How to authenticate your domain name for email sending

In this article, you will learn how to authenticate your domain name for email sending.

You will need:
- A MerwinSaaS account
- A domain name

Step 1: Access your Domain Settings

Hover over your profile picture and click on Settings (1). In the settings menu, click Emails (2).

Go to the Domains section, then click the link labeled "Click here to authenticate your domain and display its information in your email header, which will help improve your email delivery rates" (3).

In the popup that appears, enter your domain name (without the "www") (4).

Next, click Save (5) to generate the three CNAME records to be integrated into the DNS settings of your domain host.

The list of three CNAME records will appear in a table, along with a DMARC record. Both must be added to your host for authentication.

IMPORTANT:
1) Authentication of a domain name is mandatory to send emails from MerwinSaaS.
2) The domain you want to authenticate must have an active website linked to it. If the domain leads to a 404 error page, email providers may block your emails.
3) You cannot authenticate domains from personal email providers (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo, ProtonMail). Only custom domains can be authenticated.

Step 2: Log in to your domain host

First, access your domain host account. Then add the provided CNAME records to your domain's DNS zone.

Note: If you encounter any difficulties, please contact your host's support team for guidance.

Using GoDaddy as an example:

1. Once logged in, navigate to the domain you want to authenticate, then click on DNS records (1) and then click on Add new record (2).
2. Select the CNAME option for adding the first 3 records (3).
3. Return to the CNAME records generated in your MerwinSaaS account to copy the values.
4. In your host's Name field, paste the value from MerwinSaaS.
   - Important: Enter only the part before your domain name (e.g., if the value is si942517.sio-team.live, enter only si942517).
5. In the Value field, paste the value provided by MerwinSaaS.
   - Note: Add a period (.) at the end of the value.

Here is how the records should look in your provider's DNS zone (these values are examples):

NAME (host): si942517          VALUE: inbound.merwinsaas.
NAME (host): merwinsaas1._domainkey   VALUE: key1.merwinsaas.
NAME (host): merwinsaas2._domainkey   VALUE: key2.merwinsaas.

6. Click on Save to validate.

Note: You must repeat this process for all three CNAME records.

7. Select the TXT option for adding the DMARC.
8. Return to the list of records to copy and add the generated TXT from your MerwinSaaS account.

Here is how each line must be added to your host's DNS zone (these values are examples):

Name: _dmarc
Value: v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:example@gmail.com

9. Click on Save to validate.
10. Check that your CNAME records are correctly configured using DNS Checker (https://dnschecker.org/).

If you see a green check next to the exact value for your three CNAME records, it means your domain name has been successfully authenticated.

However, if any CNAME records appear in red, check your DNS settings for errors. If you cannot resolve the issue, please contact support and include a screenshot of your DNS records.

11. Check that your DMARC record has been added by searching with your domain name using DMARC checker (https://mxtoolbox.com/dmarc.aspx).

IMPORTANT: To send emails using your authenticated domain, you must confirm the sender email address associated with that domain.