Companion Guide: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC – and Why They Matter?

What Are SPF, DKIM, and DMARC—and Why They Matter?

If you’re sending emails from your own domain (like you@yourwebsite.com), you need to make sure they get delivered and don’t end up in the spam folder. That’s where SPF, DKIM, and DMARC come in. These are security settings that prove you’re the real sender and not a spammer or scammer.

Here’s a simple explanation of each:

SPF (Sender Policy Framework)

This tells email services like Gmail or Yahoo which servers are allowed to send emails on your behalf. If someone tries to send fake emails from your domain, SPF helps block them.

Why it matters: It reduces spam and improves your deliverability—making sure your emails land in the inbox.

DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail)

This adds a digital signature to your emails. It’s like signing your email with a special code that proves it really came from you and hasn’t been changed along the way.

Why it matters: It protects your emails from being altered and helps email providers trust your messages more.

DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance)

DMARC uses both SPF and DKIM to decide what to do with suspicious emails—block them, quarantine them, or let them through. It also sends you reports so you can see if anyone is trying to fake your emails.

Why it matters: It prevents phishing attacks and gives you control over your domain’s email security.

How to Set Up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC in GoDaddy

If you bought your domain name from GoDaddy, here’s a simple step-by-step guide to set up these important records.

Step 1: Log Into GoDaddy

1. Go to godaddy.com.
2. Log into your account.
3. Click on “My Products” and find your domain.
4. Click “DNS” to manage your DNS settings.

Step 2: Add Your SPF Record

Most email services (like AWeber, GetResponse, or Mailchimp) give you the exact SPF record to use. Here’s how you add it:

1. Scroll down to “Records”.
2. Click “Add”.
3. For Type, select TXT.
4. In Name, enter @ (this means it applies to your whole domain).
5. In Value, paste your SPF record. It looks something like this:
   ini

   CopyEdit

   v=spf1 include:mailservice.com ~all


   ➡️ Example: If you’re using AWeber, they might give you:

   ini

   CopyEdit

   v=spf1 include:send.aweber.com ~all

6. Click Save.

Step 3: Add Your DKIM Record

1. Go back to Records and click Add again.
2. For Type, select TXT.
3. In Name, enter the selector name your email service gives you (it might look like default._domainkey or something similar).
4. In Value, paste the DKIM key provided by your email platform. It’s a long string of random-looking letters and numbers.
5. Click Save.

Step 4: Add Your DMARC Record

1. Click Add one more time under Records.
2. For Type, select TXT.
3. In Name, enter:
   nginx

   CopyEdit

   _dmarc

4. In Value, enter your DMARC policy. Here’s a simple example you can use (replace yourdomain.com with your domain):
   ini

   CopyEdit

   v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:postmaster@yourdomain.com


   p=none means you’re just monitoring for now.
   Later, you can change it to p=quarantine (to send suspicious emails to spam) or p=reject (to block them completely).

5. Click Save.

Step 5: Verify Your Settings

• Your email service (AWeber, GetResponse, Mailchimp, etc.) usually has a tool to check if you set things up correctly.
• You can also use free tools like:
  • MXToolbox
  • dmarcian.com

Final Tip:

Setting up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC might sound technical at first, but it’s really just copy and paste once you have the right info.

Doing this protects your email reputation and helps your emails get delivered to the inbox, not spam.