How to Add Mailchimp DNS and DMARC Records Using WHM (Reseller Guide)

To ensure your emails are delivered successfully and securely, it’s important to set up the correct DNS records. This guide will walk you through the steps to add Mailchimp DNS and DMARC records to a cPanel account in WHM, specifically tailored for reseller users of Ecenica.

Step 1: Obtain Mailchimp DNS Records

1. Log in to Your Mailchimp Account:
   • Go to Mailchimp and log in.
2. Navigate to Domain Settings:
   • Click on your account name/profile picture in the lower-left corner.
   • Go to Account > Settings > Domains.
3. Authenticate Your Domain:
   • Find your domain in the list and click Authenticate next to it.
   • Mailchimp will display the required DNS records, including CNAME records, to set up domain authentication for DKIM and SPF. Note down these records as you’ll need to add them to your DNS settings.

Step 2: Access WHM as a Reseller User

1. Log in to WHM:
   • Use your reseller credentials to log in to WHM. The URL typically looks like https://yourdomain.com:2087.
   • Alternatively, you can also press the “Login to WHM” button found on the Service Overview page in the Ecenica Dashboard.
2. Find the DNS Zone Editor:
   • In the WHM search bar, type “DNS Zone” and select DNS Zone Manager or Edit DNS Zone, depending on your WHM setup.
3. Select the Domain:
   • From the list of domains, choose the domain you want to configure for Mailchimp. Click on the Manage button next to it.

Step 3: Add Mailchimp DNS Records in cPanel

1. Add CNAME Records for DKIM:
   • According to Mailchimp’s authentication setup, you need to add two CNAME records for DKIM.

   For DKIM:

   • Click Add Record and select Add CNAME Record.
   • Enter the name provided by Mailchimp, usually in the format k1._domainkey.yourdomain.com.
   • Enter the target or value provided by Mailchimp, typically dkim.mcsv.net.
   • Click Save Record.

Step 4: Update an Existing SPF Record

1. Locate the Existing SPF Record:
   • In the DNS Zone Editor, find the existing SPF TXT record. It may look like this:
     v=spf1 +a +mx +ip4:91.203.75.178 +include:example.com ~all
2. Update the SPF Record to Include Mailchimp:
   • Click on the existing TXT record to edit it.
   • Add include:servers.mcsv.net to the existing SPF record to authorize Mailchimp.
   • The updated SPF record should look like this:
     v=spf1 +a +mx +ip4:91.203.75.178 +include:example.com +include:servers.mcsv.net ~all
   • Click Save Record.

   Note: Ensure all services you use are included in one SPF record. Multiple v=spf1 entries are not allowed.

Step 5: Add a DMARC Record

1. Create a DMARC Policy:

   • Decide on your DMARC policy (monitor, quarantine, or reject). For example:
     • v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:dmarc-reports@yourdomain.com;
     • This example uses the p=none policy for monitoring and sends reports to dmarc-reports@yourdomain.com.
2. Add the DMARC TXT Record:
   • Click on Add Record and select Add TXT Record.
   • Enter the name _dmarc (it should look like _dmarc.yourdomain.com).
   • In the Record or TXT Data field, enter your DMARC policy string (e.g., v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:dmarc-reports@yourdomain.com;).
   • Click Save Record.

Step 6: Verify Changes

1. DNS Propagation:
   • DNS changes can take time to propagate, typically a few minutes but possibly up to 48 hours.
2. Verify in Mailchimp and Check DMARC:
   • Return to Mailchimp and check if your domain is verified and authenticated. Mailchimp will indicate successful authentication once the DNS records are detected.
   • Use tools like DMARC Analyzer or MXToolbox to check if the DMARC record is correctly published.

Step 7: Troubleshooting (if necessary)

• Double-check DNS entries for accuracy if verification fails.
• Ensure sufficient time has passed for DNS propagation. Changes may take up to 48 hours to update.
• Use online DNS tools to verify visibility globally.