{"id":4392,"date":"2021-06-14T09:16:51","date_gmt":"2021-06-14T07:16:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lowgravitysolutions.com\/?p=4392"},"modified":"2021-06-15T18:02:28","modified_gmt":"2021-06-15T16:02:28","slug":"setting-up-dmarc-spf-dkim-mailchimp-klaviyo-avoid-spam-folder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lowgravitysolutions.com\/setting-up-dmarc-spf-dkim-mailchimp-klaviyo-avoid-spam-folder","title":{"rendered":"Setting Up Your DMARC, SPF, and DKIM In MailChimp & Klaviyo to Avoid the Spam Folder"},"content":{"rendered":"
[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.22″ custom_padding=”0px|||||”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”|auto|0px|auto||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.6″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n
Making sure your domain is set up properly is the first step to avoiding your emails ending up in the spam folder. The three things you really need to be concerned with if you\u2019re planning on using MailChimp or Klaviyo are your SPF (Sender Policy Framework), DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail), and then you can publish your DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In this post, I\u2019ll be discussing what exactly each of these things are, why you need to set them up, and how to do it in MailChimp<\/a> and Klaviyo<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Blog post warning pro tip” _builder_version=”4.9.5″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n Full disclosure on this post: it\u2019s fairly technical, and while I do walk you through step by step, if you\u2019re not comfortable getting set up, LGS can do it for you<\/a><\/span>.<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/lowgravitysolutions.com\/product\/configure-validate-sending-domain-spf-dkim-dmarc\/” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Click here to get help with your SPF, DMARC, or DKIM in MailChimp & Klaviyo” button_alignment=”center” _builder_version=”4.9.6″ _module_preset=”default”][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_text admin_label=”SPF Section” _builder_version=”4.9.6″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”|||3px||” inline_fonts=”Georgia”]<\/p>\n SPF records tell a receiving email server that your domain is legit and that it\u2019s okay to accept your email to their inbox. Without setting this up, your domain can be <\/span>spoofed<\/span><\/a> (someone can <\/span><\/i>pretend<\/span><\/i> to send emails as you) <\/span><\/i>and damage your brand and reputation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s like going to an invitation-only event and not having one or any other kind of identification. Then the bouncer looks at you, laughs, and tells you to step aside and go home.<\/span><\/p>\n MailChimp have removed SPF, and instead use two layers of DKIM which I will talk about a little further down. <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.6″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n In Klaviyo, setting up an SPF record means <\/span>creating a dedicated domain<\/span><\/a> for sending out your email. The steps below outline how to do this in Klaviyo.<\/span><\/p>\n 1. In Klaviyo > Go to your account name > open the Account page<\/span><\/p>\n 2. Go to Settings > \u201cDomains and Hosting\u201d > Click on \u2018Get Started\u2019 under Dedicated Sending Domain<\/span>\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/lowgravitysolutions.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Klaviyo-dedicated-sending-domain.png” alt=”Klaviyo dedicated sending domain” title_text=”Klaviyo dedicated sending domain” _builder_version=”4.9.6″ _module_preset=”default”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.6″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n 3. Input your domain and subdomain name > click \u201cContinue\u201d and a new pop-up will have a list of all the DNS records needed to create\/edit your DNS.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/lowgravitysolutions.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Klaviyo-set-dedicated-sending-domain.png” alt=”Klaviyo set dedicated sending domain” title_text=”Klaviyo set dedicated sending domain” _builder_version=”4.9.6″ _module_preset=”default”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.6″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n 4. Go to your DNS hosting provider > Create new DNS records that match the ones given to you by Klaviyo<\/span><\/p>\n Note<\/i><\/b>: In Klaviyo you need to set up your DKIM during this process before you can verify your domain, so I\u2019ll move onto that now.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_gallery gallery_ids=”4712,631″ posts_number=”2″ _builder_version=”4.9.6″ _module_preset=”default”][\/et_pb_gallery][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.6″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n Your DKIM is like stamping a unique signature on your email to verify who you are. Just like a fingerprint. It does this by creating two authentication keys: a private one in your SMTP (Sender Mail Transfer Protocol), and the other in a public DNS zone.<\/span><\/p>\n So, when you send out an email, it\u2019s sent with your email domain\u2019s private key. Once your receiver gets your mail, they verify the authenticity of your key by comparing it to the one on the public server. Once it\u2019s verified, with no falsifying or tampering, you\u2019re allowed to go to the inbox.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you don\u2019t set up your DKIM, much like SPF, someone can pretend to be you and spoof your account.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This will give you the domain information you need in a pop-up window. Including the CNAME records you will need to create.