Authenticate Your Sending Domain Using a DKIM Record

Use DKIM to authenticate your domain with tinyEmail

tinyEmail allows you to send emails from your domain instead of tinyEmail's delivery domains. 

Note  This feature is available with all plans, including the FREE plan. Check here for plan information.

What does authenticating a domain with DKIM mean?

DomainKeys Identified Mail, or DKIM, is an authentication protocol that links a domain name to an email. Let's take, for example, your business Gutsy Gibbon (gutsygibbon.com), which uses tinyEmail to send email marketing campaigns. Without DKIM setup for your domain, your sending domain will look like it's coming via one of tinyEmail's delivery domains.

Say your sender identity is hannah@gutsygibbon.com. If you set up DKIM with tinyEmail, instead of your emails showing something like the following, it will all be your domain.

hannah@gustygibbon.com mailed-by:tec35.com, Signed by: tinyemail.com

Why does authenticating your domain matter?

DKIM authentication is how Internet Service Providers (ISPs), like Google, Yahoo and Microsoft, scan email for spam and spoofed addresses. Authenticated emails are less likely to be sent to spam or junk folders.

Spam filters and ISPs examine links in emails to decide if the email is trustworthy enough to deliver. By setting up DKIM authentication for your domain, you increase the chances of your emails landing in the inbox. 

Big email companies like Google and Yahoo have a plan to reduce spam. One step is directly related to tinyEmail customers: you have to authenticate your sender domain by enabling a DKIM record. February 2024 was the deadline. If your DKIM is not verified after that, Google and Yahoo won't deliver your emails. Ouch.

How to authenticate your domain with a DKIM signing

Authenticating your domain with tinyEmail is relatively simple. Complete two steps.

1. Set up the correct records with your domain registrar.
2. Self-sign on our site.

Step 1: Set up your DKIM with your domain registrar. 

If you own a domain and use it to send messages from tinyEmail, create a DKIM for the domain. 

If you don't own a domain, contact our support team, and we'll figure something out.

You should add the following CNAME records to your DNS settings:

HOST: tec1._domainkey VALUE: tec1.dkim.tinyemail.com

Here are guides on how  to set up DNS records for common domain registrars:

• Shopify: Learn how to add a CNAME record to your store.
• Amazon Web Services: Configuring DNS, Resource Record Types
• Dreamhost: DNS Overview
• GoDaddy: Add a CNAME Record, Sign DKIM on GoDaddy
• Google Domains: DNS Basics
• Hostgator: Manage DNS records
• Hover: Edit DNS Record
• Namecheap: SPF & DKIM
• Squarespace: Advanced DNS Settings
• Stablehost: How do I get to cPanel?
• 1&1: Domain Guidelines
• Cloudflare: Manage DNS records, What is a DNS DKIM Record?, Sign DKIM on Cloudflare

Set 2: Self-sign on our site

After creating the DKIM, return to tinyEmail and click the Account icon. Select My Account.

Click the DKIM menu tab. Now, self-sign a DKIM for your sender domain.

1. Click the Sender domain field.
2. Select your domain name on the drop-down menu.
3. Click the Check link.

• If the sender domain on this page matches the domain listed in the DKIM record, tinyEmail displays a verified message. 

• If the sender domain does not match the DKIM record on your domain registrar, click the link to open our instructions in the knowledge base.  

Wrap up

That's it. Now you know how to authenticate your domain as the sender of your emails.