Set Up SPF Record for Your Signature

Sender Policy Framework (SPF) is a type of email authentication that allows the receiving mail server to check whether the sender is authorized to send email from a particular domain. SPF records are DNS records that contain information about which IP addresses are authorized to send emails on behalf of a specific domain.

By setting up an SPF record, you can prevent unauthorized senders from using your domain name to send spam or phishing emails. This can help improve your email deliverability and reduce the chances of your emails being marked as spam.

!note!In this article, we use GoDaddy as an example, so look for similar settings if you are using a different host. !/note!

To set up SPF record

1. Log in to your domain registrar's website and go to your domain's DNS settings.
2. Locate the option to add/edit a new DNS record and select TXT from the list of record types. Typically, you already have an SPF record, so you only need to edit the existing record.
3. Enter the following information in the appropriate fields:

• • Name: Enter @ for the name.  
  • Value: Enter the list of IP addresses or domains that are authorized to send emails on behalf of your domain. You can use the following format:
    • If you are adding a new SPF record and only send emails from WiseStamp, add include:outbound.smtp.wisestamp.net to the list of authorized senders. For example,
      v=spf1 include:outbound.smtp.wisestamp.net -all 
      
    • If you are editing an existing SPF record and send emails from other sources (this scenario is more common), you need to add WiseStamp's SPF (include:outbound.smtp.wisestamp.net) after the existing source, and before -all, which is indicated by the bold text in the example below.
      For example, where v=spf1 include:spf.protection.outlook.com -all exists, modify the value to:
      v=spf1 include:spf.protection.outlook.com include:outbound.smtp.wisestamp.net -all 
  • TTL: The time-to-live (TTL) value determines how long the DNS record remains cached by other servers. Set the value to 1 hour.

4. Save the record and wait for the changes to propagate. This can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours, depending on your DNS provider.

!note!Once the SPF record is set up, you can use tools like SPF record checkers to verify that it's working correctly.!/note!

Troubleshooting

"SPF Not Found" in WiseStamp

When trying to configure SPF for WiseStamp, you might encounter an "SPF not found" message. This often indicates an issue with your SPF record setup or optimization.

Steps to troubleshoot:

1. Re-check your SPF configuration: Go to your domain's DNS settings. Ensure you followed all setup steps correctly and that the record has been propagated. Propagation can take a few minutes to a few hours.
2. Understand SPF redirects and lookups: Lookups validate the sending server's IP, but there's a strict limit of 10 DNS lookups. Redirects let multiple domains share the same SPF policy. However, they can lead to nested SPF records, which may cause issues.
3. Identify nested SPF records:
   • Periodic review: Frequently check your SPF records to ensure they are within the lookup limits.
   • Use online tools: Tools like EasyDMARC SPF Lookup can help diagnose potential SPF issues. It checks your SPF records to ensure they are within the lookup limits and do not have nested records.
4. Address nested SPF records: If you find nested records or exceed the lookup limits:
   • Flatten your SPF record: Consolidate your SPF entries.
   • Consider alternatives: Think about using a dedicated subdomain for specific email services.