Email Authentication Guide for Third-Party Domains

Custom email authentication helps prevent your campaigns from being marked as spam. This guide explains how to verify third-party domain names for email campaigns through DNS settings.

Understanding Custom Email Addresses

A custom email address uses your domain name (e.g., [email protected]). If you registered your domain with Squarespace, it's automatically verified. For third-party domains, you can either:

• Transfer the domain to Squarespace for automatic verification
• Manually add verification records to your DNS settings

Adding Verification Records

1. Access Your DNS Settings Panel

• For nameserver-connected domains: Use the DNS settings panel
• For DNS-connected domains: Modify records through your provider

2. Locate Verification Records

• Open email campaign settings
• Under Sender Profiles, find the information to verify
• Click Authenticate to view required records

3. Add Two Required Records:

First Record:

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

Second Record:

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

Provider-Specific Instructions

IONOS:

1. Login to my.ionos.com/domains
2. Select domain
3. Click DNS
4. Add Record
5. Enter CNAME values and save

GoDaddy:

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

Google Domains:

1. Login to domains.google
2. Click DNS icon
3. Scroll to Custom Resource Records
4. Add both records

Hover:

1. Login to hover.com
2. Click DNS
3. Add Record for both entries

Namecheap:

1. Login to namecheap.com
2. Navigate to Domain List > Manage
3. Click Advanced DNS
4. Add both records

Important Notes:

• DNS changes can take up to 72 hours to resolve
• Contact your provider's support if your provider isn't listed
• If your domain has a DMARC policy set to p=reject, domain verification is mandatory
• Successful authentication will show your domain below sender information

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