Adelaide owned and operated, IT & Digital + Web since 2001→

Email deliverability & domain authentication in Adelaide

For businesses that need their legitimate email to reach customers and want the technical domain settings explained in plain English.

Last updated

Remote help from $115 an hour. On-site visits from $180 an hour, Adelaide metro travel included. See all our prices

Part of: Email security

The short answer

Business email usually lands in spam because SPF, DKIM and DMARC records are missing or wrong, or because invoicing, booking and website form tools send as your domain without being authorised. For Adelaide businesses, WaTo Consulting finds every sender, fixes the DNS records, tests with real messages and tightens the DMARC policy once legitimate mail passes.

What does email deliverability & domain authentication involve?

We start by finding every system that sends mail using your domain, which usually means Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace plus the accounting package, newsletter tool and website forms. Then we check and correct the SPF, DKIM and DMARC records in DNS so each of those senders is properly authorised. Once legitimate mail is passing, we read the DMARC reports and tighten the policy so mail pretending to be from you gets blocked.

What WaTo can help with

Domain checks

Review the DNS records that tell receiving servers your email is legitimate.

Authentication setup

Configure SPF, DKIM and DMARC around the platforms you use.

Sending review

Identify common causes of mail being rejected, quarantined or marked as spam.

Ongoing support

Keep the settings documented when domains, providers or email tools change.

Who it is for

  • A business whose quotes and invoices keep landing in customers' junk folders.
  • Anyone who has had bounce messages mentioning SPF, DKIM or DMARC failures and isn't sure what they mean.
  • A company whose domain has been used to send fake invoices or phishing emails to its own clients.
  • Teams that added a new CRM, booking system or mailing tool and never updated the domain settings to match.

How it works

  1. We look at the evidence first. Bounce messages, the headers of mail that landed in spam and your current DNS records show which checks are failing.
  2. We list every service that sends as you. Your email platform, invoicing, booking, newsletters and website forms each need authorising, and the ones nobody remembers are often the culprits.
  3. We fix the records at your DNS host. SPF, DKIM and DMARC are corrected or added, then tested with real messages sent to Gmail and Outlook addresses.
  4. We watch the reports and tighten up. DMARC reports show what passes and fails over the following weeks, so the policy can move to quarantine or reject once your legitimate mail is clean.

Why WaTo for email deliverability & domain authentication

  • We explain what each DNS record does in plain English, so you know why it is there before anyone changes it.
  • We check the whole sending setup, including the invoicing and booking tools that are easy to forget.
  • Records are changed carefully so the website and existing email keep working while the fix goes in.
  • A real person in Adelaide picks up the phone when a client says your email never arrived.

Email deliverability & domain authentication questions

Can these records stop people sending fake email from our domain?

Yes, that is what a DMARC policy is for. Once your legitimate senders pass, DMARC tells receiving servers to quarantine or reject mail that falsely claims to be from you. We move to the stricter setting gradually so your own mail is not caught.

Do we need to change email providers to fix deliverability?

Usually not. Most problems come from domain settings and sending tools rather than the provider itself, and they can be fixed where you are. If the provider is part of the problem, we will say so and explain the options.

How will we know it is working?

Test messages to Gmail and Outlook addresses show whether SPF, DKIM and DMARC pass, and DMARC reports give an ongoing view of everything sent from your domain. We go through the results with you and keep a record of the settings so the next change does not undo them.

Why are my business emails going to spam?

The most common cause is missing or incorrect SPF, DKIM and DMARC records on your domain, so receiving servers cannot confirm the email is really from you. Sending from several tools without setting each one up properly is another big one.

What are SPF, DKIM and DMARC?

They are settings on your domain that prove your email is genuine. SPF lists which services may send for you, DKIM signs each message, and DMARC tells receivers what to do with mail that fails. Together they keep your mail out of spam and stop others pretending to be you.

Why are customers not receiving our invoices or website form emails?

Accounting software, booking systems and website forms often send mail on your behalf. If your domain settings do not include them, that mail gets rejected or filtered. We find every service that sends as you and set each one up correctly.

