How to create a custom return-path address
As marketers, you know that the race to achieve inbox placement is getting tougher every day. The best way to land your emails in your contact's inbox is by implementing email authentication techniques. At Zoho Campaigns, we urge our users to implement SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. For your emails to pass the DMARC validation, you must implement SPF and DKIM. When your emails pass the SPF and DKIM alignment and validations, your emails will pass the DMARC validations performed by mailbox providers.
Let's dive deep and learn about achieving SPF alignment by using a custom return path address.
What is a return-path address?
The return-path address is an envelope address used by email senders to receive notifications about email bounces. Email senders can analyze the bounce receipts and take necessary corrective measures. It's important to understand that an email can only have one return-path address. You can find the return-path address in the email header.
Here are instructions to get the email header of other commonly used mailbox providers.
What is a custom return path address?
Let's assume that your sender address is mail@zylker.com. By default, the return path address provided by Zoho Campaigns will look like this: bounce_680519846+a.16c5bdf641dd89ec_v28@sendh2.hlet.zcsend.net
Here, the domain of the sender address and the return-path address do not match. In this situation, the SPF alignment will fail.
A custom return-path address will use the domain that is used by the sender address. For example, if your sender domain is zylker.com, you can create a custom return-path address like bounces@bounce.zylker.com. When the domain of your sender address and that of your return-path address match, you can achieve SPF alignment and your emails will pass the SPF validation.
How to set up a custom return-path address
- Log in to your account.
- From the Navigation Toolbar, choose Settings.
- Select Custom Return-Path under Deliverability.
- Select Setup for the domain for which you want to create the custom return-path address.
- In the Return-path setup dialog box, add the host name in the Host Name to be Added field.
- Click Copy in the CNAME record to be added field to copy the CNAME record.
- Paste the CNAME record in your DNS.
- Click Verify Domain.
Advantages of using a custom return-path address
Having a custom return path address will help your emails pass the SPF alignment in DMARC validation. When you implement SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, it will improve email deliverability and prevent your emails from spoofing attacks.
Access your files securely from anywhere
Zoho CRM Training Programs
Learn how to use the best tools for sales force automation and better customer engagement from Zoho's implementation specialists.
Zoho DataPrep Personalized Demo
If you'd like a personalized walk-through of our data preparation tool, please request a demo and we'll be happy to show you how to get the best out of Zoho DataPrep.
- Zoho Workerly Home
- Forums
- Connect With Us:
- Zoho Recruit Home
- Forums
- Connect With Us:
New to Zoho Writer?
Create. Review. Publish.
New to Zoho CRM Plus?
Deliver unforgettable customer experiences
New to Zoho CRM Plus?
Deliver unforgettable customer experiences
New to Zoho Marketing Plus?
Everything you need to run your marketing
New to Zoho Marketing Plus?
Everything you need to run your marketing
You are currently viewing the help pages of Qntrl’s earlier version. Click here to view our latest version—Qntrl 3.0's help articles.
New to Zoho Survey?
Zoho Sheet Resources
Zoho Forms Resources
New to Zoho Sign?
Zoho Sign Resources
Sign, Paperless!
New to Zoho TeamInbox?
Zoho TeamInbox Resources
New to Zoho ZeptoMail?
Design. Discuss. Deliver.
New to Zoho Workerly?
New to Zoho Recruit?
New to Zoho CRM?
New to Zoho Projects?
New to Zoho Sprints?
New to Zoho Assist?
New to Bigin?
Related Articles
What is a custom return-path and why is it important?
When you send an email campaign, you can gauge the performance of the emails that land in the inbox by calculating the open rate, click to open rate, and more. But what happens to the emails that bounce? Is there a technique to handle email bounce? ...What is a custom return path domain?
A custom return path domain is a domain-specific address used to handle email bounces. It improves email authentication, aligns with SPF and DMARC policies, and enhances overall deliverability and sender reputation.DMARC
Spammers will often try to forge the "From" address in an email to deceive recipients and perform unlawful activities. Obviously mailbox providers want to prevent such emails landing in the inbox of their users, and email senders don't want their ...Sender Policy Framework (SPF)
Spam is a major bottleneck issue that the email marketing industry faces on a daily basis. Fraudsters often try to forge the sender address of emails and try to perform malicious activities. The only way to protect your emails and improve ...How to create an automated workflow?
A Workflow is an automation tool that lets you create unique processes based on your business requirements. With workflows you can create various paths your customers can take based on set conditions in each process. In Zoho Campaigns, we offer six ...
New to Zoho LandingPage?
Zoho LandingPage Resources