Glossary
What are SPF, DKIM and DMARC?
SPF, DKIM and DMARC are three records in your domain's DNS that let mail providers check an email really comes from you. SPF lists the servers allowed to send for you, DKIM signs each message, and DMARC says what to do with mail that fails.
What does each one do?
- SPF names the mail servers that may send for your domain.
- DKIM adds a signature to each message that the receiver checks against a key in your DNS.
- DMARC tells receivers what to do when a message fails those checks, and where to send reports.
Why does it matter for outreach?
Gmail and Yahoo expect all three from anyone who sends to their users in volume. Without them, mail from a new domain is easy to fake, so providers trust it less and more of it lands in junk.
What does Propel check?
Propel checks your domain's SPF, DKIM and DMARC when you ask, and again while a new mailbox warms up, and names any that is missing. If the DNS can't be read at that moment, it says so and checks again, rather than marking your domain bad. See Connect a mailbox and send safely.