How does adding DMARC/SPF/DKIM impact email sends and domain reputation, and should I warm domains post-authentication?

Summary

Implementing DMARC, SPF, and DKIM is crucial for improving email deliverability, protecting domain reputation, and preventing spoofing/phishing attacks. Proper configuration is essential to avoid deliverability issues. Gradual rollout and continuous monitoring are recommended. Warming up domains and IPs post-authentication builds trust with ISPs. Experts recommend against sending unauthenticated emails, noting Google's increasingly strict enforcement. Email forwarding often breaks authentication, and using subdomains can isolate reputation risks. Failing to implement these protocols can lead to emails being marked as spam or rejected.

Key findings

  • Authentication is Key: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are essential for sender reputation, preventing spoofing, and improving deliverability. Failing to implement them can lead to deliverability issues.
  • Configuration Matters: Incorrectly configured SPF, DKIM, or DMARC can negatively impact deliverability. Ensure accurate SPF records and DKIM signature alignment.
  • Google's Enforcement: Google is actively rejecting non-authenticated emails and enforcing DKIM alignment. Non-compliance will result in deliverability problems.
  • Warming is Beneficial: Warming up IP addresses and domains post-authentication is beneficial to establish a positive sending reputation with ISPs.
  • Forwarding Breaks Authentication: Email forwarding can break SPF and DKIM authentication, potentially leading to rejection, especially with a strict DMARC policy.
  • Subdomains Isolate Reputation: Using subdomains for marketing emails can isolate reputation risks, protecting your main domain's reputation.

Key considerations

  • Plan Before Implementing: Send critical emails before making authentication changes to minimize immediate deliverability impacts.
  • Gradual Rollout: Implement DMARC gradually to monitor and adjust policies before full enforcement, preventing legitimate emails from being blocked.
  • Monitor Performance: Monitor email deliverability and domain reputation using tools like Google Postmaster Tools after implementation.
  • Develop a Warming Strategy: Create a strategy to gradually increase email volume from new IPs or domains.
  • Subdomain Implementation: Consider using subdomains for marketing emails to isolate potential reputation damage.
  • Forwarding Considerations: Be aware that email forwarding may break authentication, especially with DMARC 'p=reject'.

What email marketers say
16Marketer opinions

Implementing DMARC, SPF, and DKIM is crucial for enhancing email deliverability and protecting domain reputation. Proper configuration is essential, as incorrect settings can negatively impact deliverability. Warming up domains and IPs post-authentication is highly recommended to establish trust with ISPs. Gradual rollout and continuous monitoring are also advised. Failing to implement these protocols can lead to emails being marked as spam or rejected.

Key opinions

  • Authentication Impact: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC enhance sender reputation and prevent spoofing, improving deliverability.
  • Configuration Importance: Incorrectly configured SPF, DKIM, or DMARC can negatively impact deliverability.
  • Forwarding Issues: Email forwarding can break SPF and DKIM authentication, leading to deliverability problems.
  • Gmail Enforcement: Gmail has been rejecting unauthenticated emails and enforcing DKIM alignment.
  • IP Warming: Warming up IP addresses is essential to establish a positive sending reputation with ISPs.
  • Subdomain Use: Using subdomains for marketing emails isolates reputation and requires authentication.

Key considerations

  • Pre-Authentication Sends: Send critical emails before making authentication changes to avoid immediate deliverability issues.
  • Google's Requirements: Be aware of Google's requirements for email authentication to avoid rejection of non-compliant emails.
  • DMARC Rollout: Implement DMARC gradually to monitor and adjust policies before full enforcement.
  • Configuration Accuracy: Ensure SPF records include all authorized sending sources and DKIM signatures align with your domain.
  • Post-Implementation Monitoring: Monitor email deliverability and domain reputation using tools like Google Postmaster Tools.
  • Warming Strategy: Develop a warming strategy to gradually increase email volume from new IPs or domains.
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Deliverability Community suggests that after implementing DMARC, it's essential to monitor your email deliverability and domain reputation closely. Use tools like Google Postmaster Tools to track your sending reputation and identify any potential issues.

July 2022 - Email Deliverability Community
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit shares that it's crucial to configure SPF records correctly to include all authorized sending sources (e.g., email marketing platforms, transactional email services). Incorrect SPF configurations can lead to deliverability issues.

March 2023 - Reddit
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks states that Gmail has been rejecting some unauthenticated senders and enforcing DKIM alignment, urging senders not to delay authentication setup.

April 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum advises ensuring that DKIM signatures are properly aligned with your domain. Misaligned DKIM signatures can cause deliverability issues, even if the signature itself is valid.

November 2021 - Email Marketing Forum
Marketer view

Email marketer from SendGrid shares that Implementing DMARC can protect your domain's reputation by preventing spoofing and phishing attacks, but incorrect configurations can lead to deliverability issues. Warming your domain post-authentication is recommended to establish trust with ISPs gradually.

March 2022 - SendGrid
Marketer view

Email marketer from GlockApps states that failing to implement SPF, DKIM, and DMARC can lead to deliverability issues, as ISPs are more likely to flag unauthenticated emails as spam or reject them altogether. They emphasize setting up authentication is vital.

July 2024 - GlockApps
Marketer view

Email marketer from SparkPost explains that gradually rolling out DMARC policies allows you to monitor your email traffic and make necessary adjustments before enforcing strict policies that could potentially block legitimate emails. They advise a phased approach.

