Managing Domains

Domains allow you to send emails from your own custom addresses like hello@yourcompany.com instead of a shared domain.

Why Add a Custom Domain?

• Professional appearance - Emails come from your brand
• Better deliverability - Build your own sender reputation
• Full control - Manage your email authentication settings

Accessing Domain Settings

1. Go to Organization Settings (gear icon in sidebar)
2. Click Domains tab

Adding a Domain

Step 1: Add the Domain

1. Click Add Domain
2. Enter your domain name (e.g., yourcompany.com)
3. Select your preferred AWS region
4. Click Add Domain

Step 2: Configure DNS Records

After adding a domain, you'll see a list of required DNS records. Add these to your DNS provider (Cloudflare, Route53, GoDaddy, Namecheap, etc.).

Required Records

Adding DNS Records

The exact steps vary by DNS provider, but generally:

1. Log into your DNS provider's dashboard
2. Find the DNS or Records section
3. Add each record with the exact values shown
4. Save your changes

Important: Copy the values exactly as shown. Extra spaces or incorrect formatting will cause verification to fail.

Step 3: Wait for Verification

DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to propagate worldwide. During this time:

• The domain status will show as "Pending"
• You cannot send emails from this domain yet
• Check back periodically to see the updated status

Step 4: Check Verification Status

1. Return to Organization Settings → Domains
2. Click Check Status next to your domain
3. The system will verify each DNS record

Once all records are verified, the status changes to "Verified".

Setting an Active Domain

After verification, set the domain as your active sending domain:

1. Find your verified domain in the list
2. Click Set Active
3. All emails from your organization will now use this domain

Viewing DNS Records

To view the required DNS records for a domain:

1. Go to Organization Settings → Domains
2. Click on the domain name
3. View the full list of DNS records and their status

Each record shows:

• Record type and name
• Required value
• Current verification status

Troubleshooting Verification

Domain Stuck on "Pending"

• DNS propagation can take up to 48 hours
• Verify records are added to the correct domain
• Check for typos in the record values
• Use MXToolbox to verify your DNS records

SPF Record Failed

• Ensure only one SPF record exists for your domain
• If you have existing SPF records, merge them instead of adding a new one
• Example merged SPF: v=spf1 include:amazonses.com include:other.com ~all

DKIM Record Failed

• CNAME records must not have a trailing dot in some DNS providers
• Ensure the full selector name is used (e.g., mailer._domainkey.yourcompany.com)
• Check that the value points to the correct AWS endpoint

DMARC Record Failed

• DMARC records go on _dmarc.yourcompany.com
• Start with a relaxed policy: v=DMARC1; p=none;
• You can strengthen the policy later after monitoring

Removing a Domain

To remove a domain:

1. Go to Organization Settings → Domains
2. Find the domain you want to remove
3. Click the delete icon
4. Confirm removal

Warning: Removing a domain will prevent sending emails from that domain. Make sure to set a different active domain first.

Multiple Domains

You can add multiple domains to your organization:

• Each domain must be verified separately
• Only one domain can be active at a time
• Switch between domains by clicking Set Active

Use cases for multiple domains:

• Different brands or products
• Separating transactional and marketing emails
• Testing new domains before going live

Best Practices

Use a Subdomain for Email

Consider using a subdomain like mail.yourcompany.com instead of your root domain:

• Protects your main domain's reputation
• Easier to manage email-specific DNS records
• Allows different settings for email vs. website

Set Up DMARC Monitoring

Start with p=none to monitor without affecting delivery:

v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:dmarc@yourcompany.com

This sends reports to your email so you can monitor authentication results.

Warm Up New Domains

When using a new domain:

1. Start with small batches (100-500 emails)
2. Gradually increase volume over 2-4 weeks
3. Monitor bounce and complaint rates
4. Only scale up if metrics stay healthy