If you use a custom email domain (e.g. @yourbusinessname.com, rather than @gmail.com), a simple way to boost email deliverability is to check, define, and resolve any errors with your domain's DKIM, SPF, and DMARC records. These records help email recipients identify the authenticity of an email and its origin, and when they’re set up correctly, you can decrease the likelihood of your email being marked as spam or rejected.

To learn more about what DKIM, SPF, and DMARC records are–and why they’re important for email deliverability—check out this article.

If you choose to integrate your business email that uses a custom domain with HoneyBook, you’re able to test deliverability right from your Integrations tab. Doing so will send a test email that checks your domain’s DKIM, SPF, and DMARC records, and provides you with targeted suggestions for resolving any errors.

In this article, we'll cover:

How to test your custom domain's deliverability
How to resolve an error with DKIM, SPF, or DMARC

Testing your custom domain’s deliverability

PLEASE NOTE: We offer this test for members who have integrated their email with HoneyBook, and use a custom domain (e.g. @yourbusinessname.com, rather than @gmail.com). If you use HoneyBook’s default email sending service ([email protected]), you automatically leverage our sending reputation and we handle DKIM, SPF, and DMARC records for you.

Integrated your email that uses a custom domain with HoneyBook, but don't see this test in your account yet? It's coming soon.

To test your custom domain's deliverability:

1. Click your profile photo in the top right corner of your screen.

2. Select Company Settings.

3. Click the Integrations tab.

4. Under Email Integration, select Send Test Email.

We’ll send a quick test message, which automatically checks your domain’s DKIM, SPF, and DMARC records. You can run this test at any time to ensure all is running smoothly.

If you receive an error message, locate the message below for more information and steps to resolve the issue.

Resolving a deliverability issue

If you receive an error message when running the deliverability test, there may be an issue with your domain’s DKIM, SPF, or DMARC configuration. Refer to the error message below and click on the drop-down for steps and resources to resolve the issue.

PLEASE NOTE: While HoneyBook is able to check these records for you and notify you of any issues, defining these records is done entirely outside of HoneyBook. HoneyBook is not able to complete this process for you, and you will not need any information from, or enter any information into, your HoneyBook account.

Defining DKIM, SPF and DMARC records is done directly in your domain provider’s Domain Name System (DNS) settings, using information from your email provider.

Learn more about setting up DKIM, SPF, and DMARC.

SPF record not found

Your SPF record is not defined and you will need to work with your provider to configure it.

To define the SPF record:

1. Log in to the management console for your domain provider.

Not sure who your provider is?

1. Visit this resource.

2. Enter your domain name and click Lookup.

HoneyBook Tip: If your email address is [email protected], your domain name should be entered as: honeybook.com.

3. Scroll down to the Registrar Information section. Your provider will be listed as the Name.

2. Locate the page where you update DNS TXT records for your domain.

3. While the exact process varies by provider, here are resources to define SPF for some of the most common providers:

4. Once you've added the record, remember to save your changes.

PLEASE NOTE: While HoneyBook is able to check this record for you and notify you of the error, defining an SPF record is done outside of HoneyBook and directly in your domain provider's Domain Name System (DNS) settings. HoneyBook is not able to complete this process for you.

Invalid SPF record syntax

While your SPF record is defined, there is an error with the syntax which can cause SPF to be read incorrectly.

PLEASE NOTE: While HoneyBook is able to check this record for you and notify you of the error, resolving it is done outside of HoneyBook and directly in your domain provider's Domain Name System (DNS) settings. HoneyBook is not able to complete this process for you.

While the exact process varies by provider, here are resources for updating SPF for some of the most common providers:

Not sure who your provider is?

1. Visit this resource.

2. Enter your domain name and click Lookup.

HoneyBook Tip: If your email address is [email protected], your domain name should be entered as: honeybook.com.

3. Scroll down to the Registrar Information section. Your provider will be listed as the Name.

Unknown SPF issue

SPF is defined and the syntax is correct, but an unknown error is occurring.

While the exact process to resolve an unknown SPF issue varies by provider, here are resources for some of the most common providers:

Not sure who your provider is?

1. Visit this resource.

2. Enter your domain name and click Lookup.

HoneyBook Tip: If your email address is [email protected], your domain name should be entered as: honeybook.com.

3. Scroll down to the Registrar Information section. Your provider will be listed as the Name.

DKIM invalid

There is a DKIM signature in the email headers, but the signature is invalid. This can happen due to an incorrect entry in the DNS record (for example, a public-key (p=) is required and this is omitted), DNS propagation delay, and more.

While the exact process varies by provider, here are resources to resolve this issue for some of the most common providers:

Not sure who your provider is?

