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Email settings requirements

To successfully send marketing emails through the Vendasta platform, you must meet several technical and legal requirements.

Technical Requirements​

Custom Domain Email Required​

Under Partner Center > Marketing > Email Settings are DNS authentication settings that help ensure your emails are delivered successfully and avoid spam filters.

Domain Requirements:

  • Custom Domain Required - You must have a custom domain email address (e.g., yourname@yourbusiness.com)
  • DNS Access - You need administrative access to your domain's DNS settings to add authentication records
  • Domain Ownership - You must own or control the domain you want to send emails from

Cannot Use Free Email Providers: You cannot use authentication records with free email providers such as:

  • Gmail.com addresses
  • Yahoo.com addresses
  • Hotmail.com addresses
  • Outlook.com addresses
  • Other free email services

If you don't own a custom domain, consider purchasing one through a domain registrar such as GoDaddy, Namecheap, or your hosting provider. A custom domain allows you to create professional email addresses and implement proper email authentication.

DNS Authentication Records​

You must configure these authentication records in your DNS:

  • SPF (Sender Policy Framework) - Authorizes Vendasta to send emails on behalf of your domain
  • DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) - Adds digital signatures to verify email authenticity
  • DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication) - Specifies how to handle emails that fail authentication

Learn how to set up these records in Email Authentication.

CAN-SPAM Law Compliance​

All commercial emails sent through the platform must comply with CAN-SPAM Act requirements:

Physical Mailing Address (Required)

  • Valid Business Address - Include a legitimate physical postal address for your business
  • Complete Address - Must include street address, city, state, and ZIP code
  • Current Address - Address must be current and where you can receive postal mail
  • Visible in Emails - Address is automatically included in email footers when configured

Additional CAN-SPAM Requirements:

  • Clear Sender Identification - Emails must clearly identify who is sending them
  • Truthful Subject Lines - Subject lines must accurately reflect email content
  • Unsubscribe Option - Every email must include a working unsubscribe mechanism
  • Honor Opt-Outs - Unsubscribe requests must be processed within 10 business days

Required Business Information​

Configure your business information in Partner Center > Administration > Customize > Partner Defaults:

  • Business Name - Legal business name or DBA
  • Complete Mailing Address - Street address, city, state, ZIP code, country
  • Contact Information - Business phone number and email address
  • Sender Details - Default "From" name and email address for campaigns

User Verification Requirements​

All users sending emails must have verified email addresses:

  • Email Verification - All platform users must verify their email addresses
  • Account Access - Unverified users may have limited platform access
  • Security - Verification helps maintain platform security and sender reputation

Learn more about Email Verification requirements.

Email Content Requirements​

Size Limitations​

  • HTML Character Limit - Email templates cannot exceed 32,000 characters of HTML source code
  • Template Optimization - Keep content concise and optimize images for faster loading
  • Error Handling - Emails exceeding the limit will fail to send with a character count error

Content Best Practices​

  • Professional Design - Use clean, professional email templates
  • Mobile Optimization - Ensure emails display properly on mobile devices
  • Clear Call-to-Actions - Include clear, compelling calls-to-action
  • Relevant Content - Send targeted, valuable content to your audience

Getting Started Checklist​

Before sending your first campaign:

  • Purchase Custom Domain (if you don't have one)
  • Configure DNS Records - Add SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records
  • Set Up Business Address - Add complete mailing address in Partner Center
  • Verify Email Address - Ensure your sender email is verified
  • Test Authentication - Verify all DNS records are properly configured
  • Create Email Template - Design your first marketing email
  • Send Test Emails - Always test before sending to your audience

For step-by-step setup instructions, see Update Email Settings.