What is DKIM?
DKIM, or DomainKeys Identified Mail, is an email authentication method designed to detect forged sender addresses in emails. It allows an organization to take responsibility for a message that is in transit by affixing a digital signature to it. This signature can be validated by recipients to ensure the email was indeed sent from the domain it claims to be from, thus enhancing the credibility and deliverability of your
email marketing campaigns.
Email deliverability: DKIM helps improve the chances of your emails landing in the recipient's inbox rather than the spam folder.
Brand credibility: By verifying the domain, DKIM ensures that your emails are trusted by recipients and ISPs.
Security: It helps prevent
phishing attacks and email spoofing, thereby safeguarding your brand's reputation.
Generate the DKIM keys: You need a DKIM key pair, consisting of a private key and a public key. The private key will be used to sign your emails, while the public key will be published in your DNS records.
Publish the public key: Add the public key to your DNS records as a TXT record.
Configure your email server: Set up your email server to use the private key to sign outgoing emails.
Log in to your DNS provider's management console.
Navigate to the DNS records section.
Add a new TXT record.
Set the name field to the selector you have chosen (e.g., "default._domainkey.yourdomain.com").
Paste the DKIM public key into the value field.
Save the changes and allow some time for the DNS to propagate.
How to Verify DKIM Setup?
After adding the DKIM record, you should verify that it has been set up correctly. You can use various online tools for this purpose. Services like
MXToolbox and
DKIMCore offer DKIM lookup and validation tools. Simply enter your domain and selector to check if the DKIM record is properly configured.
Common Issues and Troubleshooting
Here are some common issues you might encounter and how to resolve them: DNS Propagation: DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to propagate. If your DKIM record is not being recognized, wait a bit longer and check again.
Incorrect Key Format: Ensure that your DKIM key is correctly formatted. Any extra spaces or missing characters can cause validation to fail.
Selector Issues: Make sure you are using the correct selector as defined in your DNS record. A mismatch can lead to failed verifications.
Conclusion
Adding a DKIM record is a crucial step for any email marketer looking to improve
email security and deliverability. By ensuring that your emails are authenticated, you can protect your brand and maintain the trust of your recipients. Follow the steps outlined above to add and verify your DKIM record, and enjoy the benefits of a more secure and credible email marketing strategy.