How to meet Google and Yahoo’s new sending requirement on Klaviyo
This is the most important and probably most boring blog post you’ll read from me all year.
If you've been ignoring that blue banner at the top of your Klaviyo account for the last few weeks it's time to take action!
Do. Not. Ignore. That. Banner.
Or else.
You'll end up in a lotta people's spam folders which is the worst type of email purgatory because it's a pain to get out.
From FEBRUARY 2024, there are new Google and Yahoo email sender requirements that you must meet. I'm going to go through them here, but I also know someone who can do this for you (if you want to get her details, just scroll down to the bottom and skip the rest of this email).
This is what you need to do in order to meet Google + Yahoo's new requirements:
1. Remove Gmail from your "from" address
If you're still using a Gmail email address for your biz email (eg. yourcoolbrandname@gmail.com), stop now. Get yourself an on-brand email address ASAP (eg. hello@yourcoolbrandname.com). It looks good to customers and it feels good to be a grown-up biz boss with an official email address.
Have that already? ✅ You've met the first requirement. Move on to #2.
2. Set up a branded sending domain
Okay, this is where people switch off. This is super simple to set up (but again, if adding DNS records freaks you the F out, email Kim).
Go to Klaviyo > Settings > Email > Domains
Follow the step-by-step instructions on what exactly to add and where on your DNS records (these are with your domain provider, wherever you bought "yourcoolbrandname.com").
✅ You're smashing this.
3.Warming up your list
If you're already segmenting your list, you probably don't need to do anything different to what you're doing already. To be on the safe side, add a couple of extra emails to your most engaged segment. But honestly, most of you are already segmenting based on engagement so you're good to go.
✅ Got it? Got it.
4. Configure your DMARC policy
I'll admit, I put this one off for ages. Stay with me.
Go back into your DNS records and add one more.
Type: TXT
Name/Host: _dmarc
Data/Value: v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:dmarc-reports@yourcoodbrandname.com
Don't forget to change that last bit.
SAVE. ✅
A couple more things to do... still with me? You're probably already doing the last 3 requirements but let's do the whole nine yards.
5. Update your "From" address with an email address that has your domain name in it.
If you did Step 1, you've done it. Drop hello@yourcoolbrandname.com into your Klaviyo settings so that your "from" email address is branded.
6. Make it easy to unsubscribe.
Klaviyo's got your back. You actually cannot send an email without an unsubscribe link so you're good to go.
and FINALLY.....
7. Keep spam complaints low
If you care at all about your audience, you are probably already doing this. But if you want to double-check, head to Deliverability in Klaviyo and check out your score.
Okay, not sure about updating your DNS records yourself?
Get in touch with Kim from Kim Lawler Creative. She's doing these updates for small businesses for £25 + £15 for the Klaviyo Sending Domain. This includes any changes to Shopify that are needed as well. Email her if you want to pass this off to an expert.
Good luck! You got this. Always cheering you on!
