How to Add Audienceful's Email DNS Records in Bluehost

This guide shows how to add the DNS records Audienceful gives you in Bluehost. First, add your domain in Audienceful (Settings → Domains → New) so you have your exact records on screen — the DKIM values are unique to your domain. For what each record does, see the main custom domain guide.

Find your DNS settings in Bluehost

1. Sign in to your Bluehost account and open Domains.
2. Select the domain you want to edit and open its DNS settings.
3. Alternatively, open Advanced (cPanel) and use the Zone Editor for that domain.
4. You'll see your DNS records with an Add Record button.

Bluehost quirks to know

• It's a cPanel-style zone editor that appends your domain automatically. In the host/name field, enter only the part before your domain (e.g. pdk1._domainkey, email). For the root domain, use @. Never paste the full hostname or you'll get a doubled domain like email.example.com.example.com.
• No trailing dot on CNAME values — enter mailgun.org, not mailgun.org..
• Add each record with Add Record, choosing the type (CNAME, TXT, or MX).

Add each record

Use Add Record, pick the Type, and fill in the fields. Copy every value exactly from your Audienceful Domains screen.

DKIM — two CNAME records

(On a subdomain like mail.yourdomain.com, the Host becomes pdk1._domainkey.mail.)

SPF — one TXT record (merge if you already have one)

• Type: TXT
• Host / Name: @ (or your subdomain label)
• Value: v=spf1 include:mailgun.org ~all

You can only have one SPF record. If a TXT record starting with v=spf1 already exists, edit that record instead of adding a second one, and add the Mailgun include — for example: v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com include:mailgun.org ~all.

Tracking — one CNAME record

• Type: CNAME
• Host / Name: email
• Value: mailgun.org

DMARC — one TXT record (recommended)

• Type: TXT
• Host / Name: _dmarc
• Value: v=DMARC1; p=none;

(Skip if you already have a _dmarc record.)

MX — optional, only if this domain doesn't already receive email

Add the two MX records shown in Audienceful (mxa.mailgun.org and mxb.mailgun.org) with priority 10 and Host @. Don't add these if you already receive mail at this domain (e.g. Google Workspace) — two sets of MX records conflict.

Common mistakes in Bluehost

• Entering the full host (pdk1._domainkey.yourdomain.com) — the cPanel zone editor appends your domain, producing a doubled domain. Enter just pdk1._domainkey.
• Leaving a second SPF record in place. Merge everything into one v=spf1 TXT record.
• Adding a trailing dot to the CNAME value.

Verify

Back in Audienceful, click Verify domain. If a record isn't green yet, wait a few minutes (DNS can take up to 24 hours to propagate) and check again. Full troubleshooting is in the main guide.