It's important to set up your email domain correctly to ensure your outreach emails are delivered to recipients' inboxes without issues.
Below is a step-by-step guide to help you set up your email domain for successful outreach campaigns. For provider-specific instructions, you can use their help articles.
1. Choose the Right Domain
Pick a Similar Domain: Choose a domain similar to your main business domain but distinct enough to avoid confusion (e.g., if your main domain is "ourservice.com" consider "tryourservice.com" or "ourservice.net").
Point the domain to your website: This is via a redirect in your domain provider's settings. For example, here's how to do this on GoDaddy.
2. Configure DNS Records
To ensure your emails are authenticated and properly routed, configure the following DNS records through your domain provider:
A. MX Records (Mail Exchange Records)
Definition: MX records specify the mail servers responsible for receiving emails on behalf of your domain.
Purpose: Direct incoming emails to your domain’s mail servers.
How to Set Up: In your domain registrar’s DNS settings, add MX records provided by your email provider. Ensure priority values are set correctly for mail routing.
B. SPF (Sender Policy Framework)
Definition: SPF is a DNS record that specifies which IP addresses or servers are authorized to send emails on behalf of your domain.
Purpose: Helps prevent spoofing by allowing recipients' mail servers to verify the sender's legitimacy.
How to Set Up: Add a TXT record to your DNS settings with an SPF rule (e.g.,
v=spf1 include:mailservice.com ~all). This line should include your email provider’s allowed IP addresses or servers.
C. DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail)
Definition: DKIM adds a cryptographic signature to your emails, linking them back to your domain and verifying that the content hasn’t been altered.
Purpose: Enhances the authenticity of your emails by allowing recipients to verify that messages come from your domain.
How to Set Up: Generate a DKIM key in your email service provider’s settings. Add the generated TXT record to your DNS settings under the specified selector name provided by your email service.
D. DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance)
Definition: DMARC builds on SPF and DKIM by providing a policy for handling unauthenticated emails and allowing you to receive reports on these activities.
Purpose: Helps protect your domain from unauthorized use, like phishing or spoofing, by specifying how recipients should handle suspicious emails.
How to Set Up: Add a TXT record in your DNS with your DMARC policy (e.g.,
v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:[email protected]). The policy (p) can be set to none, quarantine, or reject based on how strict you want the filtering to be.
🤝 Need Help? If you don't have any IT support to help with this then Outreachly offer email setup and warm-up as an additional service. Just ask for the Support team in the Live Chat.
3. Verify Your Configuration
Check Your DNS Settings: Use tools like MXToolbox or your email service’s diagnostics to verify that your DNS records are correctly set up.
Monitor Performance: Regularly check your domain’s performance and reputation to maintain deliverability.
Gradual Sending: Start by sending a low volume of emails and gradually increase to avoid being flagged as spam. This helps build your domain’s reputation over time.
5. Monitor and Adjust
Regular Checks: Continuously monitor your domain’s reputation and make adjustments to DNS records as needed.
Stay Updated: Keep your SPF, DKIM, and DMARC settings updated according to changes in your email strategy or service providers.
🚀 Follow these steps to ensure your email domain is set up correctly and improve email deliverability.