DMARC Feb 1st 2024 deadline for Shopify/Klaviyo emails to Gmail

If you send emails from Shopify, like order receipts or marketing emails from Klaviyo then you have about 19 days to meet Google, Shopify, and Klaviyo's email delivery guidance.

Introduction to DMARC

• DMARC Definition: DMARC stands for Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance. It's a protocol that uses SPF (Sender Policy Framework) and DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) to validate email authenticity.
• DMARC aims to help prevent email spoofing and phishing attacks and ensure that legitimate emails are correctly authenticated.

Bulk Mailing and Third-Party Affiliates

• Bulk Mailing Considerations: When using a bulk mailing vendor or third-party affiliates like Klaviyo, it's crucial to ensure your emails aren't blocked by email providers such as Gmail. In Google's words. 
• Example Scenario: If Klaviyo sends an email on behalf of your brand, you still need to set up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to authenticate these emails. This setup ensures that emails appear as coming directly from your domain, not just Klaviyo, thereby enhancing trust and deliverability. In Klaviyo's words - this is for everyone.
• Publish SPF Records: Include the IPs of your bulk mailing vendor or affiliates in your domain's SPF record to authorize them to send emails on your behalf.
• Sign with DKIM: Ensure your emails are signed with a DKIM signature associated with your domain, even when sent through third-party services.

Importance of DMARC

• Enhances Email Security: DMARC protects email recipients and domain owners from cyber threats, including email spoofing and phishing.
• Improves Email Deliverability: Emails authenticated through DMARC are less likely to be rejected or marked as spam by email service providers like Gmail.
• Domain Reputation: Implementing DMARC can improve a domain's reputation, which is crucial for businesses relying on email communication.

Setting Up DMARC

• Publishing DMARC Record: To implement DMARC, a DMARC record must be published in the domain's DNS records.
• Alignment with SPF and DKIM: DMARC works in conjunction with SPF and DKIM. It checks that the SPF and DKIM records align with the email's "From" address.
• Policy Instructions: DMARC allows domain owners to instruct email servers on handling emails that fail SPF or DKIM checks (e.g., reject, quarantine, or none).

SPF and DKIM: Prerequisites for DMARC

• SPF Setup: Ensure that SPF records are correctly published in the DNS, listing all authorized email senders for the domain.
• DKIM Configuration: Implement DKIM by turning it on for the domain and using a key of appropriate length (1024 bits or longer, preferably 2048 bits).

Add your brand logo to outgoing emails with BIMI

This is all a bonus and extra work from here but well worth it if you have gone to the effort of setting up DMARC as it will help you stand out in customers email inbox.

Introduction to BIMI

• About BIMI: Brand Indicators for Message Identification (BIMI) is an emerging email standard allowing businesses to add their brand logo to authenticated messages sent from their domain.
• The purpose of BIMI is to enhance brand visibility and trust. Email clients that support BIMI show the brand's logo next to messages in the inbox, ensuring recipients that the email is legitimate.

How BIMI Works

• Link to DMARC: BIMI requires that messages are authenticated through DMARC. This reinforces security by preventing attackers from spoofing your organization's domain.
• Brand Recognition: Emails sent with BIMI will have the brand's logo displayed in the recipient's email client, enhancing brand recognition.
• Building Recipient Trust: A verified brand logo alongside an email increases recipient confidence and trust in the message's authenticity.

Steps to Implement BIMI

1. Preparation:

• Ensure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are set up for your domain.
• Understand DNS TXT records.
• Optionally, trademark your brand logo and check for existing BIMI records.

1. Create and Upload Brand Logo:

• Design your brand logo as an SVG file.
• Upload this file to your public web server.

1. Verified Mark Certificate (VMC):

• Register your brand logo as a trademark (if not already done).
• Apply for a VMC that verifies the logo.

1. Add a BIMI TXT Record:

• Create the BIMI TXT record.
• Add this record to your domain via your domain provider.

Troubleshooting BIMI

• Verification: Ensure BIMI is set up correctly by checking the BIMI record and its proper implementation.
• Troubleshooting Steps: Follow specific steps to troubleshoot any issues with BIMI setup and functionality.