How to Set Up DKIM, SPF, and DMARC in MailWizz for Better Email Deliverability

You’ve built a beautiful email campaign. Your subject line is compelling. Your content is valuable. And yet — your open rates are terrible.

The problem might not be your content. It might be your authentication.

If you’re sending emails through MailWizz without proper DKIM, SPF, and DMARC setup, you’re essentially telling mailbox providers "I’m not sure who I am." And when Gmail, Outlook, or Yahoo aren’t sure, they err on the side of caution — straight into the spam folder.

Let’s fix that.

Why Email Authentication Matters for MailWizz Users

Email authentication is like showing ID when you enter a building. Without it, the security guard has no idea if you belong there.

DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) adds a digital signature to your emails. Receiving servers check this signature against your domain’s DNS records to verify the email hasn’t been tampered with.

SPF (Sender Policy Framework) publishes a list of servers that are allowed to send emails on behalf of your domain. If someone tries to send from an unauthorized server, SPF flags it.

DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) tells receiving servers what to do when DKIM or SPF checks fail — and sends you reports about who’s trying to send emails using your domain.

Together, these three protocols form a powerful defense against spoofing and phishing. And they’re essential for any MailWizz user who wants reliable inbox placement.

What Happens Without Proper Authentication

Let’s be real for a moment. You can have the best email content in the world, but if your authentication is broken:

• Gmail flags your domain — Your emails get the dreaded red "?" in Gmail
• Spam placement increases — Unauthenticated emails are suspicious by default
• Sender reputation suffers — Bounce rates and spam complaints increase
• Deliverability becomes unpredictable — Some emails go through, others don’t, and you never know why
• Domain spoofing becomes possible — Anyone can fake your domain and send phishing emails

I’ve seen legitimate businesses with great content struggle for months, only to discover the root cause was a missing SPF record. Authentication isn’t optional — it’s table stakes.

Setting Up DKIM in MailWizz with Amazon SES

If you’re using Amazon SES as your delivery server in MailWizz, DKIM is handled through Amazon’s domain verification process. Here’s how it works:

Step 1: Verify Your Domain in Amazon SES

Amazon generates a set of DKIM records when you add a domain. Usually three TXT records, each containing a unique DKIM key.

Step 2: Add Records to Your DNS

This is where the Verify Sending Domain With Amazon SES for Mailwizz extension becomes invaluable. Instead of copying long DKIM values manually from the AWS console, the extension displays them inside MailWizz with one-click copy buttons.

The DKIM records look something like this:

Record Type: TXT
Host: [dkim-selector]._domainkey.yourdomain.com
Value: "v=DKIM1; h=sha256; k=rsa; p=MIGfMA0GCSqGSIb4DQEBAQUAA4GNADCBiQKBgQC..."

Step 3: Enable DKIM Signing in Amazon SES

Once your DNS records are published and verified, Amazon SES automatically signs all outgoing emails with DKIM. No additional MailWizz configuration is needed.

Setting Up SPF for Your MailWizz Sending Domain

SPF is simpler than DKIM but just as important. You add a single TXT record to your domain’s DNS.

The Basic SPF Record

For MailWizz users sending through Amazon SES:

v=spf1 include:amazonses.com ~all

This tells receiving servers: "Amazon SES is authorized to send emails for this domain. If someone else tries, mark it as soft fail."

If you’re also sending from other services (like a transactional email provider), include them too:

v=spf1 include:amazonses.com include:spf.your-other-service.com ~all

Common SPF Mistakes

Too many DNS lookups — SPF has a 10-lookup limit. If you include too many services, your SPF record becomes invalid.

Using -all too aggressively — Hard-failing everything can cause legitimate emails to bounce if you miss a sending source.

Forgetting to update — When you add a new sending service, update your SPF record. Otherwise, emails from the new service might be rejected.

Setting Up DMARC for MailWizz

DMARC builds on DKIM and SPF. It tells receiving servers: "If authentication fails, here’s what to do."

The Basic DMARC Record

Add a TXT record at _dmarc.yourdomain.com:

v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:[email protected]

Start with p=none — This puts you in monitoring mode. You’ll receive reports about authentication failures without affecting delivery.

After a few weeks of monitoring:

v=DMARC1; p=quarantine; rua=mailto:[email protected]

Then, when you’re confident everything is working:

v=DMARC1; p=reject; rua=mailto:[email protected]; pct=100

What the DMARC Tags Mean

The Complete Authentication Checklist

Use this checklist to verify your MailWizz setup:

• [ ] Amazon SES domain verification completed
• [ ] DKIM records added to DNS (3 TXT records for SES)
• [ ] DKIM status shows "Success" in Amazon SES
• [ ] SPF record includes include:amazonses.com
• [ ] DMARC record created with p=none initially
• [ ] DMARC reporting email address configured
• [ ] Test email sent and checked with a tool like MXToolbox or Mail-Tester
• [ ] DMARC policy upgraded to p=quarantine after monitoring period

How the Right Tool Simplifies Everything

Managing all of this manually across the AWS console, your DNS provider, and MailWizz is possible — but it’s tedious. And when you’re onboarding new customers who don’t understand DNS, it becomes a support bottleneck.

The Verify Sending Domain With Amazon SES for Mailwizz extension simplifies the entire workflow:

• Displays DKIM, SPF, DMARC, and MAIL FROM records in one place
• One-click copy for every record
• Automatic verification status checks
• Support for multiple domains
• Sending protection for unverified domains

Final Thoughts

Setting up DKIM, SPF, and DMARC in MailWizz isn’t just about checking boxes. It’s about building a foundation for reliable email delivery. Without these records, you’re gambling with your sender reputation.

Take the time to set them up properly — or better yet, use tools that make the process seamless. Your inbox placement will thank you.

Need a faster way to handle domain verification? Check out the Verify Sending Domain extension and give your MailWizz platform the authentication workflow it deserves.