Are you a Shopify store owner feeling overwhelmed by the upcoming email requirements effective from February 1, 2024? No need to fret! This straightforward guide is here to help you grasp and implement Shopify's DMARC record requirement using plain, non-technical language.
What's Changing
Commencing on February 1, 2024, if you employ a custom sender email for your Shopify store, you must have a DMARC record set up for your domain. This adjustment is a response to new email sender policies established by major email providers such as Google and Yahoo.
In practical terms, if you use an email address reflecting your store's domain to send messages to your customers, rather than a generic Gmail or Yahoo address, you'll need to add a DMARC record for that domain. A DMARC record is a specific DNS record that helps verify the authenticity of your emails.
For example:
Suppose your Shopify store is named "Bella Boutique," and your website is bellaboutique.com. If you use an email address like "contact@bellaboutique.com" for customer communication, which is a custom sender email, you need to establish a DMARC record for the bellaboutique.com domain.
This setup ensures that emails sent from "contact@bellaboutique.com" are seen as legitimate, reducing the likelihood of them being marked as spam. It's essentially a way of proving your email's identity to both email providers and your customers.
Why DMARC?
DMARC, short for Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance, is essentially a security protocol that helps prevent email spoofing. Email spoofing is a technique employed by spammers to make their emails appear as if they're originating from your domain. By setting up a DMARC record, you inform email providers that your emails are genuine and should be delivered to your customers' inboxes.
How to Set Up a DMARC Record:
Log Into Your Domain Registrar:
- Log Into Your Domain Registrar: Access the control panel of your domain registrar (where you purchased your domain).
- Navigate to DNS Management: Find the section for managing DNS (Domain Name System) settings.
- Add a TXT Record: You need to add a new TXT record with specific values:
- ~Type: TXT
- ~Host/Name/Sub Domain: _dmarc (formatted as _dmarc.yourdomain.com)
- ~Value/Text Record: v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:[your email]
- ~TTL (Time to Live): Set this to 1 hour or use the default value.
Remember SPF and DKIM Too!
In addition to DMARC, Sender Policy Framework (SPF) and DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) are crucial for email authentication and ensuring your emails are delivered. Let's delve into what they are and how to set them up:
What is SPF?
SPF acts like a guest list for your domain's email. It informs email providers which servers are authorized to send emails on behalf of your domain.
To set up SPF for Shopify:
- Create Your SPF Record: Utilize an SPF record generator tool to create the record, ensuring that shops.shopify.com is included in the authorized domains list.
- Add the SPF Record to Your DNS: Log in to your DNS management console and create a new TXT record containing the SPF information (e.g., v=spf1 include:shops.shopify.com -all).
What is DKIM?
DKIM functions as a tamper-proof seal for your emails. It adds a digital signature to your email messages, confirming they haven't been altered during transmission.
To set up DKIM for Shopify:
- Extract CNAME Records from Shopify: In your Shopify admin, navigate to the "Sender email" section under Notifications and verify your email address.
- Add the CNAME Records to Your DNS: You'll receive four CNAME records from Shopify; add these to your DNS management console to configure DKIM.
By correctly configuring SPF and DKIM for your Shopify emails, you enhance security and ensure reliable email delivery, fostering trust in your communications with customers.
Conclusion
Setting up a DMARC record may appear technical, but it's a straightforward process. By following these steps, you'll adhere to Shopify's new requirements, ensuring your emails reach your customers' inboxes seamlessly.
You should finish the process by applying the following number of records:
- 1 DMARC record applied
- 1 SPF Record applied (and consider applying a quarantine property)
- 4 DKIM properties
In addition, if you're looking to make sure all emails of any kind don't end up in spam or trash for receivers of your email campaigns or notifications, make sure to subscribe to a DMARC reporting software. You'll need to take gradual steps to apply a quarantine and eventually a rejection policy to your DMARC records over time.
How I Can Help You
If you require assistance with implementing these changes, we are here to support you. Please share your DNS management login information, and we can make the necessary adjustments on your behalf. Alternatively, if you prefer, we can guide you through the process via a quick screenshare call.
Click here to set up a call for assistance.
Additional Reading
For more detailed information, refer to Shopify's official documentation on this topic:
https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/intro-to-shopify/initial-setup/setup-your-email#dmarc
