Ultimate Guide to DNS Record Testing for Cold Email
Want your cold emails to land in inboxes, not spam? Proper DNS record configuration is the key. SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records authenticate your emails, proving to providers like Gmail and Outlook that you're legitimate. Misconfigurations, outdated records, or missing entries can crush your deliverability. Tools like Infraforge automate setup, monitoring, and validation, saving you from manual errors and ensuring your campaigns run smoothly. Here's how to get it right and keep your sender reputation intact.
DNS Records You Need for Cold Email Authentication
Getting your DNS records right is essential for protecting your email reputation. These records act as the backbone of your cold email campaigns, ensuring your messages are trusted by email providers and reach their intended recipients. Each record serves a specific role in proving your legitimacy and improving deliverability while maintaining a strong sender reputation.
SPF, DKIM, and DMARC Records
Think of SPF, DKIM, and DMARC as the security team for your emails. Dean Canellos from Higher Logic explains it well:
"Email authentication acts as your digital ID card and helps Mailbox Providers (MBPs) and spam filtering systems recognize your legitimate email."
Here’s how each protocol works:
-
SPF (Sender Policy Framework): This record specifies which IP addresses and servers are authorized to send emails on behalf of your domain. Setting up SPF is like saying, "Only these servers can send emails from my domain - block everything else." For instance, an SPF record might look like this:
v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com include:servers.mcsv.net -all - DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail): DKIM adds an encrypted signature to your emails, verifying that the message was sent from your domain and hasn’t been tampered with during transit. This helps email providers confirm the authenticity of your messages.
- DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance): DMARC tells email providers how to handle messages that fail SPF or DKIM checks. It can instruct them to quarantine, reject, or simply monitor suspicious emails. DMARC also provides valuable feedback, helping you understand how your domain is being used across the internet.
The importance of these records is growing. Starting February 2024, Google and Yahoo will enforce stricter authentication requirements for domains sending over 5,000 emails daily. Microsoft Outlook will follow suit in May 2025. Without properly configured SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records, your emails could end up flagged as spam or blocked entirely.
But email authentication doesn’t stop there. Additional DNS records play a vital role in ensuring your emails are delivered and your domain remains credible.
Supporting Records: A, MX, and PTR
While SPF, DKIM, and DMARC focus on authentication, supporting records like A, MX, and PTR handle the logistics of email delivery and domain credibility.
- A Records: These link your domain name to its IP address. When an email server looks up your domain, the A record ensures it knows where to find your server, confirming your domain is legitimate and properly configured.
- MX Records (Mail Exchange): These direct emails to the correct server. By setting up multiple MX records with different priority levels, you ensure that if your primary mail server goes down, emails can automatically route to a backup server, keeping your campaigns running smoothly.
- PTR Records: PTR records map your sending IP address back to your domain name. This helps spam filters verify your IP’s legitimacy. Missing or mismatched PTR records can raise red flags, leading to emails being marked as spam. Platforms like Infraforge handle this automatically for dedicated IPs, ensuring they resolve correctly to your domain. This attention to detail reinforces your professionalism and technical credibility in the eyes of email providers.
SSL and Domain Masking for Privacy
- SSL Certificates: These encrypt the connection between your email server and recipients, safeguarding sensitive data during transmission. While SSL doesn’t directly impact email deliverability, it’s a standard for professional email setups. It also enables secure tracking links and landing pages, which build trust with recipients by displaying the secure padlock icon.
- Domain Masking: This technique protects your primary domain’s reputation by using separate outbound domains for your campaigns. Instead of exposing your main domain in email headers and tracking links, domain masking uses alternate domains for outreach. Platforms like Infraforge simplify this process by automatically configuring all necessary DNS records, SSL certificates, and routing settings for masked domains. This allows you to focus on crafting effective messages while the technical setup is handled seamlessly.
These advanced configurations round out the foundation for a reliable and secure DNS setup, ensuring your cold email campaigns are both professional and effective.
DNS Record Testing Tools and Methods
Regular DNS testing is essential for maintaining strong email deliverability. The right tools can help you identify configuration problems before they hurt your sender reputation, while effective testing methods ensure your email infrastructure operates as it should.
Best DNS Testing Tools
Selecting the right DNS testing tool depends on your technical skill level and specific requirements. For cold email campaigns, tools that validate email authentication records and offer insights into potential deliverability issues are particularly valuable.
MxToolbox is a standout option for email-focused DNS testing. It specializes in analyzing MX records, performing blacklist checks, and running SMTP diagnostics. While it offers extensive DNS and deliverability checks, it requires a subscription and can generate sensitive alerts.
intoDNS provides detailed reports on DNS health and configuration, focusing on MX and NS records. Its straightforward interface and free core services make it a popular choice, though its analysis depth is limited, and it lacks real-time monitoring.
