Improve Email Deliverability from Your Custom Domain

Once you've set up your custom email domain in Hivepass, you can take an optional second step to improve your email deliverability — making it more likely that your emails land in members' inboxes instead of spam or junk folders.

In this article:

• ✅ How to measure deliverability
• 🔧 How to improve it
• 📊 How to track improvements
• 🧠FAQ

✅ Measuring Deliverability

Deliverability means how reliably your emails are reaching your members.

You can check this by looking at:

• Open rates – Low open rates may suggest your emails are being filtered or ignored.
• Bounce rates – High bounce rates mean some members' email providers are rejecting your emails.
• Spam complaints – These are rare, but if they occur, they impact your sender reputation.

🔍 Where to find this in Hivepass

Go to your email campaign results and check the:

• Open rate
• Bounce count
• Complaint rate

🔧 Improving Deliverability

Hivepass takes care of the essential setup automatically when you add a custom domain. But there are a few simple steps you can take to further improve your results:

✅ Use a clear sender name

Choose something familiar that reinforces trust. Examples:

• "Anna from Rotorua MTB Club"
• "Wellington Trails Team"

✅ Use a recognisable sender email address

Stick to professional-looking formats like:

• info@mail.myorg.com
• membership@mail.myorg.com

Avoid using no-reply@ addresses. They’re more likely to be flagged as spam.

✅ Know what's already set up for you

When you add a custom domain in Hivepass, we automatically configure:

• SPF (Sender Policy Framework) – Verifies that Hivepass is allowed to send on your behalf
• DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) ✅ – Digitally signs your messages for authenticity
• A clean subdomain (e.g. mail.myorg.com ) – Separates campaigns from your main email systems

🔐 Optional: Add a DMARC record

Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance (or DMARC) adds another layer of security. It helps prevent email spoofing and gives you visibility into how your domain is being used.

This is optional, but if you want to go a step further:

1. Go to your domain provider (e.g. GoDaddy, Google Domains)

   Add a TXT record:

   • Host: _dmarc.mail.myorg.com
   • Value: v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:you@myorg.com
2. This tells mail providers to report back on any email issues (without blocking anything)

Adding a DMARC record can improve your email deliverability by around 5–10%, especially for recipients using Outlook or Yahoo.

It also gives you better protection against spoofing and lets you receive reports about suspicious email activity using your domain.

📊 Tracking Improvements

Once changes are made:

• Monitor your open rates in Hivepass
• Watch for fewer bounces or spam complaints
• See if members are replying or engaging more with your emails

Allow at least 1–2 days after sending a campaign to see results.

🧪 Optional: Test Your Domain with MXToolbox

If you want to check your domain setup for any hidden issues:

1. Go to mxtoolbox.com
2. Enter your email sub domain (e.g. mail.myorg.com )

1. Run a "Domain Health" or "SPF/DKIM/DMARC Lookup" test
2. Look for any warnings or missing records

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to do anything after setting up my custom domain in Hivepass?

No. The most important settings (SPF, DKIM, and your subdomain) are handled for you. You can optionally add DMARC or do further testing.

What is SPF, DKIM, and DMARC in simple terms?

• SPF: Tells email providers that Hivepass is allowed to send emails for you
• DKIM: Signs your emails so no one else can fake them
• DMARC: Adds visibility and control over who sends from your domain

Is the base setup enough for good deliverability?

Yes. The Hivepass custom domain setup includes SPF, DKIM, and a clean sending domain. This gives you strong deliverability right away. DMARC and other steps are optional improvements, not requirements.

Will this stop my emails going to spam?

Setting up a custom domain helps a lot, but inbox placement also depends on your content, subject lines, and member engagement. Avoid using all caps, too many links, or trigger words like "free" or "urgent."

Can I use a Gmail or free address instead?

We recommend using your custom domain (mail.myorg.com ). Free email addresses like Gmail are more likely to be blocked or end up in spam when used for bulk email.

How long does it take for deliverability improvements to show?

Most changes (like DMARC or sender name updates) take effect within 24–48 hours. Monitor a few campaigns to spot any trends.

How much does DMARC improve deliverability?

Adding a DMARC record can improve your email deliverability by around 5–10%, especially with inbox providers like Outlook, Yahoo, and Gmail.

Even using a relaxed policy like p=none shows that your domain is properly configured and helps email services trust your messages. It also protects your domain from being spoofed and lets you receive reports on suspicious email activity.

✅ TL;DR:

DMARC isn't required, but it's a smart optional step that can boost inbox placement and give your domain a stronger reputation.