Custom email authentication helps prevent your marketing campaigns from being marked as spam. This guide explains how to verify third-party domains for email marketing.

Prerequisites:

• A custom email address matching your domain (e.g., [email protected])
• Access to your domain's DNS settings

Quick Setup Options:

1. Domains registered through Squarespace: Automatically verified
2. Third-party domains:
   • Transfer to Squarespace for automatic verification
   • Manually add verification records to DNS settings

Manual DNS Verification Steps:

1. Access DNS Settings

• Via nameservers: Edit in "Edit DNS Settings" menu
• Via DNS records: Edit through your domain provider

2. Locate Verification Records

• Open email marketing settings
• Find Sender Details
• Click Authenticate
• Note the two required DNS records

3. Add DNS Records First Record:

• Type: CNAME
• Host: squarespace._domainkey
• Data: squarespace-domainkey.squarespace-mail.com

Second Record:

• Type: TXT
• Host: _dmarc
• Data: [unique code provided]

Provider-Specific Instructions:

IONOS:

1. Log in to my.ionos.com/domains
2. Select domain
3. Click DNS in header
4. Add required records

GoDaddy:

1. Access dashboard.godaddy.com
2. Navigate to Domain Settings
3. Click Manage DNS
4. Add both records under DNS Records

Google Domains:

1. Visit domains.google
2. Click DNS icon
3. Locate Custom Resource Records
4. Add both records

Hover:

1. Log in to hover.com
2. Select DNS
3. Add both records

Namecheap:

1. Access namecheap.com
2. Navigate to Domain List > Manage
3. Select Advanced DNS Settings
4. Add both records

Important Notes:

• Implementation can take up to 72 hours
• Verification is complete when "Domain is not authenticated" message disappears
• Contact your domain provider's support for specific assistance
• For domains with DMARC policy set to p=reject, verification is mandatory

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