How do I setup domain authentication with different email and website domains?
Summary
What email marketers say10Marketer opinions
Email marketer from Postmark answers that SPF records prevent spammers from using your email address. Postmark advise adding them to the top of the DNS zone file and including the records of any email providers you are using.
Email marketer from SparkPost answers that SPF (Sender Policy Framework) records specify which mail servers are authorized to send email on behalf of your domain. Make sure your SPF record includes all the servers you use to send email, including SparkPost's.
Email marketer from Reddit shares that if your email domain differs from your website domain, ensure your SPF and DKIM records are set up correctly on the *email* domain's DNS. The website domain is irrelevant for email authentication.
Email marketer from SendGrid shares that DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) is an email authentication method that uses a digital signature to verify the sender's domain. To set it up, you need to generate a DKIM record in SendGrid and add it to your DNS records.
Email marketer from Mailchimp explains that to authenticate your domain with Mailchimp, you need to add CNAME records to your domain's DNS settings. This proves you own the domain and allows Mailchimp to send emails on your behalf.
Email marketer from Cloudflare answers DKIM provides a digital signature and DMARC builds upon SPF and DKIM protocols to make it harder to spoof. Email receivers use DMARC to verify SPF and DKIM records
Marketer from Email Geeks clarifies the difference between domain verification and authentication in Mailchimp. Verification requires clicking a link in an email sent to an address at that domain, while custom authentication involves CNAMEing two of Mailchimp's DKIM public keys.
Email marketer from StackOverflow explains DMARC policies and recommends starting with a 'p=none' policy to monitor email authentication results without impacting deliverability. Then, gradually move to 'p=quarantine' or 'p=reject' based on your findings.
Email marketer from Gmass explains domain authentication is essential to ensure your mass emails don't land in the spam folder. Validating the domain allows the receiving mail service to trust that the emails are safe.
Email marketer from Email on Acid shares that domain authentication (SPF, DKIM, and DMARC) is crucial for improving email deliverability and protecting your brand reputation. Properly configured authentication helps prevent email spoofing and phishing attacks.
What the experts say10Expert opinions
Expert from Email Geeks explains that starting in February, Google and Yahoo will require CNAME records in the same domain space as the From: address to avoid being blocked. If using a domain in the From address, a mailbox and published CNAME records in that domain space will be necessary.
Expert from Spamresource.com explains that DKIM authentication requires the publication of a DKIM TXT record, also known as a DKIM DNS record. Mail servers use this record to verify the authenticity of incoming messages.
Expert from Email Geeks explains that the DNS should be set up inside the email domain, as the website domain is probably not relevant for email authentication.
Expert from Email Geeks clarifies that if the records being added are the 'k2._domainkey…' and 'k3._domainkey…' for DKIM CNAMEs, they need to be set up in the DNS for the domain used to send bulk mail from MailChimp.
Expert from Word to the Wise explains domain authentication helps establish that you are who you say you are. Without that trust, it is harder to get mail delivered to the inbox.
Expert from Spamresource.com explains that an SPF record is a DNS TXT record that specifies which mail servers are authorized to send email on behalf of your domain. This can help prevent spammers from forging your email address.
Expert from Email Geeks shares that the 'd=' in the DKIM record should match the domain used in the 5322.from address for email authentication.
Expert from Spamresource.com explains that DKIM uses cryptographic signatures to associate a domain name with an email message, thus vouching for its authenticity. Generating and validating these keys is key to successful deployment.
Expert from Email Geeks confirms that an email account is required for the domain being used for email authentication, and once set up, everything else should be straightforward.
Expert from Email Geeks advises that the sender needs to handle inbound mail for the domain used in the 'From' address, to handle replies and ensure deliverability.
What the documentation says4Technical articles
Documentation from RFC Editor specifies how to construct the SPF record and what terms are available for use. These terms specify the authentication mechanisms available in the domain.
Documentation from DMARC.org explains that DMARC builds upon SPF and DKIM to provide a policy for handling emails that fail authentication checks. It allows domain owners to specify how receiving servers should handle unauthenticated mail.
Documentation from Microsoft Learn details how SPF records are used to prevent spoofing and ensure email deliverability. It explains that SPF records must be published in your DNS settings and validated by receiving mail servers.
Documentation from Google Workspace Admin Help explains that domain authentication helps prevent spammers from sending unauthorized messages that appear to come from your domain. They recommend setting up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records.