Guides on this topic

Ready to get email deliverability & domain authentication sorted?

Send us the bounce message or a spam report and your domain name. We will tell you what is blocking your email and what to fix in your DNS.

Mon to Fri, 8:30am to 5pm

No two businesses are the same, so nothing we do is off-the-shelf. Every solution is built around yours, and kept simple.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

How do your plans and pricing work?

Whatever suits you: a fixed contract, a monthly retainer, prepaid blocks of hours, or simple hourly rates. You pick the model that fits your business, and we keep it transparent with no surprise bills.

How quickly do you respond?

Fast. You talk to a real person, not a call queue. For urgent issues we're often on-site within the hour across Adelaide, with remote support Australia-wide.

Do you only do IT support?

No. IT & Digital, cyber security, websites & hosting, business solutions and currency equipment, all from one local team. One number to call.

What does it cost?

Managed IT is typically $80 to $200 per user per month. One-off help is $115 an hour remote or $180 an hour on site. Prices are ex GST. See our rates.

Do you support businesses outside Adelaide?

Yes. We're Adelaide-based with on-site visits across South Australia, remote support Australia-wide, and we fly in to clients in Darwin, Brisbane and elsewhere for planned work.

Will you work with our existing IT person?

Absolutely. We often co-manage, taking on monitoring, security and after-hours cover alongside your in-house team.

Why we're different

Not your typical IT company

We keep it simple, and fix things so they stay fixed, instead of patching them today.

A typical IT company
WaTo Consulting
You wait in a call queue
A real person on the WaTo team answers
One rigid plan, take it or leave it
Contract, retainer, blocks or hourly: your choice
Patch it today, deal with it again later
Fix the root cause, and what it could cause next
Jargon and over-engineering
Kept simple and explained in plain English
IT only, you juggle other vendors
IT, cyber, web, business & currency under one roof
Hosting resold from someone else
Our own Australian hosting, run by us
WaTo character, happy to help

Still not sure what you need?

Tell us what's slowing you down and we'll point you to the right fix. You're a partner, not a client.

Call (08) 7123 0805 Email info@wato.com.au
Why clients choose us

Trusted by Adelaide business since 2001

The WaTo team
Real people in Adelaide, not a call queue
  1. SA Construct · client from day one
    Our whole IT structure is with WaTo Consulting for the simple reason that there's no sales spiel, no waiting in line on the phone, and always an effective, quick result when needed.
  2. Wato

    From day one and still going 🤝

  3. Enzo's at Home · client since 2001
    WaTo has been assisting our company since 2001. Always punctual, trustworthy, honest, and can be relied on to get the job done.
  4. Wato

    Time flies when you're having fun 🙌

  5. Real estate business · client from 2010
    WaTo looked after IT for our property management business from 2010. We grew dramatically in that time and WaTo was instrumental in keeping all our IT in order, with smooth upgrades.
  6. Alyx

    Loved being part of the growth 📈

  7. Hospitality venue
    In a busy, large hospitality venue with constant IT issues, WaTo is an incredible asset. If WaTo's called with an issue, they're often here within the hour.
  8. Lee

    On my way 🚗

  9. Accounting practice
    WaTo has been invaluable in moving us from Outlook to Gmail and teaching us the other Google products. Friendly, approachable and easily understood. We've even brought WaTo in to help one of our own clients migrate.
  10. Lee

    Happy to help your clients too 🤝

  11. CRS · client since 2011
    Our data is the backbone of our company, and we sleep easy at night knowing it's safe and secure. Whenever we have an IT problem, WaTo understands how crippling downtime is and is quick to act.
  12. Alyx

    Backups checked. Sleep easy 😴

  13. Lasers in Medicine
    WaTo's IT expertise streamlined our medical practice, reduced operating costs and simplified our backups. 100% quality customer service to small business.
  14. Wato

    Small business is our thing 💪

  15. Engineering company
    Wato, or "DJ WaTo" as he's known to us, has become like family. He always goes above and beyond, with a few good solutions to our ever-demanding needs.
  16. Wato

