More and more people are experiencing issues where their emails from a corporate email account do not reach clients or partners. In 90% of cases, this is not because the recipient is ignoring your emails, but rather because your domain is not properly configured.
Today, most email providers, including Google and Microsoft, have significantly tightened their email filtering to combat spam and phishing emails. If your domain lacks basic authentication mechanisms, these providers may block your emails outright or send them to the spam folder.
How to check what’s wrong?
The first step is to test your domain’s configuration and email records using a tool like MXToolbox. This tool will detect any critical DNS configuration issues.
The three most important records to check:
1. SPF (Sender Policy Framework) – defines which mail servers are allowed to send emails on behalf of your domain.
Correct configuration:
If SPF is missing or incorrect, email servers won’t be able to verify whether the message is from a trusted source.
2. DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) – a digital signature for your emails, confirming that they are authentic and have not been altered during transmission.
DKIM is generated by your mail server and added as a DNS record.
Without DKIM, your email may be flagged as suspicious or fraudulent.
3. DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance) – sets rules for checking SPF and DKIM and specifies what should be done with emails that fail authentication.
Minimum correct configuration:
If DMARC is missing or set to p=none, your domain is not protected against spoofing.
How to fix it?
- Check your SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records using MXToolbox.
- Correct any errors in your DNS settings. SPF and DMARC can be adjusted via your domain control panel, while DKIM usually needs to be activated in your email server settings.
- Test your email functionality after making changes – send test emails and ensure they land in the recipient’s inbox.
If your emails are still not delivered – check whether your server’s IP address has been blacklisted (RBL). You can also verify this using MXToolbox.
Email configuration is not magic – it’s a simple technical check. Spend 10 minutes verifying your setup, and you’ll never have to wonder why your emails are “not getting through” again. If the problem is related to your website settings, please contact us for assistance.