Skip to content
Launch offerEvery feature is free for all users until October 31, 2026.See what happens after
Pink Post
Start free

Guide · 10 min read · Updated October 2026

DNS setup: SPF, DKIM and DMARC for cold email

Short answer: A cold email domain needs three DNS records: one SPF TXT record listing every service allowed to send for the domain, a DKIM record (TXT or CNAME) from each sending service, and a DMARC TXT record at _dmarc that starts with v=DMARC1. Start DMARC with p=none and tighten it once reports look clean.

Steps

  1. List your senders. Write down every service that sends mail for the domain: your mailbox provider, any relay such as Brevo, and other tools.
  2. Create one SPF record. Add a single TXT record on the root starting with v=spf1 that includes each sender, ending with ~all or -all.
  3. Add DKIM for each sender. Copy the DKIM TXT or CNAME records each provider shows you, using their selector names.
  4. Add DMARC. Add a TXT record at _dmarc with v=DMARC1; p=none; and an address for reports.
  5. Verify. Run the DNS check in Pink Post Settings and send a test email to confirm SPF, DKIM and DMARC pass.

SPF

SPF (Sender Policy Framework) lists the servers allowed to send for your domain. You must have exactly one SPF record. A typical shape, with placeholders:

v=spf1 include:<your-mail-provider> include:<your-relay-if-it-requires-one> ~all

DKIM

DKIM signs each email with a key published in DNS under a selector, for example <selector>._domainkey.yourdomain.com. Every sending service has its own selector; Brevo uses brevo1 and brevo2, Google Workspace defaults to google. Enter your selector in Pink Post's DNS checker to verify it.

DMARC

DMARC tells receivers what to do when SPF or DKIM fail and where to send reports.

Name:  _dmarc
Type:  TXT
Value: v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:<reports@yourdomain.com>

After a few weeks of clean reports, move to p=quarantine.

Also check

  • MX records, so replies reach you.
  • A custom tracking domain only if you turn on open or click tracking (off by default in Pink Post).

Next guide

Import prospects from CSV, Excel or Google Sheets
Start free