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/lowgravitysolutions.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/MailChimp-Domain-Authentication.png” alt=”MailChimp Domain Authentication 2021″ title_text=”MailChimp Domain Authentication 2021″ _builder_version=”4.9.6″ _module_preset=”default” width=”95%” max_width=”73%” module_alignment=”center”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”SPF Section” _builder_version=”4.9.6″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”|||3px||” inline_fonts=”Georgia”]<\/p>\n 2. Open your DNS records for your domain on your hosting > Create a new CNAME record > Add the MailChimp values provided\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 3. Now, go back to the Domains page of your MailChimp account and click \u201cAuthenticate Domain\u201d It may take up to 24 hours to propagate through the internet, but in my experience, it\u2019s fairly immediate.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/lowgravitysolutions.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/MailChimp-Authenticated-Domains.png” alt=”MailChimp Authenticated Domains” title_text=”MailChimp Authenticated Domains” admin_label=”Image – Authenticated domains” _builder_version=”4.9.5″ _module_preset=”default”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.6″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n Need more help?<\/b> If<\/span> you are stuck on authenticating your domain in MailChimp for BlueHost<\/a> and SiteGround<\/a>, I’ve got walkthrough guides here:<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.6″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n The DKIM set up for Klaviyo follows the same process as its SPF and you\u2019ll need to copy the DNS information you\u2019re given from Klaviyo into your domain hosting.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve done this, go back to Klaviyo and click \u2018Continue to Verify Domain\u2019 > Once verified, click \u2018Apply Domain\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n A DMARC protocol (or sometimes called a report) is essentially a way to improve your email\u2019s reputation by saying \u2018I have set up SPF and\/or DKIM\u2019. Publishing your DMARC establishes a set of rules on how to handle emails that pass or fail either or both of the SPF and DKIM protocols.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n For example, emails that fail the verification protocol can be sent to spam or rejected outright. What makes DMARC important is that it provides a more secure way of sending and receiving emails. Plus, it helps to protect your domain against spoofing, and phishing by hackers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n DMARC works with SPF and DKIM records, so it\u2019s a requirement to have these both set up first in your DNS hosting provider to publish it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Note<\/strong>: DMARC is set up in your DNS and <\/span>not <\/span><\/i>in MailChimp and Klaviyo so you only have to do this once from your DNS platform.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/lowgravitysolutions.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Siteground-DMARC-record.png” alt=”Siteground DMARC record” title_text=”Siteground DMARC record” _builder_version=”4.9.6″ _module_preset=”default”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n Pro Tip:<\/strong> For the techies in the room, you can modify how DMARC handles emails that fail the verification and authentication process and even how strict you want the SPF and DKIM records to be.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.7″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Ultimately, spending the time to get your domain set up properly can save a lot of heartache when it comes to sending campaigns and wondering why none of them are being delivered. So, if you haven\u2019t set them up yet, I highly recommend doing that as a priority first.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you want to set up your DMARC properly to avoid the spam folder, you have to start with your SPF and DKIM in MailChimp or Klaviyo. If you don\u2019t have the confidence with changing DNS records, or you need a hand from a MailChimp Expert and Klaviyo Master with over 8 years of experience, get in touch below!<\/b><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/lowgravitysolutions.com\/product\/configure-validate-sending-domain-spf-dkim-dmarc\/” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Click here to get help with your SPF, DMARC, or DKIM in MailChimp & Klaviyo” button_alignment=”center” _builder_version=”4.9.6″ _module_preset=”default”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Making sure your domain is set up properly is the first step to avoiding your emails ending up in the spam folder. The three things you really need to be concerned with if you\u2019re planning on using MailChimp or Klaviyo are your SPF (Sender Policy Framework), DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail), and then you can publish […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4622,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[78],"tags":[104,100,81],"yoast_head":"\nSender Policy Framework (SPF)<\/span><\/h2>\n
Why you should care about SPF:<\/span><\/h3>\n
Setting up SPF in MailChimp<\/span><\/h3>\n
How to set up SPF in Klaviyo<\/span><\/h3>\n
DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM)<\/span><\/h2>\n
What is DKIM?<\/span><\/h3>\n
How to set up DKIM in MailChimp<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n
<\/ul>\n
\n
How to set up DKIM in Klaviyo<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n
Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance (DMARC)<\/span><\/h2>\n
What is it?<\/span><\/h3>\n
How to publish a DMARC record<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n
\n
<\/ul>\n