For checking DNS propagation, What’s My DNS is an excellent choice. It verifies DNS updates from servers worldwide, ensuring changes are reflected globally - a critical step when setting up new domains for cold email campaigns. While its functionality is narrower compared to feature-rich tools, it excels in its specific purpose.
DNSInspect offers a free web-based service for analyzing DNS and mail server configurations. Its simple interface is ideal for quick checks, though it lacks advanced features and may experience slower response times during periods of high traffic.
| Tool | Features | Ease of Use | Email Validation Checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| MxToolbox | Comprehensive MX record analysis | Easy to Moderate | Yes |
| intoDNS | Detailed DNS health reports | Easy | Yes |
| What’s My DNS | DNS propagation checking worldwide | Easy | No |
| DNSInspect | Free DNS and mail server analysis | Easy | Yes |
Next, let’s explore how Infraforge simplifies DNS testing with its integrated tools.
Infraforge's Built-in DNS Testing Features
Infraforge takes the hassle out of manual DNS testing with its built-in validation system. During domain setup, the platform automatically configures and validates essential DNS records, including SPF, DKIM, DMARC, and supporting entries like A, MX, and PTR records.
Its real-time deliverability monitoring continuously checks your DNS setup and alerts you to any issues that could affect your cold email campaigns. This proactive feature allows you to address problems before they impact your sender reputation or email delivery rates.
For those managing multiple domains, Infraforge’s bulk DNS updates feature is a game-changer. Instead of testing each domain individually, you can oversee the health of your entire email infrastructure from a single dashboard. This saves time and ensures consistency across all your outreach domains, directly supporting email deliverability by preventing configuration errors.
While Infraforge automates much of the process, manual testing remains a valuable tool for troubleshooting and validation.
How to Test DNS Records Step by Step
To ensure your DNS records are in top shape, follow these steps:
Testing SPF Records:
Use tools like dig or MxToolbox to query your SPF record. Look for "v=spf1" at the beginning and verify that all your sending servers are included. Make sure the record ends with "-all" for strict enforcement or "~all" for a more lenient approach, depending on your security needs.
Validating DKIM Records:
Check your DKIM record using your assigned selector. The record should contain the public key that matches your private key configuration. Ensure the outbound DKIM signature aligns with the public key.
Verifying DMARC Records:
Query _dmarc.yourdomain.com to confirm it includes the correct policy settings. Many domains start with "p=none" for monitoring purposes before advancing to "p=quarantine" or "p=reject" as confidence in the setup grows. Don’t forget to include reporting addresses in the record to monitor authentication failures.
Checking Supporting Records:
Validate your A, MX, and PTR records to confirm they resolve correctly and maintain your domain’s integrity. Tools like nslookup are great for quick IP lookups or MX record checks, while the host command is a reliable option for broader DNS queries.
Propagation Testing:
After making DNS updates, use propagation checkers to ensure changes have been applied across global DNS servers. This step is crucial to avoid inconsistent authentication results in different regions.
Incorporate these tests into your regular maintenance routine. Perform monthly checks on all domains and run tests immediately after making DNS changes or adding new sending infrastructure to your cold email setup. Regular testing helps you stay ahead of potential issues and keeps your email campaigns running smoothly.
DNS Record Management Best Practices
Effective DNS record management is the backbone of successful cold email campaigns. Even the most well-crafted outreach can falter if DNS records are poorly maintained or improperly set up. By combining automation, regular audits, and strategic preparation, you can safeguard email deliverability and ensure your messages reach their intended audience.
Automating DNS Setup and Maintenance
Setting up DNS records manually is not only time-consuming but also prone to errors, especially as your email campaigns scale. Automating this process ensures consistency, reduces mistakes, and saves time. For instance, implementing DMARC can cut down successful phishing attempts by 90%, while DKIM lowers the chances of email tampering by 30%.
Tools like Infraforge simplify this process by automating domain and mailbox setup. In just about five minutes, Infraforge configures SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records, streamlining the entire process.
"Infraforge quickly helped to solve a challenge regarding email deliverability. What I like about Infraforge is its ease of use and quality of support." – Silver L, CEO
This level of automation is especially valuable for scaling outreach campaigns. It ensures uniformity across domains and reduces the technical workload. Once automation is in place, performing regular audits will help maintain accuracy and reliability.
Regular DNS Record Audits
DNS records need to stay up-to-date to adapt to changes in your email infrastructure. Regular audits not only protect against security risks but also improve sender reputation and email deliverability. Monthly DNS checks and quarterly reviews of SPF, DKIM, and DMARC alignment are recommended to ensure your setup matches your current email outreach needs.
