So you’ve added your domain — let’s say example.com — but you’re still not quite ready to send and receive email reliably. That’s because adding the domain is just step one.
To actually deliver messages without bouncing, landing in spam, or failing authentication, you need to configure a few DNS records. Let’s break them down.
1. MX Records: The Mailbox Locator
What they do: MX (Mail Exchanger) records tell the internet where to deliver inbound mail for your domain. Without them, incoming mail has nowhere to go.
Example:
example.com. 3600 IN MX 10 mail.example.com.
2. SPF: Authorize Your Sending Servers
What it does: Sender Policy Framework (SPF) is a TXT record that lists which mail servers are allowed to send on behalf of your domain.
Example:
example.com. 3600 IN TXT "v=spf1 include:mailprovider.com -all"
3. DKIM: Sign Your Outgoing Messages
What it does: DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) adds a cryptographic signature to your messages. It proves that the message hasn’t been tampered with and that it really came from your domain.
Example:
selector1._domainkey.example.com. 3600 IN TXT "v=DKIM1; k=rsa; p=MIIBIjANBg..."
4. DMARC: Guard Against Spoofing
What it does: DMARC ties SPF and DKIM together. It tells receiving mail servers how to handle suspicious mail that pretends to be from your domain.
Example:
_dmarc.example.com. 3600 IN TXT "v=DMARC1; p=quarantine; rua=mailto:dmarc-reports@example.com"
How Long Does It Take?
After publishing these records, allow up to 24 hours for DNS propagation. Once live, you can confirm setup in your email provider’s dashboard.
TL;DR
- Add MX for inbound mail
- Add SPF to authorize senders
- Add DKIM to sign mail
- Add DMARC to protect your brand
Do this, and your emails will actually get delivered where they belong — the inbox.
Automating the Setup
Manually copying and pasting DNS records works, but if you’re managing multiple domains or want to eliminate human error, automation is your friend.
Here are a few ways to streamline the process:
Cloudflare DNS Templates
Cloudflare lets you import/export DNS records via API or Terraform. You can store your “email baseline” (MX, SPF, DKIM, DMARC) and apply it instantly to new domains.
DNSRedo (purpose-built automation)
DNSRedo.com focuses specifically on email deliverability. It scans your domain, identifies missing records, and can auto-populate the correct values for your mail provider. Instead of chasing down TXT strings and copying keys, you hit a button and DNSRedo does the heavy lifting.
**Infrastructure as Code
**Tools like Terraform or Pulumi can manage DNS records as code. Define your SPF, DKIM, and DMARC once, then version-control and deploy them consistently across domains.
**Registrar APIs
**Some registrars (Namecheap, Google Domains, Route53) have APIs that let you script record creation. If you’re comfortable with Python/PowerShell, you can push out the entire email setup with one command.
Why Automate?
Consistency: No forgotten DKIM keys or typos in SPF.
Speed: Set up new domains in seconds, not hours.
Auditability: Store your DNS configs in Git and know exactly what changed and when.
If you’re serious about email deliverability and scaling domain management, automation isn’t optional — it’s the default.
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