Are you a Shopify store owner confused about the new email requirements coming into effect on February 1, 2024? Worry not! This straightforward guide is designed to help you understand and implement Shopify's DMARC record requirement in simple, non-technical terms.
What's Changing
Starting February 1, 2024, if you use a custom sender email for your Shopify store, you must have a DMARC record set up for your domain. This change is in response to new email sender policies by major email providers like Google and Yahoo.
This means if you're using an email address that reflects your store's domain for sending emails to your customers (rather than a generic email like Gmail or Yahoo), you need to add a DMARC record for that domain. A DMARC record is a type of DNS record that helps authenticate your emails.
Example:
Imagine your Shopify store is called "Bella Boutique" and your website is bellaboutique.com. If you use an email address like "contact@bellaboutique.com" to communicate with your customers, this is a custom sender email. For this email address to work smoothly with Shopify's new policy, you need to set up a DMARC record for the bellaboutique.com domain.
This setup ensures that emails you send from "contact@bellaboutique.com" are recognized as legitimate and reduces the chance of them being marked as spam. It's a way of verifying your email's identity to email providers and your customers.
Why DMARC?
DMARC stands for Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance. In simple terms, it's a security protocol that helps prevent email spoofing – a technique used by spammers to make emails look like they're coming from your domain. By setting up a DMARC record, you're telling email providers that your emails are legitimate and should be delivered to your customers' inboxes.
How to Set Up a DMARC Record:
- 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.
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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.
Verifying Your DMARC Record:
After setting up the DMARC record, it's important to check if it's correctly configured. Tools like DMARCian’s DMARC Record Checker can help with this.
Remember SPF and DKIM Too!
Alongside DMARC, SPF (Sender Policy Framework) and DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) are crucial for email authentication and deliverability. Let's break down what they are and how to set them up:
What is SPF?
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SPF is like a guest list for your domain's email. It tells email providers which servers are allowed to send emails on behalf of your domain.
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An SPF record is a TXT record in your domain's DNS settings that lists these authorized servers.
Setting Up SPF for Shopify:
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Create Your SPF Record: You can use an SPF record generator tool to create this record. Make sure to include
shops.shopify.comin the authorized domains list. -
Add the SPF Record to Your DNS: Log into your DNS management console and create a new TXT record with the SPF information (e.g.,
v=spf1 include:shops.shopify.com -all).
What is DKIM?
- DKIM is like a tamper-proof seal for your emails. It adds a digital signature to your email messages, verifying that they haven’t been altered in transit.
- A DKIM record is a CNAME record in your DNS settings that links to Shopify's digital signature.
Setting Up DKIM for Shopify:
- Extract CNAME Records from Shopify: In your Shopify admin, go to the “Sender email” section under Notifications and verify your email address.
- Add the CNAME Records to Your DNS: You will receive 4 CNAME records from Shopify. Add these to your DNS management console to set up DKIM.
By correctly configuring SPF and DKIM for your Shopify emails, you enhance security and improve email deliverability. This ensures that your communications with customers are reliable and trusted.
Conclusion
Setting up a DMARC record might seem technical, but it's a straightforward process. By following these steps, you'll comply with Shopify's new requirements, ensuring your emails continue to reach your customers without any issues.
How We Can Help
If you would like support in making these changes, we're here to help. We would need you to share your DNS management login information and we can make the changes on your behalf. Alternatively, if you'd like to hop on a call, we can walk you through it on a quick screenshare.
Click here to set up a call for assistance
