Name.com Blog
June 28, 2016

Why custom email is a must in the light of increased DMARC adoption

If you regularly send outbound emails to website visitors or customers, a recent increase in the adoption of DMARC could seriously affect your sends if you are not using a custom email address. Increasing numbers of email service and email marketing providers are cracking down on the use of generic email addresses in an attempt […]


If you regularly send outbound emails to website visitors or customers, a recent increase in the adoption of DMARC could seriously affect your sends if you are not using a custom email address. Increasing numbers of email service and email marketing providers are cracking down on the use of generic email addresses in an attempt to protect receivers from phishing and spam. Although DMARC adoption is good news for email receivers, it can be bad news for email marketers who are not using a custom email address.

How does DMARC work?

Short for Domain-based Message Authentication, Reposting and Conformance, DMARC works to protect receivers from cybercriminals who send phishing and spam messages. It increases inbox security for receivers by crosschecking incoming messages against the Domain Keys Identified Mail (DKIM) and Sender Policy Framework (SPF) validation systems. Among the major email providers who have or will adopt these standards are Yahoo, AOL, Gmail, Hotmail, and Microsoft.

Those who use email marketing platforms may also find themselves affected by DMARC. MailChimp, Constant Contact, and Infusionsoft have indicated that they will adopt these stricter guidelines for email sends. Once the changes roll out, senders will be required to use custom email addresses for any emails sent through their systems. You will no longer be able to send emails via these platforms from addresses that use @gmail, @hotmail, @yahoo, @aol, @outlook, @live, or @msn domains.

Although this may sound like a lot of work and inconvenience for senders, the process can pay off richly if you abide by DMARC requirements. DMARC authenticated marketers can see a higher deliverability rate when email providers recognize your emails as safe, and your communications are less likely to end up in the spam folder.

How can I ensure that my emails will continue to be sent and received?

If you are a business owner who wants to continue to send emails via an email marketing program and prevent your messages from going straight to the spam folder, you’ll need to send from a custom email address that uses your own domain name. Whether you have an existing domain name, or need to register one solely for the purpose of email, it’s a quick and easy process to create a custom email address and set up an inbox.

Google Apps for Work is a great way to use a custom email address while sticking to Gmail’s user-friendly interface. Not only is it compatible with the professional email address of your choice, but it also includes collaborative tools including shared calendars, Google docs and spread sheets, cloud storage, and more.

If you are looking for a more simple plan that is inexpensive and easy to use, Name.com Email is another great choice. Easily connect your domain names to a custom email address and access your inbox from anywhere in the world. With flexible options for the number of email addresses you’ll use, and a low starting price point, this is an easy solution for getting yourself a custom domain.

DMARC adoption doesn’t have to be a burden so long as you’re prepared. A custom email address is the first step towards better email marketing results.

Sign up for custom email

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