Summary
SPF failures in SFMC when the Return-Path and Sender From addresses differ primarily arise from the Return-Path domain's SPF record not authorizing SFMC's sending servers. Utilizing a separate subdomain for the Return-Path is a common and recommended practice to manage bounces and sender reputation effectively. DMARC alignment necessitates either SPF or DKIM to pass, with misalignment often causing DMARC failures. Best practices encompass configuring a custom Return-Path domain, ensuring its SPF record includes SFMC (e.g., 'include:cust-spf.exacttarget.com'), and using validation tools to confirm correct SPF setup. Crucially, a distinct Return-Path prevents bounce-related mailbombing. The 5321.from address might default to ExactTarget, impacting visibility of SPF data, while a dedicated bounce domain and correct SPF and DKIM setup will overall improve deliverability.
Key findings
- SPF Authentication Check: SPF authentication verifies the sending IP's authorization for the Return-Path domain.
- Return-Path Necessity: A separate Return-Path is critical for managing bounces and feedback loops, preventing abuse on sender's From address.
- DMARC Alignment Requirement: DMARC requires either SPF or DKIM alignment; misalignment causes DMARC failures.
- SFMC SPF inclusion: The most common failure point: Failure to include SFMC in the Return-Path SPF record is a common pitfall.
- 5321.from: The 5321.from address could be an ExactTarget address, limiting user data access.
Key considerations
- Custom Return-Path Management: Implement an SPF record for the custom bounce.em.mybrand.com domain that includes SFMC.
- Always Include SFMC: Ensure the SPF record includes SFMC when utilizing third-party senders for SFMC.
- Validate SPF Records: Validate records using external SPF Record testing tools.
- SAP benefits: A Sender Authentication Package (SAP) helps build sender reputation.
- include: Syntax: Use the include: syntax to reference SFMC's SPF records.
What email marketers say
8 marketer opinions
SPF failures in SFMC often arise when the Return-Path (bounce address) domain differs from the 'From' address domain and the SPF record for the Return-Path domain doesn't authorize the sending servers, particularly SFMC's servers. DMARC alignment requires SPF or DKIM to pass, and misalignment leads to DMARC failures. Best practices involve setting up a custom Return-Path domain, ensuring its SPF record includes SFMC (e.g., 'include:cust-spf.exacttarget.com'), and validating SPF configurations with testing tools.
Key opinions
- SPF Hard Fail: SPF hard fails (-all) indicate rejection if the sending server isn't in the SPF record, but enforcement varies.
- DMARC Alignment: DMARC requires either SPF or DKIM alignment; the 'From' domain must match the authenticating domain.
- Return-Path SPF: The SPF record for the Return-Path domain must authorize sending servers, including third-party platforms like SFMC.
- SFMC Inclusion: Failing to include SFMC in the Return-Path SPF record is a common pitfall leading to SPF failures.
Key considerations
- Custom Return-Path: Setting up a custom Return-Path domain gives greater control over SPF records and sender reputation.
- SFMC Documentation: Consult SFMC's documentation for specific SPF setup instructions and delegation methods.
- SPF Record Validation: Regularly test and validate SPF records using available tools to ensure proper configuration.
- DMARC Impact: SPF failures, particularly when the Return-Path and From addresses have different domains, are a common cause of DMARC failures.
Marketer view
Email marketer from Stack Overflow highlights that SPF 'hard fail' (-all) means that if the sending server isn't listed in your SPF record, the email should be rejected. However, many mail servers don't follow this strictly, and may still accept the email.
24 May 2024 - Stack Overflow
Marketer view
Email marketer from Mailjet shares that to resolve SPF failures, you must ensure the SPF record for the Return-Path domain includes all authorized sending sources, including third-party email platforms like SFMC. This might involve adding 'include:cust-spf.exacttarget.com' to your SPF record.
27 Jul 2021 - Mailjet
What the experts say
6 expert opinions
SPF failures when the return path and sender from addresses differ in SFMC often stem from the Return-Path domain's SPF record not authorizing SFMC's sending servers. The 5321.from address may be an ExactTarget address, preventing users from seeing the SPF data directly. While the impact of SPF alignment on deliverability is variable, setting a custom Return-Path with an appropriate SPF record (including SFMC) can resolve the issue. A different Return-Path is also important to prevent bounce-related mailbombing. It's crucial to validate SPF records using testing tools.
Key opinions
- 5321.from Address: The 5321.from address may be ExactTarget, limiting user data access. Full headers reveal Google's SPF domain.
- SPF Alignment Impact: The impact of SPF alignment on deliverability has a low impact.
- Separate Return-Path: A distinct Return-Path subdomain is vital for bounce handling and feedback loops and prevents abuse of the sender's From address.
- SPF Validation: Checking SPF records with various tools is essential to validate configuration.
Key considerations
- Custom Return-Path SPF: Implement an SPF record for the custom bounce.em.mybrand.com domain that includes SFMC to address SPF failures.
- SPF Record Inclusion: Ensure the SPF record includes SFMC when utilizing third-party senders.
- Different Return-Path: Using a different return path is important to prevent the sender's From address from being overwhelmed with bounces.
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks states that the return path must be different from the sender.from address for bulk mail to prevent the sender.from address from being mailbombed with bounces.
20 Jul 2023 - Email Geeks
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks shares that there isn't a definitive yes or no answer to the impact of SPF alignment on deliverability, but the chances of negative impact are low.
8 Dec 2023 - Email Geeks
What the documentation says
5 technical articles
SPF failures related to differing Return-Path and Sender From addresses in SFMC can be addressed by properly configuring the SPF record for the Return-Path domain. Key actions involve ensuring the SPF record authorizes the sending IP addresses, especially those of SFMC. A dedicated bounce subdomain (Return-Path) is recommended for managing bounces and sender reputation. Salesforce's SAP (Sender Authentication Package) provides a branded domain and dedicated IP for authentication. The 'include:' mechanism in SPF records is essential for incorporating SFMC's SPF records.
Key findings
- SPF Authentication: SPF verifies if the sending IP is authorized for the Return-Path domain.
- Dedicated Bounce Domain: A dedicated subdomain for the Return-Path improves bounce handling and sender reputation.
- SFMC Inclusion via 'include:': The 'include:' mechanism in SPF records allows referencing SFMC's SPF records within the Return-Path domain's SPF record.
- SAP for Authentication: Salesforce's SAP provides dedicated IP and branded domain for enhanced authentication.
Key considerations
- Control of Return-Path Domain: Ensure you control the domain used in the Return-Path to manage its SPF record effectively.
- Including All Sending Sources: The SPF record should encompass all services used for sending email, including SFMC.
- SPF/DKIM Setup: Properly configuring both SPF and DKIM is crucial for email deliverability and authentication.
Technical article
Documentation from Salesforce Help explains that SAP helps to build sender reputation. It includes dedicated IP address, branded domain for email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), and branded account URL.
10 Jun 2024 - Salesforce Help
Technical article
Documentation from SparkPost explains that Return-Path (also known as envelope from, 5321.MailFrom, or bounce address) is used to handle bounces. It should be a domain you control. Setting up a subdomain dedicated to bounces helps to manage sender reputation. Using a different domain than the 'From' address is common and doesn't inherently cause SPF failures if configured correctly.
17 Apr 2024 - SparkPost
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