Specialized tools like QuickMail and SpamTester.ai can help you monitor key metrics such as inbox placement and bounce rates, alerting you to potential DNS issues. Regular audits also lay the groundwork for domain pre-warming, a critical step in building a strong sending reputation.
Pre-Warming Domains and Mailboxes
New domains and mailboxes often face stricter scrutiny from email service providers, which can lead to filtering issues. Pre-warming these domains over a 2–4 week period helps establish a positive sending history. Infraforge offers pre-warmed domains and mailboxes, allowing you to start campaigns immediately while maintaining strong engagement metrics.
Pre-warming is about more than just gradually increasing email volume. It involves building engagement patterns, improving IP reputation, and ensuring authentication protocols like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are recognized by major email providers. Monitoring engagement during this phase ensures your domains are fully prepared for larger-scale campaigns.
| Feature | Infraforge | Salesforge | Mailreach | Warmup Inbox | Lemwarm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automated DNS Setup | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| IP Rotation | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Inbox Warmup | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Custom Tracking Domain | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Starting Price | $49/mo | $29/mo | $59/mo | $49/mo | $29/mo |
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DNS Management Platform Comparison
The DNS management platform you choose can significantly influence the success of your cold email campaigns. Here's a comparison of key features across top platforms:
| Feature | Infraforge | Mailreach | Mailforge | GMass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automated DNS Setup | ✅ Full automation (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) | ❌ Manual setup | ✅ Automated | ❌ Manual or unavailable |
| Dedicated IPs | ✅ Dedicated ($99/month per IP) | ❌ Shared network | ❌ Shared network | ❌ Gmail infrastructure |
| Real-time Monitoring | ✅ Bounce/blacklist alerts | ❌ Limited visibility | ⚠️ Basic monitoring | ⚠️ Gmail-dependent |
| Inbox Placement (2 weeks) | ✅ 87% average | ⚠️ ~70% average | ⚠️ Variable | ⚠️ Drops with volume |
| Setup Time | ✅ ~5 minutes | ⚠️ Hours to days | ✅ 5–10 minutes | ✅ Fast (Gmail-based) |
| Scaling Capability | ✅ 20+ inboxes smoothly | ⚠️ Struggles beyond 10 | ⚠️ Limited by shared IPs | ❌ Gmail volume limits |
| SSL & Domain Masking | ✅ $2/domain/month | ❌ Not available | ❌ Not available | ❌ Not available |
The table provides a snapshot of how these platforms stack up. Now, let’s dive into what sets Infraforge apart.
What Makes Infraforge Different
Infraforge takes email deliverability to the next level with features like automated DNS setup and real-time monitoring. But what truly sets it apart is its dedicated infrastructure. Unlike platforms that rely on shared email pools - where poor sender practices can harm your reputation - Infraforge ensures that each user operates in an isolated environment. This approach protects your sender reputation from external risks.
While some competitors, like Mailforge, claim to offer dedicated IPs, they often still use shared networks. Infraforge, on the other hand, guarantees complete separation, giving you full control over your sending environment.
Another standout feature is its multi-IP provisioning, which is perfect for scaling. As your email volume increases, you can add more dedicated IPs to distribute your sending load, ensuring your reputation remains intact. Infraforge also offers API access, enabling automation for tasks like domain creation, mailbox setup, and DNS configuration - making it a top choice for agencies managing multiple clients or complex email workflows.
"During my time at a Fortune 500 company and now across all our products, Infraforge has been my go-to solution for Email Infrastructure. Its deliverability and impact are unmatched. If you're serious about outreach and want the best tool in the market, Infraforge is the only choice."
– Rahul Lakhaney, Former VP at Gartner, now CEO at Enrich.so and Maximise
Additionally, Infraforge includes SSL and domain masking, which create secure proxies to hide your primary domain during outreach. This added layer of protection is something most competitors don’t offer.
When to Choose Infraforge Over Alternatives
Infraforge is the best fit for businesses and individuals who need reliable, high-performance email infrastructure. Here’s when it makes the most sense to choose Infraforge:
- High-volume senders: If you’re sending thousands of emails daily or managing multiple campaigns, Infraforge’s dedicated IPs and isolated environment ensure better deliverability and scalability.
- Agencies and consultants: Its white-label reseller program and API-driven automation streamline client onboarding and management, making it ideal for agencies handling multiple campaigns.
- Businesses prioritizing deliverability: With an 87% inbox placement rate compared to the ~70% average of competitors, Infraforge is a smart choice for those focused on maximizing ROI.
- US-based businesses: Transparent pricing and responsive support make it a reliable option for companies operating in the United States.
"I'm really glad I came across Infraforge... The ease of use and simplicity make managing email infrastructure a breeze, and the pricing is spot on."
