How to Set Up/Modify SPF for Constant Contact
The following description addresses how to update a Domain Name Service (DNS) record to use SPF with your custom domain in Constant Contact.
To utilize a custom domain, the Constant Contact provider requires an SPF TXT record be added to the DNS record. This TXT record is then used by DNS to recognize email servers allowed to send messages on behalf of your custom/third-party domain. To determine whether a correspondence from the specified domain comes from an authorized messaging server, the recipient system relies on the implemented SPF TXT record. At that point, the message is either accepted, quarantined, or rejected by the email receiving system.
To implement SPF authentication for your domain, you will need access to your DNS records in the domain hosting account. Important: If you already have an SPF record, then you should modify that existing record. You must not have more than one SPF record.
For convenience, be sure to log in to your Constant Contact account to verify your domain and copy your TXT records. Constant Contact utilizes an include mechanism during the set-up process. For example, if you do not have an SPF record on your domain, the following scenario is the most common and would pass SPF:
v=spf1 include:spf.constantcontact.com ~all
If you do already have an SPF record on your domain, simply add the following to it:
include:spf.constantcontact.com
To create an SPF record for your domain name, follow these steps:
1. Log in to Constant Contact account
2. Under My Settings tab, choose Authentication as active
3. Create a TXT record with the following specifications:
v=spf1 include:spf.constantcontact.com ~all
4. Decide how you want to enforce SPF failures:
~all results in a soft fail (not authorized, but not explicitly unauthorized)
-all results in a hard fail (unauthorized)
?all is neutral (similar to no policy)
As shown above, enter your choice after v=spf1 include:spf.constantcontact.com
5. Save changes
How to Set Up/Modify DKIM for Constant Contact
DKIM is an industry-standard method for associating a domain name to an email so the recipient can validate the legitimacy of the message. Moreover, DKIM requires two TXT records to be created in your DNS configuration. To enable DKIM set up for approved senders, follow the below steps:
1. Notify Account Review and Deliverability you want to self-publish for authentication
2. Inform them which domain you will be using
3. Your authentication keys will be generated and emailed to you
4. Syntax for the name of TXT record will be generated and emailed to you
5. Contact your domain administrator (or other) to create authentication records in DNS
6. In My Settings, change email you send from to your domain-based email
As a user of this outbound email provider, Constant Contact customers are afforded DKIM signing because it supports that mechanism. By utilizing Constant Contact’s DKIM set up via provider request, you can rely on their assistance to have this protocol enabled. Overall, this Constant Contact product provides beneficial components (e.g., DKIM signing, custom DKIM records, provider set up by request with TXT records) that result in a streamlined process.