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Importance of SPF Record when sending E-mail Blasts

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Catalyst Real Estate Marketing

SPF Records & E-mail blasting to your database

When a mail server receives an email it will check the DNS zone of the sending domain for a SPF record. This will tell the mail server if the email come from that domain name, using an SPF address. This stops spammers from forging mail headers and tries to keep everyone honest.

SPF records are increasingly being used as a filter for email. That means that not placing a SPF Record on your domains (or that of your clients) can result in email being sent directly to the spam/trash bin, bounced back or even deleted.

This is critical if you are engaging in e-mail marketing.

If our client mailouts never make it past their spam filters, we have already impacted our conversion rate in a big way.

Adding a SPF record is easy as long as you have access to your DNS settings control panel.


Checking to see if there is a valid SPF record.

http://www.kitterman.com/spf/validate.html

Results should look similar to this: (but with your domain name)

Found v=spf1 record for www.ginncompany.com
v=spf1 mx a:mail.global.sprint.com include:bigfish.com include:frontbridge.com ~all

evaluating...

SPF record passed validation test with pySPF (Python SPF library)!

Also, running your email campaigns past a spam test is imperative prior to sending out your campaigns.

Always make sure that your servers are configured properly or that you are using commercial e-mail blast software so that your domain won't get blacklisted.

A tool that can help you to find out if you have been blacklisted:

http://www.mxtoolbox.com/index.aspx

Type in your domain name and it will give you an IP address

Copy that IP address and then go here http://www.mxtoolbox.com/blacklists.aspx


Jim Reilley

Catalyst Real Estate Marketing

www.catalyst-marketing.us

Comments (2)

Lorena Westervelt
Van West Realty - Greenville, SC
Co-Founder/Co-Owner

Hello, welcome to Active Rain! This seems like a wonderful environment to network as well as learn from others. I hope you enjoy yourself and participate often in the Active Rain environment!

Nov 07, 2008 12:16 PM
Nance Burdette
Keller Williams Realty Partners - Spartanburg, SC

Welcome and congrats on signing as a member of ActiveRain. Being a new member myself for only a couple months, I truly see the awesome advantage that blogging can be, (and it's fun). I am pleased to see the quantity of abundant professionals sharing their knowledge and ideas. Everyone has been so very kind. And so much to read!!! I hope to continue "reading" your blogs in the future.   Best of Luck,  Nance

Nov 07, 2008 12:26 PM