Domain Setup Report
title: Domain Setup Report
description: Verify your domain configuration and fix deliverability issues before sending.
Overview
Verify your email sender configuration and fix deliverability issues before launching outreach.
Prerequisites
- Email sender connected in SalesBlink
- Domain DNS records (SPF, DMARC, DKIM) configured
Run a Domain Setup Check
SalesBlink automatically checks your domain setup every 24 hours. To manually check or refresh the report:
- Click Outreach in the main navigation.
- Click Email Senders.
- Click the Actions dropdown (three dots) next to your sender.
- Click Domain Report.
The domain setup report updates immediately, showing:
- SPF record status
- DMARC record status
- DKIM record status
- Custom tracking domain status
What We Check
1. Website Exists
What it means: We check if the domain you are using to send emails is attached to a live, working website.
Why it matters: Email providers (like Gmail and Outlook) and their spam filters get very suspicious if you send bulk emails from a domain that has no website. A live website proves you are a legitimate business.
How to fix it: If this fails, you need to publish a website or a simple landing page on your sending domain, it must have a status code of 200, 301 or 302 to qualify for deliverability.
2. Blacklist Check
What it means: We scan over 70 major spam databases to see if your domain's IP address has been flagged for sending spam.
Why it matters: If your domain is on a blacklist, email providers will actively block your messages or send them straight to the spam folder.
How to fix it: Blacklist flags cannot be fixed overnight. If you are listed on multiple prominent blacklists, it usually means your domain's reputation is "burned." You will likely need to purchase a new sending domain, set it up properly, and put it through a strict warm-up process before sending campaigns again.
3. SPF Record (Sender Policy Framework)
What it means: We check if your domain has a valid SPF record set up in its DNS settings.
Why it matters: Think of SPF as a guest list for a VIP party. It tells email providers exactly which servers are authorized to send emails on your behalf. If an email comes from a server not on your SPF list, it looks like a scammer is spoofing your address, and the email will bounce or go to spam.
How to fix it: Log into your domain registrar (like GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Cloudflare) and add the SPF TXT record provided by your email host (e.g., Google Workspace or Microsoft 365). See Domain Technical Setup for step-by-step instructions.
4. DMARC Record
What it means: We check if you have a DMARC policy configured for your domain.
Why it matters: DMARC is a critical modern security standard. If SPF is the guest list, DMARC is the set of instructions you give to the bouncer. It tells receiving servers exactly what to do with emails that fail your SPF or DKIM security checks (e.g., "reject them" or "send them to spam"). Without DMARC, your deliverability will suffer heavily.
How to fix it: Add a DMARC TXT record to your domain's DNS settings. See Domain Technical Setup for detailed guidance.
5. MX Records (Mail Exchange)
What it means: We check if your domain is properly configured to receive emails.
Why it matters: MX records act like the postal service for your domain. If you don't have them, you can't receive replies. Spam filters know that legitimate senders want to receive replies, so missing MX records is a massive red flag.
How to fix it: Add the MX records provided by your email host (Google, Outlook, etc.) to your domain's DNS settings. See Domain Technical Setup for detailed guidance.
6. DKIM Record
What it means: We verify that your emails are being sent with a valid DKIM digital signature.
Why it matters: DKIM acts like a wax seal on a physical letter. It proves to the receiving server that the email truly came from you and wasn't intercepted or tampered with along the way.
How to fix it: Add the DKIM TXT record from your email host into your DNS settings. See Domain Technical Setup for detailed guidance. Note: If you use a custom DKIM identifier, you can easily set it in SalesBlink by clicking the gear icon next to the error. Once verified, we will automatically apply it to all other senders using that same domain!
7. SMTP Connected (Sending Enabled)
What it means: We check if SalesBlink has the proper permissions to send emails out of your inbox.
Why it matters: Without an active SMTP connection, SalesBlink physically cannot send your cold email campaigns.
How to fix it: Reconnect or update your email account credentials in your SalesBlink sender settings. See Update Email Sender Settings.
8. IMAP Connected (Receiving Enabled)
What it means: We check if SalesBlink has the proper permissions to read incoming emails in your inbox.
Why it matters: IMAP allows SalesBlink to detect when a prospect replies to your campaign. This is how we know to stop sending automated follow-ups to someone who has already responded to you.
How to fix it: Reconnect or update your email account credentials in your SalesBlink sender settings. See Update Email Sender Settings.
9. Generic Username Check
What it means: We check if your email address uses a generic, role-based name (like sales@, info@, admin@, or support@).
Why it matters: Cold emails sent from generic addresses perform poorly. Prospects (and spam filters) trust emails that come from real human beings (like john@ or sarah@).
How to fix it: Create and connect a new email account that uses a real person's name for better open and reply rates.
10. Custom Tracking Domain
What it means: We check if you have set up a custom tracking domain to track your open and click rates.
Why it matters: If you use a shared tracking link, your deliverability is tied to the behavior of everyone else using that link. By setting up a custom tracking domain, you isolate your reputation, ensuring that only your good behavior impacts your inbox placement.
How to fix it: Create a CNAME record in your domain's DNS settings that points to SalesBlink, and then link it inside your SalesBlink account. See Custom Domains for Email Tracking for full setup instructions.
Fix Reported Issues
If any check fails, follow the recommended solution shown in the report:
- Review the Issue Description.
- Click the How to Fix link for step-by-step instructions.
- Update your DNS or settings accordingly.
- Reload the page to view the updated results.
Updated on: 03/07/2026
Thank you!