Adding the txt record to your DNS settings to abide by new Google and Yahoo rules for bulk email-sending
For Kajabi users, and everyone else!
Did you get the email from your email provider saying you needed to update your DNS records by February 1st? I’ve done a quick video on how to add the relevant txt record to your DNS settings. I’ve used Kajabi as an example in the video, but the principle is the same no matter where you are sending your emails from.
So what’s it all about?
So Gmail and Yahoo are introducing new rules around bulk-sending of emails. Starting in February 2024, these new rules may impact how you send your newsletters. To prepare for how these changes can affect your sending, I've compiled a short checklist with simple steps you can take to align with these new requirements.
Step 1: Remove Gmail or other public domains from your “from” address.
To meet the new sender requirements, I strongly recommend using an email address linked to your own domain rather than relying on public domains, such as Gmail when sending your newsletters. This approach ensures compliance and email deliverability.
For example, rather than using name@gmail.com to send your newsletters, the sender address should instead be in the format name@yourdomain.com to ensure better deliverability.
Step 2: Align your from address with your custom domain
Domain alignment is an additional authentication method that lets you use your own domain throughout the entire email message, including the email header, tracking links, and image hyperlinks. It is an advanced yet optional feature to further boost deliverability.
The benefits of aligning your domain include:
Your sending domain will appear more trustworthy and credible to spam filters.
All links will be redirected using your own domain instead of the domain of your email app.
Your “From” address will display as your own domain, and not as “via kajabi.net for example”.
You will have better control over your personal sending reputation via your sending domain and links inside the emails.
Step 3: Make it easy to unsubscribe
An unsubscribed recipient refers to an individual who has opted out or removed themselves from an email list. Typically, this is done through an unsubscribe link that is required in all professional email apps
Making it easy for people to unsubscribe is crucial. When recipients find it difficult to unsubscribe, they are more likely to mark emails as spam.
Step 4: Setup a DMARC policy
For larger email senders, especially those sending 5,000 or more emails at a time, implementing a DMARC policy is a must. This involves adding a specific txt file to your DNS settings with your domain hosting provider.
If you are a Kajabi user, you will have received an email asking you to do this by February 1st. Here's a link to a video I recorded on how to do it.
If you don't know who your domain hosting provider is, go to who.is and type in your domain.
If you are sending emails from Squarespace Email Campaigns, you don't need to do anything, particularly if you have your custom domain in your sender address (e.g yourname@yourdomain.com) If you are using a free or unverified address such as with @gmail.com or @yahoo.com, Squarespace will automatically add an authenticated Squarespace domain to your sender details. Either way, you don't need to do anything, but I do recommend having your custom domain in your sender address.
If I have set you up using Squarespace Email Campaigns, you don't need to do anything.
If you are sending over 5,000 emails at a time from a third-party provider such as MailerLite or Convertkit you will need to check their website to find out what the DMARC txt record is that you need to add to your domain hosting provider. The process will be the same as in the video. They have probably already emailed you about this.
Remember, you only need to do step 4 if you are sending a bulk email to over 5,000 contacts per day. Or if you want to be prepared for when you hit 5,000 subscribers.
I hope this helps.
