When you send campaigns, you want them to actually reach people—not get caught in spam. Two things make that happen: proving your emails really come from you, and easing into sending gradually so email providers learn to trust you.
We set this up with you during onboarding, but if you need a refresher or need to do it yourself, everything you need is here below. We'll explain each piece in plain terms, then give you the exact settings to copy and paste.
What These Settings Do
To trust your emails, providers like Gmail and Outlook want proof they genuinely come from you. That proof comes from three small settings you add to your domain.
SPF is like a guest list. It tells email providers which services are allowed to send emails for you.
DKIM is like a tamper-proof seal. It confirms your email wasn't changed along the way.
DMARC ties the two together and quietly keeps an eye on your email's health.
The Exact Settings to Add
You'll add these in your domain's DNS settings. Not sure where that is? Search "[your domain host, e.g. GoDaddy] DNS" and you'll find the page where you paste them in.
Use the section that matches the email you send from.
If You Use Gmail / Google Workspace
Add SPF: Create a new TXT record with the following details:
Name | TXT Value |
@ | v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all |
Add DMARC: Create another TXT record, swapping in your own email address at the end:
Name | TXT Value |
_dmarc | v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:[email protected] |
Turn on DKIM: This one is unique to you, so you generate it in two quick steps:
Generate your key: In your Google Admin console, go to Apps → Google Workspace → Gmail → Authenticate email and click Generate new record.
Add it to your DNS: Copy the value, add it as a TXT record with the Name
google._domainkey.yourdomain.com, then return to the Admin console and click Start authentication.See https://knowledge.workspace.google.com/admin/security/set-up-dkim for more details.
If You Use Outlook / Microsoft 365
Add SPF: Create a new TXT record with the following details:
Name | TXT Value |
@ | v=spf1 include:spf.protection.outlook.com -all |
Add DMARC: Create another TXT record, swapping in your own email address at the end:
Name | TXT Value |
_dmarc | v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:[email protected] |
Turn on DKIM: Enable this inside Microsoft, then add the records it gives you:
Open the DKIM settings: Go to the Microsoft 365 Defender portal → DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM).
Switch it on: Select your domain and turn DKIM on. Microsoft will show you two records. Paste these into your DNS records, then return and finish enabling it.
One Thing to Double-Check
There's a single common mistake worth knowing about: your domain can only have one SPF setting (the "guest list" from above). If an old one is left behind when you add the new one, the two clash—and providers may start rejecting your mail. This can quietly affect your regular business email too, not just campaigns.
So before you save, make sure there's only one record starting with v=spf1. If you already have one, edit it instead of adding a second. And if email suddenly stops getting through right after a change, this is the first thing to check.
Check Your DNS in Overjoy
After saving your DNS records, go to Settings → Domains → Check DNS in Overjoy, or open: https://app.overjoy.ai/settings/domains?view=check-dns
Enter your domain and click Check. Overjoy will verify your MX, SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records and show suggested fixes if anything is missing or misconfigured.
DNS changes can take a few minutes, and sometimes up to 48 hours, to fully take effect. If something still shows as missing, wait a bit and run the check again.
About Those "DMARC" Emails
Once everything's set up, you might notice a few emails arriving with "DMARC" in the subject line. These are just routine health check-ins—you don't need to open them or do anything with them. If they start cluttering your inbox, set up a filter to send anything with "DMARC" in the subject to its own folder, and forget about them.
A Note on Gmail and Outlook Addresses
If you send from a personal address like [email protected] or [email protected], none of the settings above apply to you—Google and Microsoft handle all of that on their end, and you can't change it.
These addresses are fine for occasional one-to-one emails. But for campaigns, we recommend using a custom address at your own domain (like [email protected]). It looks more professional, gives you more control, and is far less likely to run into spam trouble.
Easing Into Sending ("Warmup")
A brand-new email account has no track record, so providers are cautious about it at first. Warmup simply means starting with a small number of emails per day and increasing slowly over a few weeks. This builds trust, so by the time you're running full campaigns, your emails are welcomed into the inbox.
A good rule of thumb: give a new address 2–4 weeks of warmup before sending at full volume. Overjoy also paces your sending automatically to help keep your reputation healthy.
Want Us to Handle All of This?
If this feels like a lot, you don't have to do it yourself. With Overjoy's domain and email setup feature, we'll set you up with a ready-to-go sending address—all the settings configured correctly from day one, and warmup handled for you. Nothing to paste, nothing to troubleshoot.
Just reach out to your account manager or our support team if you'd like to get started. Or you can check it out yourself at app.overjoy.ai/settings/domains after signing in.
Still Need Help?
If you've followed these steps and your emails still aren't landing, our support team is here to help. Just reach out via chat and request email support—we'll get you sorted!