Check Your Domain Authentication Status

Check Your Domain Authentication Status

To ensure that your emails are reaching your recipients successfully, you will want to make sure your domain is authenticated. There are two methods to check: on your email Campaign setup dashboard (Basic) or by using the tools provided by MXtoolbox (Advanced). 

 

Basic: Check your authentication status in Marketing 360

You can check to see if your domain is verified by navigating to the Sending Domains settings on your Email app:

  1. Click on Settings at the top of your Email dashboard.
  2. Select Sending Domains on the left-hand sidebar.
  3. Here, you will see a warning message if your sending domain is not yet authenticated. This page shows the status of whether you have a DKIM, DMARC, or SPF record set up in your domain registrar.

If your domain does not meet authentication requirements, or if you are using a generic email that ends in @gmail.com or @yahoo.com, the likelihood of your emails being marked as spam or undelivered increases substantially. 

 

Advanced: Check your record setup statuses

MXtoolbox is a tool that enables businesses to check important domain settings such as domain hosting information, DKIM record setup, DMARC record setup, and SPF record setup. 

This support article will guide you through the steps to use MXtoolbox to figure out where your domain is hosted and your domain authentication status.

 

1. Finding Where Your Domain is Hosted:

  1. Visit the MXtoolbox’s DNS lookup tool at https://mxtoolbox.com/DNSLookup.aspx
  2. Enter your domain name in the provided box and click on the DNS Lookup button. 
    Screenshot 2024-01-10 at 4.21.28 PM.png
  3. Scroll down to the section that says “Your DNS hosting provider is:". This is where your domain is registered.  
    Screenshot 2024-01-10 at 4.22.58 PM.png
    Note: If the search results do not tell you who your DNS hosting provider is, it is likely because your domain uses Custom Nameservers. This means that your DNS Records are managed somewhere other than your domain registrar. If this is the case, then you can email support@marketing360.com and mention that your search for your registrar did not turn up any results; our Support Team can help find out the required information.

 

2. Checking DKIM Record Setup:

  1. Visit mxtoolbox.com/dkim.aspx
  2. In the Domain Name field, enter your domain name. In the Selector field, enter cm
  3. Click DKIM Lookup.
  4. The results will show you the status of your DKIM record, indicating whether it is correctly configured or if there are any issues that need to be resolved.

If you find that you do not have a DKIM record added, then you can follow these steps to add a DKIM Record to your sending domain.

 

3. Verifying DMARC Record Setup:

DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance) provides email senders with instructions on how to handle unauthenticated emails sent from their domain. To verify your DMARC record using MXtoolbox:

  1. Visit the MXtoolbox website, then click DMARC at the top of the page to open the "DMARC Lookup" tool.
    Screenshot 2024-01-08 at 11.55.27 AM.png
  2. Enter your domain name in the provided field and click on the DMARC Lookup button. 
  3. The results will display your DMARC policy along with additional information on its configuration, providing you with insights into whether it is correctly set up or requires adjustments.

If you find that you do not have a DMARC record added, then you can follow these steps to add the DMARC code in your domain registrar.

 

4. Validating SPF Record Setup

The Sender Policy Framework (SPF) is crucial for protecting your domain against email spoofing and phishing attacks. Verify your SPF record using MXtoolbox as follows:

  1. On the MXtoolbox website, under the SuperTool tab, select the arrow next to the search bar, then select SPF Record Lookup from the dropdown menu.
    Screenshot 2024-01-08 at 12.00.30 PM.png
  2. Enter your domain name in the designated box and click on the SPF Record Lookup button.
  3. The results will indicate the status of your SPF record, ensuring it is correctly configured to enhance your email security.

If you find that you do not have a SPF record added, then you can follow these steps to add a SPF Record in your domain registrar.


    • Related Articles

    • Email Authentication Troubleshooting

      Email authentication is a technical process that requires working with Domain Name Servers (DNS). For those who aren't used to working with DNS, it can be a confusing process, as each DNS host uses different configuration software, and it can ...

    • Authenticate Your Sending Domains for Emails

      If you send emails using the Email app on Marketing 360®, it is required that you authenticate your sending domain (the domain name that is attached to the email address where you send emails from). This allows receiving mail servers to verify that ...

    • Why we only send emails from authenticated domains

      Email authentication is essential for reducing the risk of emails being blocked or sent to spam. Authentication allows servers and people to verify that the email is legitimately sent from your organization, and that the servers sending the mail are ...

    • Why are Orange Bars Appearing Under my Email Address When Setting up an Email Campaign?

      When you are setting up an email campaign, you will be prompted to enter the suffix of your company or organization's email address (the web address that follows the @ in the email address). You may see orange bars appear under this field. This means ...

    • What to do if You See a High Number of Opens for a Single Email Recipient

      If you are viewing the Recipient Activity for an Email Campaign and see a larger-than-normal number of email "opens" and link clicks from one specific recipient, then it is most likely due to their email provider's firewall or security measures. This ...