Hey lemlister!
If your emails are landing in spam or not arriving at all, your DNS records are probably not set up correctly. In this guide, we’ll explain exactly how to configure the DNS records that matter for email deliverability: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. ✉️✅
What Are DNS Records?
DNS (Domain Name System) records are settings that tell the internet how your domain works. For email, they tell providers like Gmail and Outlook whether to trust the emails you send.🔐
The 3 Records You Must Set Up
1. SPF (Sender Policy Framework)
SPF tells email servers which services are allowed to send emails from your domain.
Example SPF Record:
v=spf1 a mx include:_spf.yourprovider.com ~all
Replace _spf.yourprovider.com with your actual provider. Common examples:
Google Workspace:
_spf.google.comOutlook:
spf.protection.outlook.comZoho:
zoho.com
How to add SPF:
Log in to your domain provider (e.g. GoDaddy, Namecheap)
Go to DNS settings
Add a new TXT record:
Name/Host: @
Value: Your full SPF string
TTL: 3600 or default
Save changes
Use SPF Checker to verify 🔍
2. DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail)
DKIM adds a digital signature to your emails to confirm they were really sent by you.✍️
How to add DKIM:
Get your DKIM key from your email provider (Google, Microsoft, etc.)
Log in to your domain provider
Go to DNS settings
Add a new TXT record:
Name/Host: Usually something like
default._domainkeyValue: The DKIM key provided
TTL: 3600 or default
Save changes
Use DKIM Core Checker to verify
3. DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance)
DMARC tells email providers what to do if SPF and DKIM fail. 🚫📬
Example DMARC Record:
v=DMARC1; p=quarantine; rua=mailto:[email protected]
p=none: just monitorp=quarantine: send suspicious emails to spamp=reject: block them completely
How to add DMARC:
Log in to your domain provider
Go to DNS settings
Add a new TXT record:
Name/Host:
_dmarcValue: your DMARC rule
TTL: 3600 or default
Save changes
Use DMARC Inspector to verify
Bonus: Other DNS Records You Might See (Not Required for Email)
While not needed for deliverability, here’s a quick breakdown of other common DNS records:
A Record – Points your domain to a website IP address
AAAA Record – Same as A, but for IPv6
CNAME Record – Redirects one domain or subdomain to another (used for custom tracking domains in lemlist)
NS Record – Shows who manages your DNS settings (usually auto-set)
TXT Record – Stores text data like SPF, DKIM, DMARC
MX Record – Defines where incoming mail should be delivered (needed to receive replies)
For lemlist, you must set up:
TXT records (for SPF, DKIM, DMARC)
MX record (to receive replies)
CNAME record (to track opens and clicks) 📈
Common Question
Do I need to include lemlist in my SPF record?
No. lemlist doesn’t send emails directly. Only include your actual provider (like Google or Outlook) in your SPF record.
Why This Setup Matters
Prevents your emails from going to spam 🚫📥
Protects your domain from spoofing/phishing
Builds trust with email services like Gmail and Outlook 🤝
Need Help?
Check out our other articles or reach out to lemlist support, we’ll walk you through it.💬