How to Set Up Network Solutions DNS Records for Email Marketing

You manage DNS records in Network Solutions through the Advanced DNS Records manager within the Account Manager portal. Network Solutions applies a default TTL of 7200 seconds (2 hours), which means changes take longer to resolve across public resolvers than platforms with shorter caching windows. Before adding email marketing records, check for existing SPF or MX entries so you do not create conflicting records.

Network Solutions DNS navigation and nameserver check

To access your DNS records in Network Solutions:

1. Log in to the Network Solutions Account Manager.
2. Click Domain Names in your account dashboard.
3. Select the domain you want to configure.
4. Scroll down to the Advanced Tools section.
5. Next to Advanced DNS Records, click Manage.

Before modifying records, check the Nameservers section on your domain details page. Your domain must point to Network Solutions nameservers (such as ns01.worldnic.com and ns02.worldnic.com). If your domain uses custom nameservers pointing to an external web host or CDN, records entered in Network Solutions will not take effect. In that situation, configure your records in your external DNS provider’s control panel.

Adding a record in Network Solutions

1. In the Advanced DNS Records manager, click + Add Record.
2. Select the record type from the Type dropdown (TXT, CNAME, or MX).
3. Fill in the Host / Hostname field:
   • For root domain records (such as SPF), enter @.
   • For subdomains (such as _dmarc or DKIM selectors), enter only the prefix. Network Solutions appends your root domain automatically.
4. Enter the target data:
   • For TXT records, paste your plain text string into the Text / Value field. Do not wrap the value in quotation marks.
   • For CNAME records, enter the destination hostname into the Points To / Alias To field.
   • For MX records, enter the mail server hostname in Points To, and enter your priority integer into the Priority field.
5. Leave the TTL field at its default 7200 seconds unless your provider requires a shorter interval.
6. Click Save.

Network Solutions provides an overview of its domain tools in its Account Manager DNS support documentation.

Required authentication records

Receiving mail servers use these three records to verify that messages sent from your domain are authentic.

1. SPF (Sender Policy Framework)

• Type: TXT
• Host / Hostname: @
• Text / Value: The SPF string provided by your email platform, such as:

  v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com include:sendgrid.net ~all

• TTL: 7200

Merging multiple SPF records

A domain must only have one root SPF record. If you already use Network Solutions email or an external service like Google Workspace, an SPF record will already exist in your DNS table.

Do not add a second TXT record starting with v=spf1. Multiple SPF records cause receiving mail servers to fail evaluation with a PermError, which sends messages to spam or drops them entirely.

To update an existing SPF record:

1. Look through the TXT Records list for the entry starting with v=spf1.
2. Click Edit next to that record.
3. Add your email marketing provider’s include: mechanism before the closing qualifier (~all or -all). For example:

   v=spf1 include:netsolmail.net include:sendgrid.net ~all

4. Click Save.

Do not add quotation marks around the string in the Text / Value field. Network Solutions formats the string literally.

2. DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail)

Email providers supply DKIM records in either CNAME or TXT format:

CNAME-based DKIM

Most modern email platforms (such as Klaviyo, Postmark, SendGrid, and Amazon SES) use CNAME records:

• Type: CNAME
• Host / Hostname: The selector prefix without your domain, such as s1._domainkey
• Points To / Alias To: The target hostname provided by your email platform, such as s1.domainkey.example-esp.com
• TTL: 7200

If your email provider supplies a full hostname like s1._domainkey.yourdomain.com, enter only s1._domainkey in the Host / Hostname field. Entering the full domain causes Network Solutions to publish s1._domainkey.yourdomain.com.yourdomain.com, which prevents DKIM verification.

TXT-based DKIM

Some platforms provide a raw public key string:

• Type: TXT
• Host / Hostname: The selector prefix, such as google._domainkey
• Text / Value: The raw public key string starting with v=DKIM1; k=rsa; p=...
• TTL: 7200

Paste the full public key into the Text / Value field without quotation marks.

3. DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance)

• Type: TXT
• Host / Hostname: _dmarc (Network Solutions appends your root domain automatically)
• Text / Value:

  v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:dmarc-reports@yourdomain.com; pct=100;

• TTL: 7200

Start with p=none to collect delivery reports without affecting message flow. Once SPF and DKIM authenticate consistently across all your sending services, update the policy tag to p=quarantine or p=reject.

Optional deliverability and branding records

These records configure custom subdomains for bounce handling and link tracking.

4. Custom return path (bounce domain) (optional)

• Type: CNAME
• Host / Hostname: bounces (or the subdomain prefix specified in your platform settings)
• Points To / Alias To: The mail server hostname assigned by your email platform (such as pm.mtasv.net)
• TTL: 7200

5. Branded tracking domain (optional)

• Type: CNAME
• Host / Hostname: links (or track, click, or email as specified by your platform)
• Points To / Alias To: The tracking hostname assigned by your email platform
• TTL: 7200

Setting up custom MX records (if required)

If your email marketing service requires dedicated MX records for inbound message processing, reply handling, or sending subdomains:

1. In the Advanced DNS Records manager, click + Add Record and select MX.
2. Enter the details:
   • Host / Hostname: @ for the root domain, or mail for a dedicated sending subdomain.
   • Points To: The mail server address provided by your platform (such as feedback-smtp.us-east-1.amazonses.com).
   • Priority: The integer specified by your provider (such as 10).
   • TTL: 7200
3. Click Save.

If you use Network Solutions email or Google Workspace for your business mailboxes, do not overwrite your root MX records. Overwriting root MX records disrupts standard corporate email delivery. Only add MX records for dedicated subdomains unless you are switching your primary email provider.

Verifying your DNS records

Because of Network Solutions’ 7200-second default TTL, record changes may take up to two hours to appear across external resolvers. You can verify your DNS records in Windows PowerShell using Resolve-DnsName:

Check SPF

Resolve-DnsName -Name yourdomain.com -Type TXT

Review the Strings column. Verify that only one SPF record exists and that your sending service mechanism is listed.

Check DMARC

Resolve-DnsName -Name _dmarc.yourdomain.com -Type TXT

Confirm that the output contains your v=DMARC1; p=... record.

Check DKIM

Replace s1 with your provider’s specific selector:

Resolve-DnsName -Name s1._domainkey.yourdomain.com -Type CNAME

If your platform uses TXT-based DKIM, change -Type CNAME to -Type TXT. The output will display your provider’s target hostname or public key.

Check tracking and bounce records (if configured)

Resolve-DnsName -Name bounces.yourdomain.com -Type CNAME

The NameHost column should point to your email platform’s destination address.

Check MX records (if configured)

Resolve-DnsName -Name yourdomain.com -Type MX

The NameExchange column should list your designated mail servers with their numerical priorities under Preference.

Common troubleshooting issues

Issue	Root cause	Solution
Subdomain hostname is duplicated (_dmarc.yourdomain.com.yourdomain.com)	The full domain was typed into the Host / Hostname field.	Enter only the subdomain prefix (such as _dmarc). Network Solutions appends your domain automatically.
SPF status shows PermError	Multiple TXT records start with v=spf1.	Edit the existing SPF record, merge all include: mechanisms into that single record, and delete any duplicate entries.
Verification fails with syntax error	Quotation marks were manually pasted into the Text / Value field.	Remove surrounding quotes from the Text / Value field. Network Solutions formats the string literally.
Verification takes a long time to pass	Network Solutions default TTL is set to 7200 seconds (2 hours).	Wait for the TTL interval to clear on caching resolvers, or test directly against authoritative nameservers.
Primary business email stops working	Root MX records were replaced with email marketing MX records.	Restore your original primary mail exchanger records, and configure email marketing MX records on a dedicated subdomain.
Records do not resolve externally	The domain points to external nameservers.	Check the Nameservers section in Account Manager. If custom nameservers are active, configure DNS records at that external provider.