Email Deliverability Master Series Part 2: Making Sense of SPF, DKIM, and DMARC

What's up Super Senders!

Welcome back! As we dive into the second part of our email deliverability series, let's strip away the jargon and the technicalities and take a friendly stroll through the world of email authentication. Today, we’re getting up close and personal with SPF, DKIM, and DMARC.

So, you're probably wondering, "What on earth are these acronyms?" Well, let's break them down one by one.

SPF (Sender Policy Framework)

Think of SPF like the bouncer at your favorite club. It's a security measure that checks whether the sender of an email (that's you) is on the guest list (the list of servers permitted to send emails on behalf of your domain). When you're on the list, ISPs are more likely to roll out the red carpet to the inbox for your emails.

DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail)

DKIM is like a wax seal on a royal decree. It's a digital signature that proves an email hasn't been tampered with during transmission. When ISPs see that DKIM seal, they know the email is legit and you're not some imposter trying to pull a fast one.

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

DMARC is the big boss. It takes SPF and DKIM, puts them together, and adds a policy. This policy tells ISPs what to do if an email doesn't pass SPF or DKIM checks. It's like the head security guy who lays down the law and makes sure everyone follows it.

Now, you may ask, "Why are these important for my email strategy?"

Well, it all comes back to trust. ISPs need to trust that you're a legitimate sender, not a spammer. Implementing SPF, DKIM, and DMARC is like showing your ID, providing a proof of address, and having a trusted friend vouch for you. It helps ISPs trust you and confidently deliver your emails straight to the recipient's inbox. And better inbox placement means better open rates, better click rates, and a better return on your email efforts.

Implementing these may sound a bit daunting, especially if you're not a tech whizz. But, with Super Send, you're not alone in this. We have the tools to make the implementation a breeze and the guidance to help you every step of the way.

Next time, we'll be chatting about building a strong sender reputation and why it's like having a gold-star rating in the email world. You won't want to miss it!

Remember, email isn't just about hitting send. It's about delivering value, one authenticated message at a time. Until our next email, keep it real, and keep it authentic.

Happy Sending!