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Setup GoDaddy DNS for Bento

Add Bento's required DNS records in GoDaddy to authenticate your domain for email sending. Note that GoDaddy labels its record fields "Host" and "Points to", which this guide follows.

Adding DNS records is required for any customer sending over 5,000 emails on any given day. This is a new requirement from Gmail and Yahoo introduced in February 2024.

Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure you have:

  • Access to your GoDaddy account
  • Your domain registered with GoDaddy or using GoDaddy DNS
  • Required permissions to modify DNS records

Required DNS Records

You'll need to add these 6 DNS records to your domain:

Required DNS Records

  example              CNAME  example.test.sendgrid.net
  bbb._domainkey       CNAME  bbb.domainkey.example.test.sendgrid.net
  bbb2._domainkey      CNAME  bbb2.domainkey.example.test.sendgrid.net
  bento                CNAME  ga.bentoemail.com
  bento3180._domainkey TXT    k=rsa; p=example...
  _dmarc               TXT    v=DMARC1; p=quarantine; adkim=s
You can find your specific DNS records in Bento under System > DNS. The values above are examples - use the actual values provided in your Bento account.
1
Access GoDaddy DNS Management
  1. Log into your GoDaddy account at godaddy.com
  2. Navigate to My Products from the account menu
  3. Find your domain in the Domains section
  4. Click the DNS button next to your domain
  5. You'll be taken to the DNS Management page
If you don't see the DNS button, your domain might be using external nameservers. You'll need to manage DNS where your nameservers are pointed.
DNS Menu Location
2
Add CNAME Records

You'll need to add 4 CNAME records. Here's how to add the first one:

  1. Click the Add button in the DNS Management interface
  2. Select CNAME from the Type dropdown
  3. In the Host field, enter: example
  4. In the Points to field, enter: example.test.sendgrid.net
  5. Set TTL to 1 Hour (or leave default)
  6. Click Save
GoDaddy uses "Host" for the record name and "Points to" for the target value. Other providers may use different terminology like "Name" and "Value".

Repeat this process for the remaining CNAME records for example:

  • bbb._domainkey → bbb.domainkey.example.test.sendgrid.net
  • bbb2._domainkey → bbb2.domainkey.example.test.sendgrid.net
  • bento → ga.bentoemail.com
The example domain is for demonstration purposes only. Please use your own domain records from Bento System > DNS in the menu.
Adding CNAME Records
3
Add TXT Records

Next, add 2 TXT records. Start with the DKIM record:

  1. Click the Add button again
  2. Select TXT from the Type dropdown
  3. In the Host field, enter: bentoEXAMPLE._domainkey
  4. In the TXT Value field, enter the full DKIM key (starts with k=rsa; p=...)
  5. Set TTL to 1 Hour
  6. Click Save

Then add the DMARC record:

  1. Click Add again
  2. Select TXT from the Type dropdown
  3. In the Host field, enter: _dmarc
  4. In the TXT Value field, enter: v=DMARC1; p=quarantine; adkim=s
  5. Set TTL to 1 Hour
  6. Click Save
Pro-tip: You can copy the exact DNS record values from your Bento account by clicking on each record. This helps avoid typos that could prevent verification.
Adding TEXT Records
4
Verify Your DNS Records

After adding all 6 DNS records, you need to verify them in Bento:

  1. Return to Bento and navigate to System > DNS
  2. Wait 5-10 minutes for DNS propagation (can take up to 48 hours in some cases)
  3. Click the Check button next to each DNS record
  4. Properly configured records will show a green checkmark and blue text
  5. If any records fail verification, double-check the values and TTL settings
DNS propagation can take anywhere from 5 minutes to 48 hours. If records don't verify immediately, wait a bit longer and try again.
DO NOT EDIT EXISTING RECORDS FOR YOUR DOMAIN. You should only be ADDING new records, never editing existing ones.
Records Verified in Bento Settings -> DNS
5
Final Record Overview

Once complete, your GoDaddy DNS records should be as follows:

All 6 records should be visible in your DNS management interface with:

  • 4 CNAME records with proper Host and Points to values
  • 2 TXT records with proper Host and TXT Value content
  • All records showing TTL of 1 Hour (or your chosen value)

GoDaddy Notes

  • Field Names: GoDaddy uses "Host" and "Points to" for CNAME records, and "Host" and "TXT Value" for TXT records
  • TTL Options: GoDaddy offers preset TTL values like 1 Hour, 30 minutes, etc.
  • Character Limits: Long TXT records may need to be split into multiple quoted strings
  • Propagation: GoDaddy DNS changes typically propagate within 1-4 hours

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues:

  • Records not verifying: Double-check that all values match exactly what's shown in your Bento account
  • Long TXT records: Split DKIM keys into multiple quoted strings if they exceed character limits
  • DNS propagation: Wait up to 48 hours for global DNS propagation
  • TTL settings: Use 1 Hour TTL for faster propagation during setup

Next Steps

Once all DNS records are verified in Bento:

  1. Your domain is now authenticated for email sending
  2. You can start sending emails with improved deliverability
  3. Monitor your email performance in the Bento dashboard

If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the Bento Discord!