This article shows you how to add the DNS records from the WithWine Configure DKIM page to a domain managed by Namecheap. The records let email providers check that WithWine emails sent from your own email address really come from your domain, so the emails are less likely to go to spam.
You add six records in Namecheap: three DKIM records (type CNAME), two Mail From records (types MX and TXT) and, if your domain doesn't have one yet, one DMARC record (type TXT). Words in square brackets in this article are placeholders, not text to type. [yourdomain] means your own domain: for example, if your From Email Address is orders@mywinery.com.au, your domain is mywinery.com.au. [code] means the long string of random letters and numbers that WithWine shows at the start of each DKIM record. Each of the three DKIM records has a different code. Always copy and paste the real values from your Configure DKIM page, and never type the square brackets. Use the exact values from your Configure DKIM page.
Before you start
Your From Email Address must be verified, and you must have clicked Generate DNS records for [your domain] on the Configure DKIM page. See How to set up DKIM for your email domain.
Check your domain's DNS is managed by Namecheap. On the domain's Domain tab, Nameservers must be set to Namecheap BasicDNS (or PremiumDNS). Records in Advanced DNS only work with Namecheap's nameservers. If your DNS is managed somewhere else, add the records there instead. See How to find out which company manages your domain's DNS.
Keep the WithWine Configure DKIM page open in one browser tab and Namecheap open in another, so you can copy and paste each value. Copy and paste rather than typing, because one wrong character stops DKIM working.
How to open your DNS settings in Namecheap
Sign in to Namecheap and select Domain List in the left menu.
Select Manage next to your domain.
Open the Advanced DNS tab.
What to type in Namecheap's Host field
Namecheap adds your domain to the end of the Host automatically, so enter only the part before your domain. If you enter the whole name, the record saves but never works. On the Configure DKIM page, the names include your domain. For example:
DKIM record: [code]._domainkey.[yourdomain] on the Configure DKIM page → enter [code]._domainkey in Namecheap.
Mail From records: withwinemail.[yourdomain] → enter withwinemail.
DMARC record: _dmarc.[yourdomain] → enter _dmarc.
How to add the three DKIM records in Namecheap
In the Host Records section, select Add New Record.
Set Type to CNAME Record.
In Host, enter the first DKIM record's name, without your domain (for example [code]._domainkey).
In Value, paste the first DKIM record's value (for example [code].dkim.amazonses.com).
Leave TTL as the default.
Select the green tick to save the record.
Repeat for the second and third DKIM records. You must add all three.
How to add the Mail From records in Namecheap
The two Mail From records go on the withwinemail sub-domain only (for example withwinemail.[yourdomain]). Don't change the MX or SPF records on your main domain, because those records control your normal email inbox.
MX record:
In the Mail Settings section of Advanced DNS, check what is selected. If Mail Settings is set to Private Email, Email Forwarding or another email service, skip the MX record: changing Mail Settings can stop your normal email working. The DKIM records are the most important records, and you can add the MX record later with help from Namecheap support.
If Mail Settings is already Custom MX, select Add New Record in Mail Settings.
In Host, enter withwinemail.
In Value, paste feedback-smtp.us-west-2.amazonses.com.
In Priority, enter 10.
Select the green tick to save the record.
TXT record:
In the Host Records section, select Add New Record.
Set Type to TXT Record.
In Host, enter withwinemail.
In Value, paste v=spf1 include:amazonses.com ~all. You don't need to add quote marks.
Select the green tick to save the record.
How to add a DMARC record in Namecheap
First check whether your domain already has a DMARC record: look for a TXT record named _dmarc. A domain can only have one DMARC record. If one already exists, don't add another, and ask your IT provider before changing it.
If there's no DMARC record:
In the Host Records section, select Add New Record.
Set Type to TXT Record.
In Host, enter _dmarc.
In Value, paste v=DMARC1;p=none;sp=none;pct=100;aspf=r;adkim=r;
Select the green tick to save the record.
The example DMARC record on the Configure DKIM page uses p=quarantine. WithWine recommends starting with p=none instead, as the warning on that page explains. After a few weeks with no delivery problems from WithWine or your usual email system, you can change p=none to p=quarantine.
What happens next
Namecheap DNS changes usually take effect within 30 minutes, but can take up to 48 hours.
Go back to the WithWine Configure DKIM page and click Refresh. When WithWine finds the records, DKIM Configuration and Mail From Configuration change from Pending to Success.
Leave the records in Namecheap. If the records are deleted, DKIM stops working and your emails are more likely to go to spam.
Troubleshooting
There's no Host Records section in Advanced DNS. Your domain uses another company's nameservers or Namecheap hosting nameservers. Add the records wherever your DNS is managed, for example in cPanel for Namecheap hosting.
The status still isn't Success after 48 hours. Check each record in Namecheap: the type is right, the Host doesn't include your domain twice, the value has no spaces at the start or end, and all three DKIM records exist. Then click Refresh on the Configure DKIM page again.
My normal email stopped working. An MX or TXT record on your main domain may have been changed by mistake. The Mail From records belong on the withwinemail sub-domain only. Put back your main domain's original records, or contact Namecheap support or your IT provider.