Hey everyone! I'm a developer but not an expert in emails, so I'm hoping you can help me out here. I've set up AWS SES with DMARC, SPF, and DKIM, but despite following the tutorials, I'm still struggling to get my emails through the spam filters.
Here's what I've done so far:
- **DKIM**: Set up via easy DKIM on SES with 3 CNAME records on Route 53.
- **SPF**: Created a MAIL FROM domain (mail.domain.com) and used the TXT record `v=spf1 include:amazonses.com ~all`.
- **DMARC**: Configured at `_dmarc.domain.com` with the value `v=DMARC1; p=none;`.
All my email checks confirm that these authentication methods are set up correctly, but I still haven't had any luck getting past the filters. I'd love it if someone could explain what each of these methods does in simple terms, or if you have tips for proper setup or common pitfalls to look for. Thanks!
4 Answers
Check out mail-tester.com! Send an email from your domain to the provided address, and it will analyze what's wrong with your setup. It’s a great starting point to see how your emails are performing.
Also, reconsider your DMARC setting. Setting it to `quarantine` instead of `none` can help you address potential issues with other servers more effectively.
`Quarantine` tells receiving servers to treat your emails with caution—like sending them to a spam folder for review, while `none` means the server won’t take any action.
If you're still having trouble, consider changing your SPF record from a soft fail `~all` to a hard fail `-all`. This could improve deliverability. Also, check if you’re sending a lot of repeated emails quickly, as that can flag your domain too.
That’s good advice! I didn’t realize sending a lot could hurt my reputation.
Definitely keep an eye on your sending patterns!
You've definitely done a lot already! Just remember that spam filters also analyze the content of your emails. If the emails are too sparse or look like spam, that could trigger the filters.
Try sending more structured content, and incorporating some branding like your company logo. Filters can be sensitive to how emails look as well as how they're authenticated. Just ensure that you send solicited emails too!
That's interesting! So, more detail could help? Should I stay away from using too many attachments?
Exactly! Keep the content informative with a mix of text and attachments that are cleanly formatted.
Alright, here’s the scoop on those authentication methods:
- **SPF** (Sender Policy Framework): This one lets mail servers know which IP addresses are allowed to send emails on behalf of your domain. Think of it as giving out permission slips.
- **DKIM** (DomainKeys Identified Mail): This adds a digital signature to your email, so recipients can verify that it hasn’t been tampered with during transit. It’s like a seal of authenticity.
- **DMARC** (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance): This method ties SPF and DKIM together and tells receiving servers how to handle emails that pass or fail these checks.
These methods help reduce email spoofing, but if your domain or IP has a bad reputation (or is new), it might still land in the spam folder. It's also helpful to have valid postmaster and abuse addresses set up on your domain, as some services check for those.
If you want emails to get delivered reliably, consider using a reputable email service provider. You might have to pay for it, but it's worth it if email deliverability is critical for you.
Thanks for breaking that down! But if DKIM and SPF are already in place, do I really need DMARC? Isn’t that a bit redundant?
Got it! What you’re saying makes total sense. Is there a way to check if my IP is blacklisted?
I’ll definitely try that! What’s the difference between `quarantine` and `none`?