Summary
Using a different 'from' domain than the subdomain configured in your ESP raises significant concerns about email spoofing and deliverability. Experts and documentation agree that proper authentication, using SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, is crucial to avoid being flagged as spam, damaging your domain reputation, and ensuring emails reach the inbox. While sending from two places using the same subdomain is possible with full DNS control and DKIM setup, inconsistencies between the 'from' domain and authentication settings can trigger spam filters. It is essential to align the 'from' domain with your brand, test authentication regularly, and monitor your domain reputation.
Key findings
- Spoofing Risk: Using a different 'from' domain without proper authentication can be seen as spoofing, leading to deliverability issues.
- Authentication is Key: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are essential for authenticating different 'from' domains and preventing deliverability problems.
- Domain Reputation Impact: Lack of proper authentication damages domain reputation, increasing spam classifications and reducing inbox placement.
- Mailed by Considerations: The 'mailed by' (return-path/SPF domain) doesn't necessarily need to match the 'from' domain, as long as they are within the same domain.
Key considerations
- Authentication Setup: Implement SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records to authenticate the 'from' domain and verify sender legitimacy.
- Regular Testing: Regularly test email authentication settings to ensure emails pass authentication checks.
- Domain Alignment: Align the 'from' domain with your brand and ensure consistent authentication practices.
- Reputation Monitoring: Monitor domain reputation and address any deliverability issues promptly.
- DNS Control: Ensure full control over DNS if sending from multiple platforms using the same subdomain, and configure DKIM accordingly.
What email marketers say
8 marketer opinions
Using a different 'from' domain than the subdomain configured in your ESP can raise concerns about email spoofing, potentially damaging your domain reputation and negatively impacting deliverability. Proper email authentication protocols, such as SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, are crucial to avoid being flagged as spam. It's essential to align the 'from' domain with your brand, ensure consistent authentication, and maintain a positive sender reputation to protect your email deliverability.
Key opinions
- Spoofing Risk: Using a different 'from' domain can be seen as spoofing if not properly authenticated, potentially deceiving recipients.
- Authentication Needed: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are essential for authenticating different 'from' domains and preventing deliverability issues.
- Reputation Impact: Lack of proper authentication can damage your domain reputation, leading to increased spam classifications.
- Alignment Crucial: It's important to align the 'from' domain with your brand and ensure consistent authentication practices.
Key considerations
- Authentication Setup: Implement SPF, DKIM, and DMARC protocols to authenticate the 'from' domain and verify sender legitimacy.
- Reputation Monitoring: Monitor your domain reputation to identify and address any deliverability issues that may arise.
- Testing: Regularly test your email authentication to ensure emails pass checks and reach the inbox.
- Sender Reputation: Ensure that you are maintaining a good sender reputation.
Marketer view
Email marketer from Neil Patel Digital explains that email spoofing is a technique used in spam and phishing attacks to deceive users into thinking a message came from a trusted source. Using a different 'from' domain can raise red flags and potentially be seen as spoofing if not properly authenticated.
19 Dec 2022 - Neil Patel Digital
Marketer view
Email marketer from GMass explains that deliverability issues can arise when using a different 'from' domain without proper setup. It is crucial to align your sending practices with authentication standards to avoid being flagged as spam.
10 Oct 2021 - GMass
What the experts say
5 expert opinions
Using a different 'from' domain than the configured subdomain in your ESP can lead to deliverability issues and potential spoofing concerns if not properly authenticated. Experts recommend checking authentication settings, ensuring proper SPF and DKIM configuration (ideally with the signed-by domain matching the 'from' domain), and implementing DMARC. While sending from two places using the same subdomain is theoretically possible with full DNS control and DKIM setup, lack of proper authentication impacts domain reputation and can result in being flagged as a spoofer.
Key opinions
- Authentication is Key: Proper authentication settings (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) are crucial to avoid deliverability problems and being flagged as spoofing when using a different 'from' domain.
- Domain Reputation Impact: Using different 'from' domains without authentication negatively impacts domain reputation, affecting deliverability.
- DKIM Configuration: Ideally, the DKIM signed-by domain should match the 'from' domain for optimal authentication.
- SPF and 'Mailed by': The 'mailed by' (return-path/SPF domain) doesn't necessarily need to match the 'from' domain, as long as they are within the same domain.
Key considerations
- Check Authentication: Always verify authentication settings when using alternate 'from' domains.
- Implement DMARC: Implement DMARC to enhance email security and prevent spoofing.
- DNS Control: Ensure full control over DNS if sending from multiple platforms using the same subdomain, and configure DKIM accordingly.
- Monitor Reputation: Regularly monitor your domain reputation to identify and address any deliverability issues.
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks explains that 'mailed by' would be the return-path (bounce)/SPF domain, that is probably okay that they don’t match, as long as they’re both in the same domain. For DKIM, if you’re signing as bitly.com, but using a from address of accounts.bitly.com, that’s not horrible if they’re both part of bitly.com, but suggests correcting the DKIM signing settings to sign as accounts.bitly.com instead. In general you want the signed-by domain to exactly match your from domain, whenever possible.
18 Dec 2023 - Email Geeks
Expert view
Expert from Word to the Wise explains that using different 'from' domains without proper authentication will impact your domain's reputation and that could result in it being seen as spoofing. Email providers look at several factors to determine email legitimacy, and inconsistencies can harm deliverability.
13 May 2025 - Word to the Wise
What the documentation says
4 technical articles
Documentation from Google, Microsoft, RFC, and DMARC.org emphasizes that using a different 'from' domain than the subdomain configured in the ESP raises concerns about email spoofing. Implementing SPF records, as per RFC specifications, is crucial for verifying that emails are sent from authorized mail servers. Additionally, organizations should implement DMARC policies, as suggested by Microsoft and DMARC.org, to protect their domains from spoofing by validating email legitimacy. Proper authentication with SPF, DKIM, and DMARC is essential to prevent deliverability issues and avoid being marked as spam.
Key findings
- SPF Prevents Spoofing: SPF records verify that emails are sent from authorized mail servers, preventing email spoofing.
- DMARC Protects Domains: DMARC policies protect domains from email spoofing and validate email legitimacy.
- Authentication is Key: Proper authentication with SPF, DKIM, and DMARC is essential when using different 'from' domains.
- Security Risk: Using different 'from' domains without proper authentication is a security risk that can lead to phishing attacks.
Key considerations
- Implement SPF Records: Set up SPF records to specify authorized mail servers for your domain.
- Implement DMARC Policies: Implement DMARC policies to instruct mail servers on how to handle unauthenticated emails.
- Regularly Review Authentication: Regularly review and update your SPF, DKIM, and DMARC configurations to ensure they are effective.
- Monitor Deliverability: Monitor email deliverability to identify and address any issues related to spoofing or authentication.
Technical article
Documentation from RFC explains the technical specifications of SPF, emphasizing that the 'from' domain must be properly authenticated to prevent email spoofing. Implementing SPF records is essential to verify the sender's legitimacy and ensure deliverability.
8 Dec 2023 - RFC
Technical article
Documentation from DMARC.org explains that implementing DMARC policies is essential for preventing email spoofing and phishing attacks. Using different 'from' domains can be a security risk if not properly authenticated with DMARC, SPF, and DKIM.
16 Apr 2024 - DMARC.org
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