How to Authenticate Your Flodesk Domain in PhotoBiz

How to Manually Authenticate Your Domain with Flodesk in PhotoBiz

Overview

Flodesk requires you to authenticate your custom domain before sending marketing emails from an address associated with that domain. Authentication uses DNS records to confirm that Flodesk has permission to send email on your behalf and helps protect your sender reputation.

This guide explains how to choose Flodesk’s manual authentication option, find the required DNS records, and add them through your PhotoBiz account. You do not need an Amazon Web Services or AWS login when PhotoBiz manages your DNS.

PhotoBiz is not affiliated with Flodesk. For assistance with your Flodesk account or the records Flodesk provides, visit Flodesk Support.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, you will need:

Access to your Flodesk account
Access to your PhotoBiz account
A custom-domain email address, such as hello@yourdomain.com
A PhotoBiz 9 domain using PhotoBiz AWS Route 53 name servers

Free email addresses such as Gmail or Yahoo cannot be authenticated as custom sending domains in Flodesk.

If MANAGE DNS does not appear for your domain, review the section titled “What If You Do Not See Manage DNS?” below.

STEP ONE

Locate the domain you want to authenticate and click AUTHENTICATE NOW. When Flodesk asks how you want to authenticate the domain, select I’LL DO IT MANUALLY.

Do not select the automatic setup option. When PhotoBiz manages your DNS, you can add the required records through your PhotoBiz account without connecting Flodesk to AWS or obtaining AWS login credentials.

STEP TWO

Review the DNS records displayed by Flodesk and keep this page open.

Depending on your Flodesk account, you may receive three or five DNS records. Flodesk provides an SPF record as a CNAME, one or three DKIM records as CNAME records, and a DMARC record as a TXT record.

Each record includes a name or host and a value or destination. Use the COPY button provided by Flodesk when available so that each value is copied exactly.

STEP THREE

Open a new browser tab, log in to your PhotoBiz account, and click DOMAINS in the left-side menu.

STEP FOUR

Find the domain you are authenticating with Flodesk, then click MANAGE DNS beside the domain. This opens the DNS Zone Editor for that domain.

If you do not see MANAGE DNS, do not attempt to access AWS directly. PhotoBiz Support can help determine where your DNS is managed and what you need to do next.

STEP FIVE

In the DNS Zone Editor, click NEW DNS RECORD and select CNAME.

Return to Flodesk and copy the name or host and value for the first CNAME record. Paste those details into the corresponding PhotoBiz fields, then click SAVE CHANGES.

PhotoBiz may automatically add your domain name to the host. Review the completed record before saving to make sure the domain does not appear twice. For example, a host provided as example.yourdomain.com may need to be entered as only example if PhotoBiz automatically adds .yourdomain.com.

Repeat this process for every CNAME record provided by Flodesk, including the SPF and DKIM records.

STEP SIX

Before adding the DMARC record, review your existing DNS records for a TXT record using the host _dmarc.

A domain can have only one DMARC record. If you already have a DMARC record, do not delete it, replace it, or add a second one. Contact PhotoBiz Support or Flodesk Support for guidance.

If no DMARC record exists, click NEW DNS RECORD and select TXT. Copy the DMARC name or host and value from Flodesk, enter them exactly as provided, and click SAVE CHANGES.

FINAL STEP

Return to the manual authentication window in Flodesk. Click NEXT, then click DONE.

Flodesk will begin checking the DNS records automatically. Your domain may initially show as PENDING, and some records may verify before others. This is normal while the DNS changes propagate.

Authentication can take up to 48 hours. Once Flodesk confirms all required records, your domain will show as authenticated or verified.

Important Information About Flodesk Records

Flodesk’s SPF record is added as a CNAME record. It is separate from any TXT SPF record your email provider may already use.

Do not combine the Flodesk SPF CNAME with an existing TXT SPF record. Add it as the separate CNAME record provided by Flodesk.

Do not delete or replace existing website, email, or verification records. Flodesk’s records are generally added alongside your existing DNS records.

If an existing DNS record uses the same host as a record provided by Flodesk, contact PhotoBiz Support before making changes.

What If You Do Not See Manage DNS?

The MANAGE DNS option is available when your domain is on PhotoBiz 9 and uses PhotoBiz AWS Route 53 name servers.

You may not see this option if:

Your domain uses legacy PhotoBiz Rackspace name servers
Your domain uses name servers from another DNS provider
Your domain is not on PhotoBiz 9
PhotoBiz does not manage the domain’s active DNS

If PhotoBiz manages your DNS but MANAGE DNS is unavailable, send PhotoBiz Support the complete records shown in Flodesk. Include the record type, name or host, and value or destination for each record.

If your name servers are managed by another provider, you must add the records through that provider’s DNS manager.

For more information, see How to Upgrade My PhotoBiz DNS To Route 53/AWS.

Troubleshooting or FAQs

Why does my domain still show as Pending?

DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to propagate across the internet. Flodesk may confirm SPF, DKIM, and DMARC at different times during this period.

Do not delete and recreate the records while propagation is underway. This can delay the authentication process.

Learn more about internet propagation.

Why is my domain name shown twice in a DNS record?

PhotoBiz may automatically add your domain to the host you enter. If you paste the complete host provided by Flodesk, the resulting record could look like example.yourdomain.com.yourdomain.com.

Delete the incorrect record and add it again using only the portion that appears before your domain name. Contact PhotoBiz Support if you are unsure what to enter.

What should I do if a DMARC record already exists?

Do not add another DMARC record or remove the existing one. A domain can have only one DMARC record.

Contact PhotoBiz Support or Flodesk Support to determine whether the existing record meets Flodesk’s requirements.

Can I delete my existing SPF record?

No. Your existing TXT SPF record may be required by your mailbox or another email service.

Flodesk provides its SPF authentication as a separate CNAME record. Add the Flodesk CNAME exactly as provided without changing your existing TXT SPF record.

What if the records are still not authenticated after 48 hours?

Compare every record in the PhotoBiz DNS Zone Editor with the information shown in Flodesk. Check the record type, host, and value for missing characters, extra spaces, or a duplicated domain name.

If the records match, contact Flodesk Support to confirm what is preventing authentication. PhotoBiz Support can help confirm whether the records were entered correctly and whether PhotoBiz manages the active DNS.

Need Help?

Our Passionate Support Team is happy to help you review or add the DNS records provided by Flodesk.

Support Hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm EST

Phone: 866.463.7620

Support Channels: Phone, Live Chat, Support Ticket

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