Updated Feb 20, 2024
When you're emailing important documents to your clients, it's important that those emails are being delivered and not going into a spam folder. Setting up DKIM and SPF records helps reduce the chances of emails ending up in spam.
What are DKIM and SPF records?
Both DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) and SPF (Sender Policy Framework) help your email provider recognize that any emails sent through Dubsado are legitimate. In other words, both help reduce your emails from going into spam and improve email deliverability. This is especially important if you have an email address with a custom domain name.
The main difference between DKIM and SPF is how they improve email deliverability. DKIM uses a digital signature that matches an encrypted key within your domain host, while SPF authorizes specific email hosts to send emails from your domain host.
Do I need to set up SPF and DKIM?
On February 1st, 2024, Google and Yahoo introduced new standards for all senders delivering mail to improve email security and reduce spam. Part of those new standards involve a required implementation of both SPF and DKIM when previously, they were optional.
Whether or not you need to take any action to set up SPF and DKIM depends on whether you’re using a custom domain email.
You don’t use a custom domain email
If your email address is not a custom domain email (such as your email ends with @gmail.com, @outlook.com, or @icloud.com) you don’t need to do anything! SPF and DKIM are set up automatically through your email provider.
You use a custom domain email
If your email address is a custom domain email (hello@yourwebsite.com), you will need to set up both SPF and DKIM for your domain. To do this, we've outlined help articles to follow based on your email provider:
Set up SPF: Follow Google’s help article to create or update an SPF record. If you run into an SPF verification error in Dubsado, you can follow our help article on adding an SPF record.
Set up DKIM: Follow Google’s help article to configure and enable DKIM. Please note that setting up DKIM is done solely through your Google account — you won’t be prompted to set up DKIM from Dubsado.
Microsoft or GoDaddy
Set up SPF: Follow Microsoft’s help article to create or update an SPF record. If you run into an SPF verification error in Dubsado, you can follow our help article on adding an SPF record.
Set up DKIM: Follow Microsoft’s help article to configure and enable DKIM. Please note that setting up DKIM is done solely through your Microsoft account — you won’t be prompted to set up DKIM from Dubsado.
All other providers
Set up SPF: Follow your email provider’s help article to create an SPF record. If you run into an SPF verification error in Dubsado, you can follow our help article on adding an SPF record.
Set up DKIM: Follow our help article to configure and enable DKIM.
FAQ
What if I added Dubsado IP addresses to my domain host in the past?
At one point, we may have provided you with IP addresses to input into your SPF records. You can find out if you have previously done this by checking your domain host’s DNS settings, and then looking for Dubsado IP addresses 138.68.63.10 or 198.199.95.53. It may look similar to the example below:
v=spf1 ip4:138.68.63.10 ip4:198.199.95.53 ~all
If you see this, you’ll want to remove and replace these IP addresses with a:spf.dubsado.com. When completed, your DNS value will appear as:
v=spf1 a:spf.dubsado.com ~all
Using this value is more convenient than using IP addresses because you don't have to change your DNS settings each time we make an update to our email servers. It’s easier for you to maintain!
I set these records up and my emails to clients are still going to spam.
Unfortunately, spam filters change frequently. Please check out our article on email deliverability for additional tips on keeping your emails out of spam.
What's the difference between my email host and my domain host?
When you have a custom domain for your website (yourdomain.com), that domain requires a host. Your email host is the email provider for your domain (hello@yourdomain.com).
Your email host might be the same as your domain host, but it might also be different. For example, your domain might be hosted by Cloudflare, while your email is hosted through Google.
Your email host will provide the SPF record value that you need to add to the DNS records with your domain host. If you need help, start by reaching out to the support for your domain host.
If I change domain hosts, do I need to update my DKIM and SPF records?
Yes. If you move your domain to a new host, you will need to repeat the setup process.
I don't feel comfortable making these changes in my domain. Can you help me?
Unfortunately, Dubsado isn't able to provide support for setup questions specific to your domain or email host. Please contact your domain host for assistance!