--- title: "Email domain authentication: SmartyTap docs | Chargezen" description: "Send SmartyTap email from your own domain: prove you own it, add the SPF, DKIM and DMARC records SmartyTap gives you, and check them until every one passes." url: "https://chargezen.com/docs/smartytap/sending-and-compliance/email-domain-authentication" lang: "en" updated: "2026-10-19" --- Canonical URL: https://chargezen.com/docs/smartytap/sending-and-compliance/email-domain-authentication # Email domain authentication Send SmartyTap email from your own domain: prove you own it, add the SPF, DKIM and DMARC records SmartyTap gives you, and check them until every one passes. Last updated: 2026-10-19 Gmail, Outlook and Yahoo check that an email really comes from the domain in the From address. Three DNS records prove it: * **SPF** lists the servers allowed to send for your domain. * **DKIM** adds a signature to every email that only your domain's public key can confirm. * **DMARC** tells inbox providers what to do with mail that fails SPF or DKIM, and where to send reports. Authenticated email reaches the inbox far more often than unauthenticated email, and the big inbox providers expect it from anyone sending marketing at volume. SmartyTap generates every record for you; you add them at your DNS provider (GoDaddy, Cloudflare, Namecheap, Google Domains, Shopify domains and so on). Use a subdomain SmartyTap suggests sending marketing from a subdomain such as `mail.yourbrand.com`. Customers still see your brand, and your main domain's reputation, which your everyday mailbox depends on, stays separate from your campaigns. ## Before you start * Access to your domain's DNS settings, or someone who has it. * Your privacy policy link and your business's physical mailing address. Marketing email must include a physical address. ## Set up your sending domain 1 #### Open Email Setup Go to **SmartyTap > Settings > Email Setup**. The page opens on an email setup checklist. 2 #### Add your domain Under **Brand sending identity**, enter your **Brand root domain** (for example `yourbrand.com`) and the **Sender domain** you'll send from (for example `mail.yourbrand.com`). Add your **Privacy policy URL** and **Physical address**. SmartyTap fills in the reply, return-path and tracking domains for you. Click **Create sender domain**. 3 #### Prove you own it Under **DNS ownership**, click **Issue ownership challenge**. SmartyTap shows a TXT record (its host and value). Add it at your DNS provider, then click **Verify ownership now**. When it passes you'll see "DNS ownership is verified." 4 #### Add the authentication records Under **DNS auth validation**, SmartyTap lists every record, grouped as **Ownership**, **Authentication**, **Routing** and **Tracking**. Use **Copy host** and **Copy value** on each, or **Copy all DNS records** to send them to whoever manages your DNS. 5 #### Check them Click **Check DNS and auth**. The **SPF**, **DKIM** and **DMARC** pills turn to **Passing** one by one. When all pass, you'll see "Sending auth is verified." ## The records SmartyTap asks for Copy the exact values from the page; this list explains what each one is for. * **SPF**: a TXT record on your sender domain that starts with `v=spf1` and allows Chargezen's mail servers. * **DKIM**: a TXT record at `mail2026a._domainkey.` plus your sender domain, holding your public key. * **DMARC**: a TXT record at `_dmarc.` plus your root domain, starting with `v=DMARC1; p=none`, which sends reports so problems show up without blocking any mail. * **Routing**: MX records so replies reach you (on a reply subdomain such as `reply.yourbrand.com`) and bounces come back to SmartyTap (on a return-path subdomain such as `bounce.mail.yourbrand.com`), plus an A record for the return path. * **Tracking**: a CNAME on a tracking subdomain such as `trk.mail.yourbrand.com`. Only one SPF and one DMARC record per name If your domain already has a DMARC record at `_dmarc`, don't add a second one; a domain with two DMARC records is treated as having none. Keep your existing record or merge the two. The same goes for SPF on a given host: merge the `include` or `ip4` parts into one record. Sending from a subdomain avoids most of these clashes. ## Statuses Each of SPF, DKIM and DMARC shows one of these: * **Pending** or **Validating**: not checked yet, or the check is running. * **Valid**: the record is in place and correct. * **Invalid**: the record is missing or its value doesn't match. Copy the value again and check for extra quotes or spaces your DNS provider added. * **Drifted**: the record passed before but changed since, for example after a DNS move. The page says auth drift is open; fix the record and click **Check DNS and auth**. ## After you're verified * Add the mailboxes you'll send from (like `hello@mail.yourbrand.com`) under **SmartyTap > Settings > Email Setup** and the **Email Mailboxes** page, then pick one as the **Sender** on your campaign. * A new domain starts slowly. See [Sending-domain warm-up](https://chargezen.com/docs/smartytap/sending-and-compliance/domain-warm-up). * Once a few weeks of DMARC reports look clean, you can make your policy stricter (`p=quarantine`, then `p=reject`) to stop others from spoofing your domain. ## Troubleshooting and FAQ ### How long do DNS changes take? Usually minutes, sometimes up to a day or two, depending on your DNS provider. If a check fails right after you add a record, wait a little and click **Check DNS and auth** again. ### I use Cloudflare. Anything special? Set the tracking CNAME to **DNS only** (grey cloud) so it points straight at Chargezen. ### My DNS provider adds my domain to the host automatically Many do. If the host shows as `mail.yourbrand.com.yourbrand.com`, enter only the part before your root domain (for example `mail` or `_dmarc`). ### Does SmartyTap support BIMI? Not today. BIMI shows your logo next to authenticated mail in some inboxes and needs a strict DMARC policy first. ## Related **Guides** * [Sending-domain warm-up](https://chargezen.com/docs/smartytap/sending-and-compliance/domain-warm-up) * [Opt-in and opt-out](https://chargezen.com/docs/smartytap/sending-and-compliance/opt-in-and-opt-out) **On the product page** * [SmartyTap email marketing](https://chargezen.com/smartytap/email-marketing) * [Email and text campaigns](https://chargezen.com/smartytap/campaigns) **Learn more** * [Black Friday email and SMS checklist](https://chargezen.com/blog/bfcm-email-sms-checklist) ### Related Articles [ #### Sending-domain warm-up Build your new domain a good name ](https://chargezen.com/docs/smartytap/sending-and-compliance/domain-warm-up)[ #### Opt-in and opt-out Unsubscribes and suppression ](https://chargezen.com/docs/smartytap/sending-and-compliance/opt-in-and-opt-out)[ #### Introduction The SmartyTap setup checklist ](https://chargezen.com/docs/smartytap/getting-started/introduction) Was this page helpful? 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