You set up DNS records for sending from Quanda by adding the three CNAME records from the Domain Verification & DNS page in Quanda at the DNS provider of your sending domain, then verifying them with the Check DNS records settings now button. If you also set up link branding, you add six records. The records set up SPF, DKIM and sending domain verification, so your emails end up in bulk and junk folders far less often.
The records belong to the domain you send from, that is the part of the email address after the @ sign. If your sending address is jan.novak@quanda.com, the records are set up for the quanda.com domain. If you send from addresses on several domains, set up the records for each domain separately. What each record does is explained in What are SPF, DKIM, DMARC and link branding.
How to set up DNS records step by step
- Sign in to Quanda and in the top menu under the three dots open Domain Verification & DNS.
- In a new browser tab, sign in to the service that manages the DNS records of your sending domain. It is usually your domain registrar or web host.
- For each row in the DNS Records Setting for sending section, add a new record of type CNAME. Copy the value from the Name column into the Name (or Hostname) field, the value from the Alias column into the Alias (or Value) field, and type 3600 in the TTL field.
- Save the records and in Quanda click Check DNS records settings now. Verification can take several hours.
- When the records are correct, a green check mark appears next to each of them.
- Repeat the procedure for all of your sending domains.
What the DNS records from Quanda look like
Always copy the values for your domain from the Domain Verification & DNS page, every account and domain has its own. For illustration, these are the records of the quanda.com domain:
| Type | Name | Alias | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| CNAME | em9921.quanda.com | u1734159.wl160.sendgrid.net | sending domain verification and SPF |
| CNAME | q._domainkey.quanda.com | q.domainkey.u1734159.wl160.sendgrid.net | DKIM domain key |
| CNAME | q2._domainkey.quanda.com | q2.domainkey.u1734159.wl160.sendgrid.net | second DKIM domain key |
The records with _domainkey in the name are DKIM domain keys, which the description on the page in Quanda calls "s1" and "s2". They let Quanda digitally sign your emails with your domain.
What to watch out for at your DNS provider
- Duplicated domain in the name. Some providers automatically append your domain to the end of the name. In that case, enter only the first part of the name, for example em9921 instead of em9921.quanda.com. Otherwise the record is saved as em9921.quanda.com.quanda.com and cannot be verified.
- Dot at the end of the alias. Some providers require a dot after the alias value, others add it automatically.
- Final form. After saving, the name and alias must look exactly as shown in Quanda. Otherwise the record cannot be verified.
- Ongoing checks. Keep the Regularly check the status of DNS record settings switch below the table turned on, so Quanda keeps checking the status of the records.
How to add a DMARC record
DMARC is not set up in Quanda. You add it directly at your DNS provider as a separate TXT record named _dmarc. To start, we recommend a value that blocks nothing and only collects reports:
v=DMARC1; p=none; pct=100; rua=mailto:you@example.com; sp=none; aspf=r; adkim=r;
Replace you@example.com with the address where you want to receive reports and set TTL to 3600. Why to tighten DMARC gradually and what to watch out for is explained in What are SPF, DKIM, DMARC and link branding. Gmail, Yahoo and Outlook.com require DMARC from bulk senders, see Gmail, Yahoo and Outlook requirements for bulk email senders.
Can I send without setting up DNS records?
Sending emails without the CNAME records is technically possible, but we do not recommend it. Emails without a verified domain are far more likely to end up in promotions and bulk mail folders, which shows significantly in the results of your campaigns. Also, never send bulk emails from free email addresses like gmail.com. You cannot set up DNS records on someone else's domain.
If you want your own domain in the links in your emails instead of onquanda.com, continue with How to set up link branding.
Do you have questions? We will be happy to answer them. Just contact our customer support at +420 605 163 892, e-mail: support@onquanda.com.
Frequently asked questions
For sender verification you add three CNAME records, which you find in Quanda on the Domain Verification & DNS page. If you also set up link branding, you add six. We also recommend adding a DMARC TXT record.
DNS changes spread gradually, so verification can take several hours. After you save the records at your DNS provider, click Check DNS records settings now in Quanda. If the green check marks do not appear, try again a little later.
Most often your DNS provider automatically appended your domain to the end of the name, so the domain appears in it twice. Check that both the name and the alias look exactly as they do in Quanda after saving. Some providers also require a dot at the end of the alias.
Yes. The records belong to the domain you send from, that is the part of the address after the @ sign. If you send from addresses on several domains, set up the records for each of them.
Technically yes, but we do not recommend it. Emails without a verified domain end up in bulk and junk folders much more often. You cannot set up DNS records for free email addresses like gmail.com, so always send from your own company domain.