Why email authentication matters for your business
Setting up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC isn’t just geek stuff — it’s how you make sure your emails actually get to people’s inboxes instead of their spam or junk folder. It stops bad actors from pretending to be you and sending fake emails that could harm your brand. When your domain is properly authenticated, email providers like Gmail and Outlook trust your messages more, which means better delivery rates and less chance your emails get blocked or flagged. Bottom line: it protects your reputation, keeps your communication flowing smoothly, and helps your business stay professional and reliable.
1. Check SPF Record
- Ensures only authorized servers can send emails for your domain.
- Must have fewer than 10 DNS lookups.
- Tools:
2. Check DKIM Setup
- Adds a cryptographic signature to your emails to verify authenticity.
- Confirm
dkim=passby sending email to Gmail and viewing “Show original.” - Tools:
- Gmail (Send email to Gmail, then View Original)
- Mail Tester
3. Check DMARC Record
- Tells receiving servers how to handle unauthorized emails.
- Start with
p=nonepolicy; later move toquarantineorrejectas confidence grows. - Use reporting emails (
ruaand optionallyruf) to monitor issues. - Tools:
4. Test Email Deliverability
- Check if your emails pass SPF, DKIM, and DMARC in practice.
- Analyze spam score and content issues.
- Tools:
5. Check Blacklists
- Verify your sending IP/domain is not on major blacklists.
- Some blacklists (like UCEPROTECTL3) may be noisy and less impactful.
- Tools:
6. DNS Records Validation
- Validate A, MX, CNAME records for email-related domain configurations.
- Tools:
- MXToolbox DNS Lookup
- DNS Checker for DNS propagation
Notes:
- Use WHM/cPanel to manage your DNS and email authentication records.
- Always test after changes and monitor DMARC reports.
- Adjust DMARC policy gradually.
- Shared IP blacklists can be hard to fix without a dedicated IP.