Due to recent Yahoo, AOL, and SBCGlobal email policy changes, misconfigured email servers may experience deliverability problems when sending to these addresses. This guide will help you understand and implement the necessary SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records to improve your email reliability.

Importance of SPF, DKIM, and DMARC

• SPF (Sender Policy Framework): An SPF record specifies a list of IP addresses authorized to send email on behalf of your domain. This helps prevent your domain from being used for spam.

• DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail): DKIM uses digital signatures to verify the authenticity of your emails. It adds a layer of security, confirming you are the legitimate sender.

• DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance): DMARC builds upon SPF and DKIM, defining what should happen to emails that don’t pass authentication checks (quarantine, reject, etc.). It also provides reporting to help you monitor your domain’s email health.

Steps For Compliance

1. Check Existing Records:

   • Use online tools (e.g., MXToolbox) to check if you already have SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records in place.
   • If you need to create or update them, proceed to the next steps.

2. Set Up SPF:

   • Work with your DNS hosting provider to create an SPF record.
   • Here is an article we wrote about setting up SPF: Setup SPF
   • Refer to Yahoo’s guidelines for details: https://senders.yahooinc.com/best-practices/

3. Implement DKIM:

   • Your email service provider should have instructions for generating and configuring DKIM keys for your domain.
   • Here is an article we wrote about setting up DKIM: Setup DKIM

4. Create a DMARC Record:

   • Start with a DMARC policy of “p=none” for monitoring. This allows you to analyze reports without immediate enforcement.
   • Use a DMARC record generator tool to assist in formatting and include a ‘rua’ tag for receiving reports.
   • Gradually progress to stricter
     enforcement (“p=quarantine” and later “p=reject”) as you gain confidence
     in your authentication setup.
   • Here is an article we wrote about setting up DMARC: Setup DMARC

Additional Tips

• Check Your Reputation: Use sender reputation checkers to ensure your sending IP addresses and domains are not on any blacklists.
• Monitor Reports: DMARC reports with an ‘rua’ tag will provide insights into potential authentication issues.
• Unsubscribe Mechanisms: Prominent unsubscribe links and List-Unsubscribe headers are essential for bulk mail.

Need Further Help?

If you continue to experience delivery issues after implementing these changes, submit a support ticket and provide:

• Your domain name
• Your email service provider
• Any error messages you’re receiving
• Copies of your SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records

support.cprou.com

Resources:

• Yahoo Best Practices: https://senders.yahooinc.com/best-practices/
• DMARC Setup Resources: https://dmarc.org

Disclaimer: Email authentication configurations can be complex. Consult with your email service provider or IT professional if you need further assistance.