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DNS Setup - How to Authenticate Your Sending Domains with MyList

Domain authentication is essential to ensure your emails are trusted by email providers like Google and Yahoo. This guide simplifies the process of setting up authentication for your domains when using MyList.

Why Domain Authentication Matters

Your domain is a core part of your business identity. Sending emails from your domain builds trust and maintains strong relationships with your subscribers. Authentication:

  • Confirms your emails come from authorised sources.
  • Prevents tampering with your email content.
  • Boosts your email deliverability by reducing the risk of emails landing in spam.

Key Steps to Authenticate Your Sending Domain

  1. Use a Domain You Own Ensure the domain you use belongs to your organisation. If you don’t have one, purchase a domain right away.

  2. Authenticate Your Domain Use these three authentication methods:

    • DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail): Verifies content integrity.
    • SPF (Sender Policy Framework): Authorises servers to send on your behalf.
    • DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication): Prevents domain spoofing.

  3. Follow Email Best Practices

    • Obtain clear consent before emailing.
    • Honour unsubscribe requests promptly.

Setting Up Authentication in MyList

The process involves changes to your DNS records and your MyList account.

Steps Overview

  1. Choose a domain (e.g., mail.yourdomain.com) or subdomain for sending emails.
  2. Configure the domain in MyList by generating DKIM keys.
  3. Add TXT records to your DNS host.
  4. Verify your domain setup in MyList.

Detailed Setup Instructions

1. Add a Sending Domain in MyList
  • Log in to MyList and go to Clients.
  • Navigate to Settings > Email Setup.
  • Select Set up a Sending Domain and input the domain (e.g., mail.yourdomain.com).

MyList will check if the domain is registered and not a generic domain (like Gmail or Yahoo). Only domains you own can be authenticated.

2. Update Your DNS Records

Access your DNS host and add the required records provided by MyList. Follow one of these options:

  1. Copy-paste the provided TXT record directly into your DNS.
  2. Share instructions with someone who has DNS access.
  3. Use existing DNS settings if the domain is authenticated in another system.

How to Add TXT Records

  1. Create a new DNS record and set the type to TXT.
  2. Add the name (e.g., _domainkey.mail.yourdomain.com) and value fields as instructed by MyList.
  3. Set the TTL (Time-to-Live) to a minimum of 300 seconds (5 minutes).

Once updated, return to MyList and select I’ve added the records or Re-check records to verify.

3. Add a DMARC Record

DMARC protects your domain against spoofing by confirming alignment between SPF/DKIM and your domain.

Steps to Add DMARC

  1. Log in to your DNS host.
  2. Create a new TXT record.
  3. Set the name field to _dmarc (or _dmarc.mail.yourdomain.com if required).
  4. Copy this value: v=DMARC1; p=none;.
  5. Save the record with a TTL of 300 seconds or higher.

Return to MyList to verify the DMARC setup.

4. (Optional) Add an SPF Record

SPF is optional but recommended to enhance deliverability. Check if your domain already has an SPF record:

  • If yes, add include:_spf.createsend.com to the existing record after v=spf1.
  • If not, create a new TXT record with this value: v=spf1 include:_spf.createsend.com ~all.

Save the SPF record and verify it in MyList.

Common Challenges and Solutions

  • No Access to DNS Records? Share the setup instructions with your IT team or domain registrar. In MyList, hover over the instructions box, copy the details, and forward them to the relevant person.
  • Incompatible DNS Hosts: Some hosts don’t support semicolons (;) or underscores (_). Try replacing semicolons with \;. If the host doesn’t support underscores, consider switching to a compatible provider.