The DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) protocol is an email authentication method that uses cryptographic signatures to verify the legitimacy of the sender’s domain. The protocol adds a digital signature to every outgoing message, allowing receiving servers to verify whether the message actually came from your organization.
The DKIM protocol is now required by Gmail and Yahoo and so, it became obligatory for SALESmanago customers. Read the article below and configure the DKIM protocol for your domain to maintain your ability to send emails to @gmail.com and @yahoo.com addresses.
Contents
1. Getting started
In another article >>, you can read about the new Gmail and Yahoo requirements imposed on bulk (mass) email senders. These requirements will most likely apply to SALESmanago customers who use:
- a SALESmanago Email Marketing sender account, or
- an External (SMTP) sender account and send (regularly or occasionally) more than 5,000 emails a day.
The absence of the three now required email authentication protocols (SPF, DKIM, and DMARC) could seriously affect the deliverability of SALESmanago customers. This is why these protocols are now required by SALESmanago.
Read the instructions below to learn how to implement the DKIM protocol.
2. Quick summary: DKIM configuration
IMPORTANT:
- Before implementing the DKIM protocol, make sure that you don’t have it in place already.
- Your DKIM configuration must be verified by SALESmanago. You can enable SALESmanago to do it automatically if you add another TXT record to your DNS settings. Otherwise, contact our Support and ask for the verification.
The table below sums up the DNS entries required to implement the DKIM protocol.
Remember that the details marked in green are just placeholders and must be replaced with your own data.
| Protocol | Name | Type | Value | TTL |
| DKIM | salesmanago._domainkey.example.com |
CNAME | salesmanago._domainkey.smgrid.com |
3600 |
salesmanago2._domainkey.example.com |
CNAME | salesmanago2._domainkey.smgrid.com |
3600 |
Additionally, we encourage you to add another TXT record that will enable SALESmanago to automatically verify the ownership of your domain. This way, you won’t need to contact our Support after implementing DKIM.
Remember that the details marked in green are just placeholders and must be replaced with your own data.
| Record | Name | Type | Value | TTL |
| Automatic DKIM verification by SALESmanago | example.com | TXT | smv=clientId | 3600 |
NOTE: You can find your Client ID on the SALESmanago platform, by navigating to Menu → Integrations → Integration Center → API → API v2 tab.
3. Implementing the DKIM protocol for your domain
The DKIM protocol is usually implemented in the DNS (Domain Name System) settings for your domain.
Additionally, we recommend adding another record that will enable SALESmanago to automatically verify your DKIM configuration, saving you time and effort.
IMPORTANT:
- The instructions below are of a generic nature. The actual process may look different depending on the eCommerce platform, domain registrar, hosting provider, or CDN provider whose services you use.
- Before implementing the DKIM protocol, make sure that you don’t have it in place already. You will probably be able to check this in the same control/user/configuration panel where you can add a new record – simply review the list of existing records.
- Your DKIM configuration must be verified by SALESmanago to ensure the ownership of your domain. You can enable SALESmanago to automatically verify the ownership of your domain by adding another TXT record to your DNS settings (see Step 4). This way, you don’t need to contact our Support, which will save you time and effort.
Step 1. Determine where you can edit your DNS settings
Depending on the way in which your website is set up, consider these four possibilities:
- E-store set up on a SaaS eCommerce platform (such as Shopify or BigCommerce): Log in to your e-store account and search for DNS settings. For instance, on Shopify, you need to go to Settings → Domains → Domain settings → Edit DNS settings.
- Domain purchased via a hosting provider (such as OVH or A2 Hosting): Log in to your hosting account and go to the control panel (which can be called “user panel”, “domain configuration panel”, etc).
- Domain purchased via a domain registrar (such as GoDaddy or OVH): Log in to your domain account and go to the control panel (which can be called “user panel”, “domain configuration panel”, etc).
- Website served via a Content Delivery Network (CDN) (such as Cloudflare): Log in to your CDN account and go to the control panel (which can be called “user panel”, “domain configuration panel”, etc).
In Cloudflare, go to DNS → Records:
Read more about managing DNS records in Cloudflare >>
NOTE: If you have more than one domain, make sure to select the one you want to configure.