1. Visit this resource.

2. Enter your domain name and click Lookup.

HoneyBook Tip: If your email address is [email protected], your domain name should be entered as: honeybook.com.

3. Scroll down to the Registrar Information section. Your provider will be listed as the Name.

DKIM not signed

There is no DKIM signature included in email headers, which means you likely need to update the DNS records.

While the exact process varies by provider, here are resources to resolve this issue for some of the most common providers:

Not sure who your provider is?

1. Visit this resource.

2. Enter your domain name and click Lookup.

HoneyBook Tip: If your email address is [email protected], your domain name should be entered as: honeybook.com.

3. Scroll down to the Registrar Information section. Your provider will be listed as the Name.

DMARC record not found

Your DMARC record is not defined and you will need to define your DMARC records directly in your provider’s DNS settings using information from your email provider.

PLEASE NOTE: While HoneyBook is able to check this record for you and notify you of the error, defining and adding a DMARC record is done outside of HoneyBook and directly in your domain provider's Domain Name System (DNS) settings. HoneyBook is not able to complete this process for you.

To define the DMARC record:

1. Since your DMARC record does not exist, you will not find this record anywhere and will need to create one. You can type this up and store it anywhere until you're ready to add it to your domain provider.

This is a TXT record with three elements: the v, p, and rua tags
Here is an example: v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:[email protected]

Need extra guidance on what to enter for each element? Check out step 2 of this resource.

To add the DMARC record:

1. Log in to the management console for your domain provider.

Not sure who your provider is?

1. Visit this resource.

2. Enter your domain name and click Lookup.

HoneyBook Tip: If your email address is [email protected], your domain name should be entered as: honeybook.com.

3. Scroll down to the Registrar Information section. Your provider will be listed as the Name.

2. Locate the page where you update DNS TXT records for your domain.

3. While the exact process varies by provider, here are resources to add DMARC for some of the most common providers:

4. Once you've added the record, remember to save your changes.

PLEASE NOTE: It can take up to 48 hours for DMARC records to start coming in. After this time, you can run the deliverability test in HoneyBook again to make sure all is set up properly.

Invalid DMARC record syntax

While your DMARC record is defined, there is an error with the syntax which can cause your DMARC record to be read incorrectly. The most common errors include missing or incorrect characters, extra characters, or bad quoting.

You will need to correct your DMARC records directly in your domain provider’s DNS settings using information from your email provider.

To update the DMARC record:

1. Log in to the management console for your domain provider.

Not sure who your provider is?

1. Visit this resource.

2. Enter your domain name and click Lookup.

HoneyBook Tip: If your email address is [email protected], your domain name should be entered as: honeybook.com.

3. Scroll down to the Registrar Information section. Your provider will be listed as the Name.

2. Locate the page where you update DNS TXT records for your domain.

3. While the exact process varies by provider, here are resources to add DMARC for some of the most common providers:

4. Once you've updated the record, remember to save your changes.

DMARC version is invalid or missing

While your DMARC record is defined, the DMARC version in your record is invalid or is missing. In general, the default version for DMARC is DMARC1.

You will need to correct your DMARC records directly in your domain provider’s DNS settings using information from your email provider.

To update the DMARC record:

1. Log in to the management console for your domain provider.

Not sure who your provider is?

1. Visit this resource.

2. Enter your domain name and click Lookup.

HoneyBook Tip: If your email address is [email protected], your domain name should be entered as: honeybook.com.

3. Scroll down to the Registrar Information section. Your provider will be listed as the Name.

2. Locate the page where you update DNS TXT records for your domain.

3. While the exact process varies by provider, here are resources to add DMARC for some of the most common providers:

4. Once you've updated the record, remember to save your changes.

DMARC policy is invalid or missing

While your DMARC record is defined, the DMARC policy in your record is invalid or is missing. You will need to correct your DMARC records directly in your domain provider’s DNS settings using information from your email provider.

To update the DMARC record:

1. Log in to the management console for your domain provider.

Not sure who your provider is?

1. Visit this resource.

2. Enter your domain name and click Lookup.

HoneyBook Tip: If your email address is [email protected], your domain name should be entered as: honeybook.com.

3. Scroll down to the Registrar Information section. Your provider will be listed as the Name.

2. Locate the page where you update DNS TXT records for your domain.

3. While the exact process varies by provider, here are resources to add DMARC for some of the most common providers:

4. Once you've updated the record, remember to save your changes.

Once you've made the appropriate changes in your domain provider's DNS settings, you're all set—nothing needs to be done in HoneyBook. However, you can always run the deliverability test again to make sure the error is fixed.

Want to learn more?

Still have questions? Feel free to send us a message by clicking the Question Mark icon on any HoneyBook page. Our team is always happy to help!