How to verify your custom domain manually

Edited

Overview

Starting in February 2024, major inbox providers like Gmail and Yahoo require that bulk email senders use verified custom domains with authentication protocols: DKIM, SPF, and DMARC.

If you are using a custom domain email that has not yet been authenticated, your emails may be filtered as spam or blocked entirely. To maintain strong deliverability and sender reputation, manual domain authentication is required if you do not use Flodesk’s automatic setup option.

Need an easier option? You can also automatically verify your domain using our integration with Entri.

What You’ll Need

Before starting the manual setup:

Step-by-Step: Manually Authenticate Your Domain

Step 1: Access Domain Settings in Flodesk

Step 2: Start the Authentication Process

  • Click Authenticate now on your domain card

  • Select I’ll do it manually to begin the manual setup wizard

Step 3: Review Required DNS Records

Flodesk will display all the authentication records you need to add to your DNS settings.

Depending on your account type, you’ll either see:

Option A: 5 DNS records

  • 1 SPF record

  • 3 DKIM records

  • 1 DMARC record

Option B: 3 DNS records

  • 1 SPF record

  • 1 DKIM record

  • 1 DMARC record

Each record has a Copy button for quick transfer to your DNS provider’s control panel. You need to add the DKIM and SPF records as CNAME records, and the DMARC record as a TXT record.

Step 4: Log In to Your Domain Provider

  • Open a new browser tab

  • Sign in to your domain provider’s dashboard (e.g., GoDaddy, Namecheap, Squarespace)

Step 5: Add DNS Records

In your DNS manager:

  • Add SPF and DKIM records as CNAME

  • Add the DMARC record as a TXT

Paste each value exactly as provided in Flodesk.

Step 6: Return to Flodesk and Complete the Process

  • After entering the records in your domain provider’s settings, return to Flodesk

  • Click Next, then Done

Flodesk will begin monitoring your DNS records.

DNS Propagation Time

  • It may take up to 48 hours for your domain to be fully verified

  • During this time, your domain status will show as Pending

  • Partial verification (e.g., DKIM and DMARC verified, SPF pending) is normal

You do not need to re-enter or repeat the steps if records are still propagating.


Platform-Specific Video Tutorials

Need help navigating your DNS dashboard?
Watch a platform-specific video:

Video tutorial showing the domain authentication steps with GoDaddy as an example

Video tutorial showing the domain authentication steps with Shopify as an example

Video tutorial showing the domain authentication steps with Squarespace as an example

Video tutorial showing the domain authentication steps with Namecheap as an example

Summary

Manually verifying your custom domain ensures your emails reach inboxes and meet provider requirements.

To manually authenticate your domain:

  1. Go to My Account > Domain setup

  2. Click Authenticate now

  3. Select I’ll do it manually

  4. Copy and paste the provided DKIM, SPF, and DMARC records into your DNS provider

  5. Click Done in Flodesk

  6. Wait up to 48 hours for full verification

Using a verified custom domain is crucial for protecting your sender reputation, enhancing email performance, and meeting evolving email authentication standards.

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