What is SPF and why does my domain need it?
SPF (Sender Policy Framework) is a DNS record that tells email servers which IP addresses are authorized to send email from your domain. Without SPF, anyone can fake emails from your domain, so mail servers treat your legitimate emails as suspicious — often sending them to spam. Adding an SPF record takes 2 minutes in your DNS settings.
What is DMARC and how does it affect email deliverability?
DMARC tells receiving mail servers what to do when an email fails SPF or DKIM checks. Without DMARC, servers make their own judgment — usually sending to spam. With DMARC, you control the policy. Even a basic "monitor" policy (p=none) improves deliverability because it proves you care about email authentication.
What is DKIM and how do I set it up?
DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) adds a cryptographic signature to your emails that proves they haven't been tampered with. Most email providers (Google Workspace, Microsoft 365) set up DKIM automatically. Check your provider's help docs if it's missing — it's usually a DNS record you add once.
Why are my cold emails going to spam?
The #1 reason is missing email authentication records (SPF, DKIM, DMARC). Enterprise mail servers check all three. If even one fails, your email is flagged. Other factors: sending too many emails too fast, spammy subject lines, too many links, and being on email blacklists. Fix authentication first — it's the foundation.
How long does it take for DNS changes to propagate?
DNS changes typically propagate within 5-60 minutes, though it can take up to 48 hours in rare cases. Most modern DNS providers propagate within 15 minutes. After adding records, wait 15 minutes and re-run this check to verify they're live.