Summary
DMARC's impact on email deliverability is generally considered indirect. While it might not directly boost inbox placement, it is pivotal in safeguarding sender reputation, preventing spoofing and phishing attacks, and guiding email receivers on how to handle unauthenticated mail. Correct SPF and DKIM alignment are critical for DMARC's efficacy. Many emphasize starting with a 'p=none' policy for monitoring before moving to stricter policies. DMARC facilitates BIMI, potentially improving engagement. Some experts suggest deploying aligned SPF and DKIM without a DMARC record as a less complex alternative. However, one expert notes that DMARC policy statements may lower deliverability by design and it is built on some fundamental misunderstandings. Most agree that DMARC builds upon SPF and DKIM to protect a domain.
Key findings
- Indirect Deliverability: DMARC primarily improves deliverability indirectly by protecting sender reputation and preventing malicious activities like spoofing.
- Reputation and Trust: DMARC is crucial for building a positive sender reputation and establishing trust with mailbox providers.
- SPF/DKIM Dependence: DMARC's effectiveness hinges on correctly configured SPF and DKIM records.
- Policy Enforcement: DMARC allows domain owners to define policies for how email receivers should handle messages that fail authentication.
- Phishing and Spoofing Prevention: A primary goal of DMARC is to combat phishing and spoofing attacks.
- Monitoring Importance: Regular monitoring of DMARC reports is essential for identifying and addressing deliverability issues.
- Alignment Without DMARC: Some mailbox providers check SPF/DKIM alignment even in the absence of a DMARC record.
Key considerations
- Complexity: DMARC deployments can be complex and should not be seen as a simple DNS record update.
- Gradual Implementation: Start with a 'p=none' policy and gradually move to stricter policies based on monitoring and analysis.
- Deliverability Trade-offs: Stricter DMARC policies can impact deliverability if not configured and monitored correctly.
- Expert Disagreement: Experts have differing opinions on DMARC's direct impact on deliverability and whether policy is based on a misunderstanding.
- Domain Abuse: DMARC's benefits are more pronounced if the domain is actively targeted by abuse.
What email marketers say
12 marketer opinions
While DMARC doesn't directly guarantee improved email deliverability, it plays a crucial role in protecting sender reputation and preventing domain spoofing and phishing. By building trust with mailbox providers through authentication and policy enforcement, DMARC indirectly enhances deliverability. Implementing DMARC requires careful setup of SPF and DKIM, and a gradual approach to stricter policies is recommended. Monitoring DMARC reports is essential for identifying issues and maintaining a healthy email program.
Key opinions
- Indirect Deliverability: DMARC improves deliverability indirectly by protecting sender reputation and preventing spoofing.
- Reputation Building: DMARC is crucial for building a positive sender reputation by signalling trustworthiness to ISPs.
- Brand Protection: DMARC protects brands by preventing malicious actors from using their domains.
- Importance of SPF and DKIM: Correctly set up SPF and DKIM records are a prerequisite for effective DMARC implementation.
- Gradual Implementation: It is recommended to start with a 'p=none' policy and gradually move to stricter policies based on DMARC reports.
- Policy Enforcement: DMARC policies dictate how recipient mail servers should handle emails that fail authentication.
- Comprehensive Solution: DMARC provides a comprehensive email authentication solution building upon SPF and DKIM.
- Domain Control: DMARC allows senders to control how their domain is used and ensures that legitimate emails are properly authenticated.
Key considerations
- Complexity: DMARC deployments can be complex and should not be considered a simple DNS record update.
- Monitoring: Continuous monitoring of DMARC reports is essential for identifying issues and optimizing email authentication.
- Potential Impact: Stricter DMARC policies may impact deliverability if not configured correctly.
- Careful Configuration: DMARC policies dictate how recipient mail servers should handle emails failing authentication and need to be configured correctly.
- Active Abuse: DMARC might be more beneficial if the domain used is actively abused by bad actors.
Marketer view
Email marketer from Validity shares that DMARC helps improve sender reputation. By preventing unauthorized use of your domain, it signals trustworthiness to mailbox providers, increasing the likelihood that your emails will reach the inbox.