– Anton L, Founder
However, for smaller-scale users sending fewer than 100 emails daily, platforms like GMass (built on Gmail) or Mailreach (with manual DNS setup) may suffice. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your campaign scale, technical expertise, and goals. For those serious about email deliverability and scalability, Infraforge’s advanced features and dedicated infrastructure make it a standout option.
Conclusion
Getting your DNS records right is the backbone of any successful cold email campaign. While the tools and techniques mentioned in this guide can help ensure your DNS records are set up correctly, managing them manually can often feel like a daunting and error-prone task.
Key Takeaways
The main takeaway here? Managing DNS records doesn’t have to be a headache. Manual setups can lead to mistakes - especially when juggling multiple domains - but automated solutions can fix this. They reduce errors, ensure proper formatting, and make updates across domains quick and easy. As Kostas Zhukov, Founder & CEO of ChatPoint, puts it:
"Procedures that usually took hours (setting DKIM, SPF, etc. records) for multiple domains, now take a few minutes".
Dedicated IPs also play a crucial role in protecting your sender reputation, which is vital for high-volume senders aiming for consistent inbox placement. However, even with the best setup, ongoing testing and monitoring are essential. DNS records can change, domains may get blacklisted, and email providers are always tweaking their filters.
With these insights in mind, let’s look at how you can take your cold email game to the next level.
Next Steps for Cold Email Optimization
If you’re aiming for scalable and error-free email outreach, consider switching to Infraforge’s fully automated DNS management. Designed by experts in cold outreach, Infraforge simplifies the process of managing cold email campaigns. It offers dedicated servers that give you full control over security and customization.
Karlo Binda, Founder of Leadsnack.co, highlights the convenience of automation:
"The simplicity and the automation in the buying process of domains, DNS setting, inbox creation, forwarding, etc. Everything in one place".
For businesses sending large volumes of cold emails, Infraforge’s dedicated IP option ($99 per month per server) offers better deliverability compared to shared solutions. This makes it an excellent choice for agencies and consultants managing multiple campaigns, ensuring reliable and scalable email infrastructure.
Start by auditing your current DNS setup using the recommended tools. After identifying any issues, consider upgrading to an automated platform like Infraforge for improved efficiency and performance. With mailbox slots starting at $17 per month (when billed annually) and built-in DNS automation, Infraforge takes care of the technical challenges, leaving you free to focus on crafting engaging emails and building meaningful connections.
Whether you stick to manual management or embrace automation, the key to cold email success lies in proper setup, regular testing, and choosing a solution that aligns with your needs and growth plans.
FAQs
How do SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records help improve email deliverability in cold email campaigns?
SPF, DKIM, and DMARC: The Backbone of Cold Email Deliverability
Getting your cold emails into the recipient's inbox isn’t just about crafting the perfect message - it’s also about proving that your emails are genuine. That’s where SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records come into play. These protocols work together to verify your emails, protect against spoofing, and build trust with email providers.
- SPF (Sender Policy Framework): This protocol confirms that the mail server sending your email is authorized by your domain. Think of it as a way for your domain to say, "Yes, this server is allowed to send emails on my behalf."
- DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail): DKIM adds a digital signature to your emails, ensuring they haven’t been tampered with during transit. It’s like sealing your message with a wax stamp that guarantees its authenticity.
- DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance): DMARC takes things a step further by telling receiving servers what to do if an email fails SPF or DKIM checks. Plus, it provides detailed reports to help you refine your email setup and address potential issues.
When these three protocols are properly configured, they work together to boost email deliverability, reduce the risk of your messages being flagged as spam, and safeguard your reputation in cold email campaigns.
How can I automate DNS record management to improve email outreach performance?
Automating DNS record management can make your email outreach campaigns run smoother and more effectively. Tools that automate the setup for essential DNS records - like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC - play a key role in ensuring proper email authentication. This reduces the chances of deliverability problems and helps your emails land where they’re supposed to: the inbox. Platforms like Infraforge, which focus on private email infrastructure, simplify this process further by offering automated DNS configuration, pre-warmed domains, and dedicated IPs.
You can also use DNS validation tools to automatically check your configurations. This cuts down on manual errors and saves valuable time. With these strategies in place, it becomes easier to manage secure, scalable, and efficient email campaigns without the usual hassle.
How does Infraforge help ensure your DNS records are set up correctly for better email deliverability?
Infraforge takes the hassle out of DNS management with its real-time testing and continuous monitoring for key records like SPF, DKIM, DMARC, and MX. These features ensure your email setup is properly configured, minimizing the chances of your emails landing in spam folders.
By automating domain setup and identifying potential issues before they become problems, Infraforge helps you maintain strong email deliverability without the need for time-consuming manual adjustments. It's a perfect fit for cold email campaigns, where dependable communication is essential.