Where to begin?
Now that you've successfully begun the onboarding process with a client, let's take the next step and ensure their customers can receive emails. This guide applies to Klaviyo accounts with at least 5,000 active profiles.
Let’s walk through how to:
- Set up a branded sending domain
- Add a DMARC policy
- Access additional resources for setup success
By following these steps, you'll set your client up for a robust email strategy with optimal deliverability.
Set up a branded sending domain
Branded sending domains (also known as dedicated sending domains) give your client better control over their sender reputation and help them become a trusted email sender. Watch the video below for a step-by-step walkthrough of how to set up your client’s branded sending domain in Klaviyo so that it aligns with your client’s website domain.
Note: You will need access to your client’s DNS hosting provider in order to update their DNS records. You might need to consult their IT team to gain access to your client’s specific DNS hosting platform. You also need the correct permissions in Klaviyo, as only an account Owner, Admin, Manager, or Campaign Coordinator can update sending domain settings.
Key terms to know:
- Sending domain: the domain that is used to indicate who an email is from.
- Branded sending domain: a sending domain where the root domain matches the domain of your client's website.
- Domain name system (DNS): a database that locates and translates domain names into IP addresses.
- DNS record: a rule listed in the DNS that maps a domain name to something else, or that verifies the ownership of a domain.
- DNS hosting provider: the service that maintains accessibility to your client's DNS records (like GoDaddy, Cloudflare, AWS, Squarespace, Google Domains, etc.).
Add a DMARC policy to your DNS records
In order for inbox providers to recognize you as a legitimate sender, your Klaviyo account must be DMARC compliant. Set up your account for good deliverability by following the steps below to achieve DMARC alignment.
For more information, review our guide on understanding how DMARC protects your domain reputation.
Place a DMARC policy into your client’s DNS records
DMARC authentication is set up in your client’s DNS provider (like GoDaddy or Cloudflare).
After applying their branded sending domain, go to your client’s DNS provider and manually add a DMARC policy TXT record to your record set. This DMARC TXT record must follow specific syntax rules that contain the following:
- v=DMARC1
- p=none
- Recommended but not required: Set a rua tag with a valid email address to receive DMARC reports. For example, "rua=mailto:dmarc-reports@mybrand.com"
Note: Klaviyo cannot implement a DMARC policy on your behalf. If you need help generating the DMARC record, you can use a free tool like DMARC Record Wizard.
If you need additional support, consult your client’s IT team or engage a third-party service that specializes in DMARC to help your business manage and maintain compliance.
Test and verify your DMARC compliance
Send a few test email campaigns to yourself and your team, and then review the headers of those emails to check if they are compliant with the DMARC policy that you set up.
To do this, open the email in your email client and then click Show original. This will open the full text (including headers) of the email. You’ll be able to see whether the message passed DMARC.
Need more help with this? Read our guide on how to verify email authentication using email headers.
Monitor your DMARC results
Periodically read through the DMARC reports that are emailed to you from your DMARC policy.
While these are not the most user-friendly reports, your IT team will be able to review these reports to catch any irregular activity. DMARC reports are sent to the email address that you listed under the rua and/or ruf tags in your DMARC TXT record.
Tip: We recommend advising your clients to look into using a third-party tool or service to help them with ongoing DMARC management if you are not managing their account after the initial onboarding.
Follow additional steps for high-volume senders
In some cases, you and your client may decide to set up additional dedicated sending elements, such as a dedicated IP address and dedicated click tracking. Expand the dropdowns below to learn which clients qualify for each and why you would want to set these up for them.
Dedicated IP address
What is it:
A dedicated IP address is one that only your client will use, rather than sharing it with other senders (as is the case with Klaviyo’s shared IP). As a result, the reputation of a dedicated IP can only be influenced by the single account that is using it. Learn more about how shared and dedicated IPs differ.
Who should do this:
A dedicated IP is only recommended for clients that send a very high volume of emails (e.g., over 1 million emails per month). To move to a dedicated IP, you must also have access to either a Partner or Customer Success Manager.
How to get started:
To learn if your client qualifies and begin the process of setting up a dedicated IP, contact your designated Partner Success Manager for more information. From there, follow step-by-step guidance on how to warm a dedicated IP, which we will cover in more detail in the next lesson as well.
Dedicated click tracking
What is it:
Dedicated click tracking allows you to show your client’s own domain on click tracking links rather than the default Klaviyo domain which appears as a long string of letters and numbers from a Klaviyo encoded link. Instead, customers will see your client’s brand name when hovering over links in an email, which may encourage them to click.
Who should do this:
Any company is eligible to enable dedicated click tracking.
How to get started:
Follow step-by-step guidance on how to set up dedicated click tracking.
Note: If your client has a dynamic branded sending domain configured in Klaviyo, you can reach out to Klaviyo’s Support team to have a click tracking domain with SSL enabled for their account. You can also have a dedicated click tracking domain set up on your behalf if they’re on a static configuration with the CNAME record pointing to klaviyodns.com.
Follow along in your onboarding project plan
Review Phase 1: Account Setup of our Onboard a client to Klaviyo project plan to find step-by-step instructions on how to prepare your account for successful sending. This way, you won’t miss a step and will set your clients up for success!