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). 

In the article: 

• Basic: Check your authentication status in Marketing 360
• Advanced: Check your record setup statuses
• Finding Where Your Domain is Hosted
• Checking DKIM Record Setup
• Verifying DMARC Record Setup:
• Validating SPF Record Setup

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 Nurture app:

1. Click on Settings at the top of your Nurture 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 you have not yet setup a sending domain, then you can click Add domain. More information on setting up a sending domain.

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. 
   
3. Scroll down to the section that says “Your DNS hosting provider is:". This is where your domain is registered.  
   
   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.
   
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.
   
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.