    🎧 DJ WaTo, at your service

  17. City cafe, multiple locations
    WaTo set up our point of sale and internet. They always answered my calls and could even troubleshoot problems over the phone. Very professional. Thank you, WaTo!
  18. Lee

    Always happy to pick up 📞

  19. Printing industry · client since 2013
    Our business relies on discipline and attention to detail, which is exactly why we've relied on WaTo since 2013. Their knowledge and personal attention give us peace of mind in every area of our operation.
  20. Alyx

    Detail is our thing too 🔍

  21. Genmed 480
    We feel extremely lucky to have WaTo look after our computers. Easy to talk with, explains things in plain terms instead of jargon, and never pushes us to upgrade to the latest and greatest.
  22. Lee

    No jargon, promise 🙂

  23. Alex, 30 Acres · client since 2021
    If you're anything like us, IT is very daunting! WaTo took away the hassle and stress of setting up our brand new restaurant and installed our point of sale. Timely, efficient and a reasonable price. Highly recommended!
  24. Wato

    30 Acres, still the freshest food ever! 🍽️

  25. AV industry
    WaTo delivers for our standard office admin and as a consultant for integrating audio, visual and lighting products into the IT world. Problems are dealt with swiftly to avoid downtime.
  26. Lee

    Lights, camera, uptime 🎬

  27. Cummins Allison (CPI) · client since 2014
    Their ability to grasp and apply product-specific technical process has allowed us to meet all customer KPIs and offer value-added services.
  28. Alyx

    KPIs met. Keep counting 💵

  29. Allied health practice
    When the medical diary crashes, that's an all-out emergency. It happened three times in one year, and each time WaTo fixed it in under 10 minutes. Personal, reliable and fast.
  30. Alyx

    Diary's back up ✅

  31. Sports industry · client since 2015
    We've used WaTo since 2015. Before that, other providers made things difficult. WaTo is prompt, upfront and very reliable, and has saved us heaps!
  32. Lee

    Glad we could save you heaps 💸

  33. Sole owner-operator
    WaTo moved my site to a new server and set up secure, reliable email and hosting, so I could get on with what I do best. I'd send anyone to WaTo for all their wizardry needs.
  34. Wato

    Wizardry on tap 🪄

  35. Recreation industry
    WaTo did an amazing job setting up the audio and visual in our new business, and fantastic work migrating email accounts and managing our domains. Service is A+.
  36. Lee

    A+ right back at you ⭐

  37. Small home business
    Doesn't matter how small your business is, we all need help with IT and digital. WaTo makes me feel like BIG business.
  38. Alyx

    Small business, big support 🚀

  39. Mike Roberts
    As a non-geek, I appreciate that WaTo's always got my back and never makes me feel I'm imposing when I ring out of hours. Looking for someone local and reliable? WaTo's who you call!
  40. Wato

    Anytime, Mike 👍

Who we work with

Our story

Built in Adelaide, since 2001

WaTo Consulting was founded by John Watson in Adelaide in 2001. Over two decades it's earned a name for tailored work across a wide range of industries, helping businesses of every size run more smoothly, work more efficiently and grow steadily, without blowing the budget or disrupting the day-to-day. Rumour has it the story starts much earlier, with a young Wato on his grandfather's knee in front of a Commodore 64, learning to code in BASIC.

Emma Watson (née Dickenson) was part of the story for a stage along the way. She brought real estate and property management expertise, and a clear view of where the business could go: growing it, bringing in new systems and fresh thinking, and lifting the standard of how things are done. WaTo has been through plenty of shapes and stages since, but one thing she helped sharpen has never changed: being consistent for the client is a must.

Today it's all tailored, never off-the-shelf: IT & Digital, Business & Web Hosting, built around what each client actually needs. Over the years those areas have come together under one roof: our IT & Digital, Currency, Business and Web Hosting work now all sit within WaTo Consulting. One team, one standard, looking after the lot.

When you work with us, you're a partner, not just a client.

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