How DNS Records Keep Your Email Service Running Like Magic

If you have an email address based on your domain, like michael@skwebsiteworks, Domain Name System, or DNS records, are critical in ensuring your email is received and delivered smoothly. Your domain registrar establishes DNS records, and if you decide to host your website with your registrar, you may never have to deal with them. But if you use a web host different from your domain registrar, chances are likely that you will need to understand DNS records and how they keep your email service running smoothly. In this article, you will learn what DNS records are, what they do, and which ones control your email service.

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Real Life Experience

A client approached me to build a website for her company and had already purchased a domain and a domain-based email address. She started using the email address before I launched the website. As we got close to launching the site, I asked for access to her registrar account so I could update the DNS records for the site. I explained that we needed to point the domain to the host so her site could be visible online. Also, we need to include all the email-specific records so her email address will continue to work properly. She replied, “Without getting too technical, what are DNS records, and how do they control my email address?”  My answer was the basis for this blog post.

What are DNS Records, and What Do They Do?

DNS records are essential components that help direct internet traffic. They serve as instructions for connecting the domain to various services and resources. There are several types of DNS records, and clients rarely need to get into the weeds of it all. But one record type you need to understand is called Named Servers, or NS records. 

The NS Record points the domain to the servers used by the website hosting company. They are responsible for making your website visible online by connecting your domain with the website host. When someone types your company’s website address into a search engine query, the NS records tell Google and all search engines where your website lives.  Once search engines find your website to visitors, they can serve it to visitors. 

If you use separate domain and website hosting companies, the DNS records often transfer to your website as soon as you change the named servers. As a result, any DNS records required for email functionality must be manually added to your website’s DNS records, controlled within your hosting environment. Adding DNS records manually can be a little critical, especially if you don’t regularly add DNS records to your website. This is where professional assistance can be invaluable, ensuring your email service runs smoothly.

Understanding DNS records is crucial for managing a website effectively, ensuring visitors can access your content, and facilitating email functionalities.

How Do DNS Records Affect Email Service?

DNS records are crucial to email delivery both to and from a website. Here’s a brief overview of how they affect email:

DNS Records that affect receiving email:

MX Records: Mail Exchange (MX) records specify the mail servers responsible for receiving domain emails. Email sent to that domain may only be delivered if these records are correctly configured or included.

A Records: Although primarily used for mapping domain names to IP addresses, A records can also affect email delivery if they are point to webmail services.

DNS Records that affect sending email:

SPF Records: Sender Policy Framework (SPF) records help to prevent email spoofing by specifying which IP addresses can send emails on behalf of your domain. An incorrect SPF record can mark legitimate emails as spam or rejected.

DKIM Records: DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) records allow the sender to sign their emails with a digital signature. DKIM records help the recipient verify that the claimed sender indeed sent the email. Furthermore, it verifies that the email hasn’t been tampered with during transmission.

DMARC Records: Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance (DMARC) records build upon SPF and DKIM. They instruct receiving servers on handling emails that fail SPF or DKIM checks and can help report fraudulent emails.

Properly configured DNS records are the backbone of reliable email communication. With the right DNS records in place, you can trust that your domain is protected from malicious use and your email service is running properly.

Conclusion to How DNS Records Keep Your Email Running Like Magic

DNS records control how your website connects to services like email. Additionally, email servers rely on DNS records to prove email is authentic, safe, and can be sent and received with confidence. Without valid DNS records, emails using a domain suffix will not function. If you bought your domain from a registrar like GoDaddy, but you use a website hosting company like Host Gator or WordPress.com, chances are you will need to update DNS records manually. SK Website Works has all the experience and expertise to update DNS records, ensuring your website and email function reliably. Contact us today to learn more.

SK Website Works is a website company that focuses on user experience.  We build new websites and provide SEO services to keep websites running clean and Google happy.  Plus, we create content that establishes our client’s expertise and trustworthiness. This is foundation for building trust. Call us at 727-249-2749 to discuss what SK Website Works can do for you.  You can also send an email to michael@skwebsiteworks.com.  If you prefer to copy and paste the email link, it is michael@skwebsiteworks.com.

Thanks for your time, but now we’ve gotta run. We have websites to build and audit, blogs to write, eCommerce to manage, and photos to edit. Until next time, take care.