Improving Email Deliverability (SPF, DKIM, & DMARC)

If your emails are being marked as spam or failing to deliver, it is usually because your domain lacks proper authentication records. HostWP.io provides tools to set these up automatically.

What are these records?

• SPF (Sender Policy Framework): A list of IP addresses authorized to send email on behalf of your domain.
• DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail): Adds a digital signature to your emails, proving they weren’t tampered with during transit.
• DMARC: Tells receiving servers (like Gmail or Outlook) what to do if an email fails SPF or DKIM checks.

Step 1: Enable SPF and DKIM in cPanel

HostWP.io generates these records for you automatically. To ensure they are active:

1. Log in to your cPanel.
2. Under the Email section, click on Email Deliverability.
3. Find your domain in the list.
4. If the status says “Valid,” you are all set!
5. If it says “Problems Exist,” click the Repair button or Manage.
6. Click Install Suggested Record to apply the fix.

Step 2: What if I use Cloudflare or 3rd Party DNS Manager?

If your domain’s DNS is managed by Cloudflare (or another external provider), the “Repair” button in cPanel won’t work. You must copy the records manually:

1. In cPanel Email Deliverability > Manage.
2. Copy the Value for both the SPF and DKIM records.
3. Log in to Cloudflare and go to the DNS tab.
4. Add them as TXT records.
   • For SPF: Use @ as the name.
   • For DKIM: Use the specific selector name provided by cPanel (usually default._domainkey).

Step 4: How to Test Your Deliverability

Once you’ve set these up, you can test your “spam score” using free tools:

• Mail-Tester.com: Send a test email to the address they provide, and it will give you a score out of 10.

[!TIP] Avoid “Spammy” Subject Lines: Even with perfect DNS records, using all caps (LIKE THIS) or too many exclamation marks (!!!) in your subject line can still trigger spam filters.