March 2025 - SparkPost
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks suggests sending critical emails before making any changes to email authentication, as incorrect DMARC settings can negatively impact deliverability.

December 2023 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Constant Contact explains that setting up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC can improve email deliverability by demonstrating to email providers that you are a legitimate sender. If your emails land in the inbox, engagement metrics will improve.

September 2024 - Constant Contact
Marketer view

Email marketer from Litmus explains that implementing email authentication protocols improves inbox placement rates. ISPs use these protocols to verify senders, so without them, emails are more likely to land in the spam folder.

June 2022 - Litmus
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks explains that manually forwarded emails are authenticated by the user's email system, while system-automated forwarding breaks SPF and potentially DKIM.

May 2023 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from EmailToolTester recommends using a subdomain for sending marketing emails and properly authenticating it. This isolates your marketing email reputation from your main domain's reputation. They also advise warming this subdomain.

May 2021 - EmailToolTester
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks says that forwarding often breaks authentication. It breaks SPF, and sometimes DKIM, too, if messages get rewritten.

October 2022 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from GMass explains that SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are crucial for establishing a good sender reputation and preventing email spoofing, which improves deliverability rates. They also advise monitoring your reputation after implementation.

May 2024 - GMass
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks shares a link to Google's announcement that they will start rejecting non-compliant (unauthenticated) mail.

May 2023 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet shares that warming an IP address involves gradually increasing the volume of emails sent from a new IP address to establish a positive sending reputation with ISPs. This helps prevent your emails from being flagged as spam and improves deliverability.

December 2021 - Mailjet

What the experts say
5Expert opinions

Experts emphasize the importance of email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) for protecting domain reputation and ensuring deliverability. Sending unauthenticated email is strongly discouraged, especially with Google's increasing enforcement. Warming new authentication is generally recommended. Email forwarding often breaks authentication, which can lead to rejection if a strict DMARC policy is in place. Utilizing subdomains for marketing emails is advisable to isolate reputation risks.

Key opinions

  • Authentication Necessity: Experts stress the significance of implementing SPF, DKIM, and DMARC for email deliverability and domain security.
  • Google Enforcement: Google is actively rejecting non-authenticated emails.
  • Forwarding Impact: Email forwarding frequently breaks authentication, potentially leading to email rejection.
  • DMARC Policy: A 'p=reject' DMARC policy can cause forwarded, unauthenticated emails to be rejected.
  • Subdomain Isolation: Using subdomains for marketing helps protect your main domain's reputation.

Key considerations

  • Warming: Consider warming up new authentication to build trust and ensure deliverability.
  • Authentication Urgency: Prioritize implementing email authentication to avoid deliverability issues.
  • DMARC Implementation: Understand the implications of DMARC policies (especially 'p=reject') before implementing them.
  • Reputation Management: Use subdomains strategically to manage your sending reputation effectively.
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks recommends warming new authentication in most situations.

April 2024 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource explains that DMARC can prevent unauthorized use of your domain. It may or may not influence mail delivery, depending on whether you publish a policy that requests senders to reject or quarantine unauthorized mail.

July 2021 - Spam Resource
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks confirms that forwarding mail regularly breaks authentication and, with a p=reject DMARC policy, such mail may be rejected.

June 2024 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks expresses strong concern about sending non-aligned/non-authenticated email, noting that Google is currently rejecting such mail.

October 2022 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise shares the importance of having separate reputations for your marketing emails. Laura Atkins suggests creating subdomains to send marketing emails. If one of your emails receives a spam complaint, only the reputation of that subdomain will be impacted, instead of damaging your overall domain.

August 2022 - Word to the Wise

What the documentation says
3Technical articles

DMARC, SPF, and DKIM are essential email authentication protocols that enhance security and improve deliverability. DMARC prevents spoofing and phishing, SPF validates authorized sending IP addresses, and DKIM adds a digital signature to verify email integrity. Implementing these protocols correctly protects domain reputation and builds trust with receiving mail servers.

Key findings

  • DMARC Purpose: DMARC prevents spoofing and phishing attacks.
  • SPF Function: SPF validates outbound email sent from your custom domain by authorizing IP addresses.
  • DKIM Integrity: DKIM verifies that the email content hasn't been altered during transit.
  • Reputation Impact: These protocols enhance trust with mail servers and improve domain reputation.

Key considerations

  • Correct Setup: Ensure proper configuration of DMARC, SPF, and DKIM to avoid negative impacts on deliverability.
  • SPF Authorization: Include all authorized sending sources in your SPF records.
  • DKIM Signature: Implement DKIM to add a digital signature and verify email integrity.
Technical article

Documentation from DMARC.org explains DKIM adds a digital signature to your emails, verifying that the email hasn't been altered during transit and that it truly came from the sender it claims to be. This builds trust with receiving mail servers and positively influences your domain reputation.

July 2021 - DMARC.org
Technical article

Documentation from Google explains that implementing DMARC helps prevent spoofing and phishing by ensuring that only authorized senders can use your domain, thus protecting your reputation and improving deliverability. It doesn't directly impact sending reputation negatively if set up correctly.

May 2023 - Google
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft explains SPF helps validate outbound email sent from your custom domain. By adding SPF records to your DNS, you're essentially creating a list of authorized IP addresses that can send email on behalf of your domain. Mail servers can then check SPF records to verify the legitimacy of incoming email. This reduces spoofing and improves deliverability.

January 2024 - Microsoft Learn