to stricter DMARC policies.

January 2022 - URIports
Marketer view

Email marketer from Postmark shares that continuous monitoring of DMARC reports is essential to identify any issues with email authentication and to ensure that legitimate emails are not being blocked or quarantined. Use the reporting to tune your SPF and DKIM configurations.

February 2022 - Postmark
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks recommends using a reporting tool to ensure everything is authenticated and properly aligned before moving to quarantine or reject policies.

March 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from LinkedIn explains the benefits of implementing DMARC, including improved email deliverability, enhanced brand protection, and increased trust with email recipients by preventing phishing and spoofing attacks.

September 2023 - LinkedIn
Marketer view

Email marketer from GMass shares special considerations when setting up DMARC while using shared IP addresses. It's important to coordinate with the email provider to ensure proper SPF and DKIM alignment, especially if multiple users share the same IP.

November 2021 - GMass
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks suggests adding `_dmarc` as the host when configuring the DMARC record.

August 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet shares that after implementing DMARC with 'p=none', monitor the reports for a few weeks to ensure legitimate email sources are properly authenticated. Then, transition to 'p=quarantine' to test the impact on deliverability before finally implementing 'p=reject'.

April 2022 - Mailjet
Marketer view

Email marketer from EmailGeeks Forum shares some common mistakes when setting up DMARC include incorrect syntax, missing SPF or DKIM records, not monitoring DMARC reports, and immediately setting the policy to 'reject' without proper testing.

March 2022 - EmailGeeks Forum
Marketer view

Email marketer from EasyDMARC shares the steps to properly set up a DMARC record which include: generating SPF and DKIM records first, creating a DMARC record with a 'p=none' policy initially, monitoring DMARC reports, and then gradually moving to 'p=quarantine' and 'p=reject' policies.

October 2024 - EasyDMARC
Marketer view

Email marketer from Valimail shares that DMARC policies should be implemented in stages: 'none' to monitor, then 'quarantine' to filter suspicious emails, and finally 'reject' to block unauthenticated emails. This allows you to assess the impact before enforcing stricter policies.

February 2023 - Valimail
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks mentions that mailbox providers will likely force stricter authentication policies in the coming years, moving towards a 'no auth, no entry' approach.

October 2022 - Email Geeks

What the experts say
3Expert opinions

To properly set up a DMARC record on Wix, the 'host' field must be '_dmarc'. Start with 'p=none' to monitor traffic, then incrementally transition to 'p=quarantine' and 'p=reject'. Validate the record using online tools.

Key opinions

  • Host Field: The 'host' field in Wix DNS settings for the DMARC record should be '_dmarc'.
  • Incremental Policy Change: DMARC policy changes should be implemented incrementally, starting with 'p=none'.
  • Validation: Validate the DMARC record using online tools after setup.

Key considerations

  • Incorrect Host: Ensure the 'host' field is not left empty or filled with '@'.
  • Confidence in Setup: Only transition to 'p=quarantine' and 'p=reject' when confident in the DMARC setup.
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains that in Wix, the 'host' field when adding the DMARC record should be '_dmarc', not left empty or filled with an @. Currently, the record is incorrectly showing as a TXT record for the base domain instead of '_dmarc.domain.com'.

January 2025 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise shares that changing the DMARC policy should be done incrementally. Start with 'p=none' to monitor traffic, then transition to 'p=quarantine' to filter suspicious emails, and finally to 'p=reject' to block unauthenticated messages once you're confident in your setup.

January 2022 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource shares that setting up DMARC on Wix requires adding a TXT record with the hostname '_dmarc' and a value containing the DMARC policy (e.g., 'v=DMARC1; p=none;'). It also emphasizes validating the record with online tools after setup.

September 2024 - Spam Resource

What the documentation says
4Technical articles

Setting up a DMARC record involves adding a TXT record via the Wix dashboard's advanced DNS settings. DMARC records use specific tags like 'v', 'p', 'rua', and 'ruf' to define policy and reporting. The record must start with 'v=DMARC1;' and include a policy tag. SPF and DKIM are prerequisites for DMARC to function correctly.

Key findings

  • Wix DNS Settings: DMARC records are added via the Advanced DNS settings in the Wix dashboard.
  • DMARC Tags: DMARC records use tags like 'v', 'p', 'rua', and 'ruf' to define policy and reporting.
  • Required Syntax: The DMARC record must start with 'v=DMARC1;' and include a policy tag.
  • Prerequisites: SPF and DKIM are necessary prerequisites for DMARC.

Key considerations

  • Tag Usage: Understand the function of each DMARC tag to effectively manage email handling.
  • SPF and DKIM Setup: Ensure SPF and DKIM are correctly configured before implementing DMARC.
  • Reporting Tags: Implementing reporting tags ('rua' and 'ruf') is recommended for monitoring DMARC performance.
Technical article

Documentation from Google explains the required syntax for a DMARC TXT record. The record must start with 'v=DMARC1;' and include a policy tag ('p=none', 'p=quarantine', or 'p=reject'). Reporting tags ('rua' and 'ruf') are recommended for monitoring.

June 2022 - Google
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft shares that SPF and DKIM are prerequisites for DMARC. SPF verifies the sender's IP address, DKIM adds a digital signature, and DMARC builds upon these to provide policy enforcement and reporting.

October 2024 - Microsoft
Technical article

Documentation from DMARC.org explains the various tags that can be used in a DMARC record, such as 'v' (version), 'p' (policy), 'sp' (subdomain policy), 'rua' (aggregate reporting URI), and 'ruf' (forensic reporting URI). It details their functions and how they affect email handling.

September 2023 - DMARC.org
Technical article

Documentation from Wix Help Center explains how to add DNS records, including TXT records for DMARC, in the Wix dashboard. It involves going to Domains, selecting the domain, going to the Advanced tab, and editing the DNS records.

August 2021 - Wix Help Center