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How to set up email authentication for multiple ESPs on the same sending domain?

Summary

Setting up email authentication for a single sending domain across multiple Email Service Providers (ESPs) is a common challenge for many organizations, especially startups. While seemingly straightforward, it involves careful configuration of SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records to ensure deliverability and maintain sender reputation.

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What email marketers say

Email marketers often find themselves managing a patchwork of ESPs, each adopted for different team needs or functionalities. This distributed sending environment can lead to confusion regarding authentication, with many assuming that implementing SPF, DKIM, and DMARC will be a magic bullet for all deliverability woes.

Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks suggests that their company is currently using five different ESPs, all under the same sending domain, and is facing challenges with email authentication. They are looking for advice on setting up SPF and DKIM for all these senders, noting that custom authentication might help with deliverability issues they are experiencing.

03 Sep 2019 - Email Geeks

Marketer view

Marketer from Kickbox Blog observes that sharing a sending domain between ESPs can allow for reputation transfer. This means a good reputation built on one platform can potentially benefit sending from another, which is a key advantage for companies looking to switch or expand their email services.

22 Jul 2022 - Kickbox Blog

What the experts say

Email deliverability experts offer a more granular perspective on managing authentication for multiple ESPs. Their advice often delves into the intricacies of DNS records, the limitations of standard protocols like SPF, and the strategic importance of DMARC for comprehensive domain oversight. They also emphasize that technical configurations are only one aspect; underlying sending practices significantly impact inbox placement.

Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks suggests that you could set up multiple domain key selectors for each group or ESP. This is necessary because sharing private keys between different platforms is not advisable, ensuring each sender has its unique DKIM authentication.

03 Sep 2019 - Email Geeks

Expert view

Expert from SpamResource highlights that the core of good email sending practice is rooted in permission. They advise that even with perfect authentication, if a sender is mailing to recipients who have not opted in or are disengaged, deliverability will suffer.

10 Jan 2024 - SpamResource

What the documentation says

Official documentation and industry standards provide the foundational rules for email authentication. These resources outline how SPF, DKIM, and DMARC should be configured at the DNS level. When dealing with multiple ESPs, the key is understanding how each protocol accommodates multiple authorized senders while adhering to strict technical limitations.

Technical article

Documentation from Mailgun explains that email authentication is fundamental for verifying sender identity. It outlines the role of SPF, DKIM, and DMARC as critical methods for separating legitimate emails from forged ones, emphasizing their importance for trust.

15 May 2024 - Mailgun

Technical article

HighLevel Support Portal documentation details the steps for setting up a dedicated sending domain, which typically involves navigating to email services settings and configuring domain and IP options. This process often includes adding specific DNS records for authentication.

18 Jul 2024 - HighLevel Support Portal

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