Mastering SPF, DKIM, DMARC👋

The Behind-the-Scenes Protocols That Earn Inbox Trust

In our last post, I welcomed you to Deliverability Secrets and shared how I help businesses fix their inboxing struggles. Now it’s time to dive into the core technical trio that decides if your emails land in inbox or vanish into spam:

SPF. DKIM. DMARC.

Let’s break these down — without the jargon.

🧬 1. What the Heck Are SPF, DKIM & DMARC?

These aren’t just random abbreviations — they’re your email authentication bodyguards.

✅ SPF (Sender Policy Framework)

Think of this like a guest list. SPF tells the receiving server which IPs or services (like MailerLite, Brevo, Mailreach) are allowed to send emails on your behalf.

👉 Without a valid SPF? You’re an uninvited guest.

🔐 DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail)

DKIM works like a digital signature. It says, “Yes, this email was actually sent by you and it wasn’t tampered with on the way.”

👉 Think of it as sealing your envelope with a verified stamp.

🛡️ DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance)

DMARC is the rule enforcer. It checks both SPF & DKIM, and tells mailbox providers what to do if something fails — accept it, quarantine it, or reject it.

👉 It’s how you take control over how your domain is treated.

– Keshav

Deliverability Secrets

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