Authenticate and purchase domains in Advanced Settings

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Authenticate and purchase domains in Advanced Settings

Email authentication is a crucial aspect of maintaining email deliverability and security. As of February 2024, changes introduced by Google and Yahoo mandate specific compliance measures for all email senders, especially for those using Gmail. With these updates, it has become essential to not only authenticate but also manage your sending domains effectively. ActiveCampaign offers a seamless solution to purchase and authenticate domains directly within their platform. This article will guide you through understanding this feature, how to access it, and the steps needed to complete the process.

Introduction

The feature to authenticate and purchase domains in Advanced Settings is designed to provide users with a straightforward method to manage their email sending domains. This functionality matters significantly due to the increasing requirements for email authentication by major email providers like Google and Yahoo. Compliance with these standards is vital for ensuring that emails reach their intended recipients and are not marked as spam.

By being able to purchase a domain directly through ActiveCampaign and set up DKIM and DMARC authentication, users can enhance their email deliverability and reinforce their brand's credibility. The power to manage domains within the same platform streamlines the process and empowers account administrators to maintain control over their email infrastructure.

How to access this feature

Accessing the domain authentication and purchasing features is straightforward. Users must log in to their ActiveCampaign account and navigate to the Advanced Settings area. Note that this permission is limited to account administrators only. This restriction ensures that only authorized personnel can make critical changes to domain settings.

Step-by-step instructions

To authenticate and purchase domains, follow these step-by-step instructions:

1. **Log in** to your ActiveCampaign account. 2. In the dashboard, locate the settings gear icon, usually found at the bottom left corner, and click on it. 3. From the menu, select Settings and then navigate to Advanced Settings. 4. In the Advanced Settings section, you will find options for domain management. 5. To authenticate an existing domain, look for the Authenticate domain button and click on it. 6. For those needing to purchase a new domain, find the option to Purchase a new domain and follow the on-screen prompts that will direct you to a checkout process integrated with Ionos, a preferred DNS provider. 7. Once the domain is purchased, it will be authenticated automatically through ActiveCampaign.

Completing these steps ensures that your domain is set up properly for email sending, compliant with Google's and Yahoo's requirements.

Configuration options and settings

There are several configuration options available within the domain management feature:

- **DKIM Authentication**: This ensures that emails are signed with your domain to verify their legitimacy. - **DMARC Authentication**: This provides instructions to email servers on how to handle emails that fail the DKIM check. - **Custom Mail Server Domains**: Available on all plan tiers, this allows users to set up unique sender domains for a more professional presentation.

Understanding how to utilize these configuration options effectively can significantly enhance your email deliverability and overall sender reputation.

Best practices and tips

To maximize the benefits of domain authentication and management, consider these best practices:

- Always authenticate domains as soon as they are purchased. - Regularly review your authentication settings to ensure they comply with the latest changes from email providers. - Use custom mail server domains to enhance brand recognition in your communications. - Monitor your email deliverability rates and adjust your domains as necessary based on performance metrics. - Follow up on any authentication warnings from email providers promptly to mitigate potential deliverability issues.

Implementing these practices will help maintain a reliable and effective email delivery system.

Common use cases with examples

There are several common scenarios where the domain authentication feature would be beneficial:

- **New Business Launch**: A start-up purchases its first domain and needs to set up email sending quickly. By using ActiveCampaign, they can buy a domain and authenticate it within minutes, ensuring marketing communications are professional and trustworthy from day one. - **Brand Voice Management**: An established company wants to enhance its sender reputation. By customizing their mail server domain during the authentication process, they ensure their emails reflect their brand accurately, helping to build trust with recipients. - **Compliance with Email Standards**: Organizations sending bulk emails face scrutiny from ISPs. By implementing DKIM and DMARC settings through ActiveCampaign, they bolster their email deliverability, reducing the likelihood of emails being filtered out as spam.

Troubleshooting section

If you encounter issues while using the domain authentication and purchasing features, consider these troubleshooting steps:

- Ensure you have the correct permissions as only account administrators can access these settings. - Verify that the domains you are trying to authenticate are correctly pointed to the required DNS records. - In case of unsuccessful purchases, double-check the payment information and ensure all required fields during the checkout process have been filled out. - If you continue to experience issues, consult the documentation or reach out to ActiveCampaign support for additional assistance.

Related features

For further exploration of related ActiveCampaign features, consider the following:

- Automations – Manage automated email sequences. - Campaigns – Create and send email campaigns with ease. - Contact Lists – Organize and segment your audience for targeted communications.

FAQ

1. What are DKIM and DMARC, and why are they important?

Both DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) and DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) are email authentication methods that help protect senders and recipients from phishing and spamming by verifying that emails sent from your domain are legitimate.

2. Can I purchase multiple domains through ActiveCampaign?

Yes, you can purchase multiple domains as long as each domain goes through the authentication process and complies with the requirements set by Google and Yahoo.

3. Who can access the authentication settings in Advanced Settings?

Only account administrators have the permissions needed to access the domain authentication and purchasing features.

4. How does custom mail server domains improve my email strategy?

Using custom mail server domains enhances branding in email communications and can improve deliverability rates by establishing a consistent and trustworthy sender identity.

5. What are the delivery implications if I do not authenticate my domain?

Failure to authenticate your domain can lead to significant delivery issues, including emails being marked as spam or not being delivered at all, adversely affecting your sender reputation.

6. Is there a video tutorial available for using this feature?

Yes, you can find a demo on how to use this feature on the ActiveCampaign website or via their YouTube channel.

7. How can I keep up with email authentication changes?

Staying informed about email authentication changes can be achieved by regularly checking the ActiveCampaign blog, and supporting documentation, and attending webinars or training sessions offered by ActiveCampaign.

Additional Resources

• Watch the Demo: [1]
• Guide to Google and Yahoo authentication changes: [2]
• How to warm up a new sending domain: [3]

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