19 Nov 2023 - Validity
Marketer view
Email marketer from Postmark explains that DMARC can improve deliverability. When configured correctly, DMARC protects your domain from being spoofed, increasing the likelihood that your emails will reach the inbox. They suggest working towards a 'p=reject' policy, but only after careful monitoring and testing.
10 Feb 2023 - Postmark
What the experts say
5 expert opinions
Experts generally agree that DMARC's effect on email deliverability is indirect and nuanced. While it doesn't directly improve deliverability, it's crucial for guiding receivers on how to handle unauthenticated mail and protecting sender reputation. Correct alignment of SPF and DKIM is vital, and some mailbox providers check for alignment even without a DMARC record. DMARC facilitates BIMI, potentially boosting engagement, but a 'less painful' approach involves aligning SPF and DKIM without publishing a DMARC record. However, other policies may negatively affect deliverability. DMARC as a concept is based on some fundamental misunderstandings about email.
Key opinions
- Indirect Deliverability Impact: DMARC primarily influences deliverability indirectly by protecting sender reputation and providing instructions for handling unauthenticated mail.
- Alignment is Key: Proper alignment of SPF and DKIM is crucial for DMARC to function effectively.
- Alignment Checks Without DMARC: Some mailbox providers are already checking for SPF and DKIM alignment, even in the absence of a DMARC record.
- BIMI Facilitation: DMARC facilitates BIMI, which can potentially increase engagement and delivery rates for eligible senders.
- Alternative Approach: Deploying aligned SPF and DKIM without publishing a DMARC record can offer similar benefits with less complexity.
- Potentially lowers deliverability: DMARC Policy Statements will lower deliverability by design.
Key considerations
- Complexity: Implementing DMARC can be complex.
- SPF/DKIM Alignment: Ensuring correct SPF and DKIM alignment is essential for DMARC effectiveness.
- Monitoring: Although not explicitly mentioned, DMARC reporting should be monitored.
- Strategic Approach: Consider deploying aligned SPF and DKIM without publishing DMARC for a less complex solution, or use p=none for DMARC records.
- Misunderstanding: DMARC policy is based on a misunderstanding of how people actually use email.
Expert view
Expert from Word to the Wise answers that DMARC won't directly improve deliverability, but gives you control over what happens to unauthenticated mail which protects your reputation, which then affects deliverability.
19 Jan 2024 - Word to the Wise
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks explains DMARC with p=none doesn’t do anything and DMARC with any other policy statement will lower deliverability by design, because mail can be modified in transit which will break authentication. She also suggests ESPs should support and promote alignment for their customers, but DMARC is ultimately a company decision. She also states DMARC policy is based on a misunderstanding of how people actually use email.
4 Mar 2022 - Email Geeks
What the documentation says
4 technical articles
DMARC documentation consistently highlights its role in combating phishing and spoofing. By enabling domain owners to define how email receivers should manage messages failing authentication (SPF and DKIM), DMARC ensures that only legitimate emails are accepted. This control over domain usage is crucial for protecting recipients from fraudulent messages and improving deliverability by reducing the risk of spoofing attacks.
Key findings
- Anti-Phishing & Spoofing: DMARC's primary function is to prevent phishing and spoofing attacks.
- Domain Owner Control: DMARC empowers domain owners to specify how email receivers should handle messages failing authentication.
- Authentication Focus: DMARC relies on SPF and DKIM authentication checks to identify legitimate emails.
- Improved Deliverability: DMARC helps improve deliverability by ensuring only legitimate emails are accepted.
- Fraud Protection: DMARC is crucial for protecting recipients from fraudulent email messages.
Key considerations
- SPF/DKIM Dependence: DMARC's effectiveness is dependent on the correct implementation of SPF and DKIM.
- Policy Definition: Domain owners must carefully define their DMARC policy to instruct email receivers on handling failed authentication.
Technical article
Documentation from RFC Editor explains DMARC is a protocol that allows email senders to protect their domains from unauthorized use, commonly known as email spoofing. It enables domain owners to specify how email receivers should handle messages that fail authentication checks.
26 May 2022 - RFC Editor
Technical article
Documentation from DMARC.org explains DMARC’s primary goal is to combat phishing and spoofing by allowing domain owners to specify how email receivers should handle messages that fail authentication checks (SPF and DKIM).
10 Dec 2024 - DMARC.org
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