Step 2. Find the right place in the DNS settings
After logging into the account that allows you to edit your DNS settings, look for the place where you can add records for your domain. This place (section, tab, etc.) can be called, for instance, DNS Settings, Zone Editor, DNS Management, Name Server Configuration, or DNS Record Management.
It is possible that you will see buttons like Add TXT record and Add CNAME record; or you may need to click a button for adding a record and then select the record type from a list. If you can’t find the option to add a record for your domain, consult the help materials of your service provider (eCommerce platform, domain registrar, hosting provider, or CDN provider) or contact their customer support.
To implement the DKIM protocol required, you will need to add two records of the CNAME type. Additionally, we recommend adding a third record that will enable SALESmanago to automatically verify your DKIM configuration, saving you time and effort.
Step 3. Add the DKIM protocol
Add two CNAME records for your domain. You will probably see a number of input fields that allow you to define the new records. Pay attention to the three fields described below.
CNAME RECORD 1:
- Host (Host record, Host name, Name, Domain, etc.)—In this field, enter the following value:
salesmanago._domainkey.example.com
Remember to replace the fragment highlighted in green with your own details.
EXAMPLES:
salesmanago._domainkey.yourcompany.com
salesmanago._domainkey.yourstore.de
salesmanago._domainkey.yourecommerce.es
TIPS:
- After completing the Host field, you may see that a dot (full stop) was added at its end. Don’t try to delete it—this is a required formatting element.
- If you are in doubt which field is the Host field, look at your existing records and check which field contains domain addresses.
- Text value (Main value, Record, Value, Content, etc.)—In this field, enter the following value:
salesmanago._domainkey.smgrid.com
- TTL (Time to Live)—We recommend setting the TTL (Time to Live) to 1 hour (3600 seconds).
Add the ready record by clicking Save, OK, Done, etc.
Next, add the second CNAME record described below.
CNAME RECORD 2:
- Host (Host record, Host name, Name, Domain, etc.)—In this field, enter the following value:
salesmanago2._domainkey.example.com
Remember to replace the fragment highlighted in green with your own details.
EXAMPLES:
salesmanago2._domainkey.yourcompany.com
salesmanago2._domainkey.yourstore.de
salesmanago2._domainkey.yourecommerce.es
- Text value (Main value, Record, Value, Content, etc.)—In this field, enter the following value:
salesmanago2._domainkey.smgrid.com
- TTL (Time to Live)—We recommend setting the TTL (Time to Live) to 1 hour (3600 seconds).
Add the ready record by clicking Save, OK, Done, etc.
IMPORTANT:
- At this stage, your DKIM configuration must be verified by SALESmanago (see Step 4 below).
- The DKIM protocol will be implemented for your domain within several hours, but it can take up to 24 hours for the changes to become visible in your domain settings (due to a DNS propagation delay).
Step 4. Automate DKIM verification by SALESmanago by adding a dedicated TXT record (recommended)
Following the implementation of the DKIM protocol (through the addition of the two CNAME records described above), the ownership of your domain must be verified by SALESmanago. The purpose of this requirement is to make your account and your emails more secure, and to protect you against phishing.
The ownership of your domain can be confirmed automatically if you add another TXT record for your domain. This is the recommended option because it will accelerate the verification process, saving you time and effort.
Otherwise, contact us at support@salesmanago.com as soon as you implement your DKIM protocol, and ask to have the ownership of your domain confirmed by our specialists.
If you want to use the automatized option, add another TXT record for your domain and complete its fields as follows:
- Host (Host record, Host name, Name, Domain, etc.)—In this field, enter the name of your domain accompanied by the top-level domain, e.g.:
yourcompany.com, yourstore.de, yourecommerce.es
- Text value (Main value, Record, Value, Content, etc.)—In this field, enter the following value:
smv=clientId
Remember to replace the fragment highlighted in green with your own Client ID.
You can find your Client ID on the SALESmanago platform, by navigating to Menu → Integrations → Integration Center → API → API v2 tab.
- TTL (Time to Live)—We recommend setting the TTL (Time to Live) to 1 hour (3600 seconds).
Add the ready record by clicking Save, OK, Done, etc. Now, the ownership of your domain will be verified by SALESmanago automatically.
If you have any questions or doubts concerning the configuration of your email authentication protocols, or if you would like to have your setup verified by our Support specialist, please contact us at: support@salesmanago.com