If you are running your IES store on a custom domain, you might want to consider to setup a branded email address on the same domain.

In this article I will provide the steps that you can take to set it up.

STEP 1: GET EMAIL HOSTING

Just like a website or a store needs to be hosted somewhere, your custom email needs to be hosted as well.

There are multiple reliable services that you can use. The first obvious choice would be to check the private email offer with your domain registrar.

In our business, for cases where we need 1-2 email addresses we use NameCheap Private Email Hosting. For everything else, we use G Suite by Google.

For the sake of this demonstration, we will use NameCheap service.

So the first step is really to purchase the service from an email hosting provider.

STEP 2: LOCATE DNS RECORDS FOR YOUR EMAIL

After you have purchased the product, you will need to find the MX records from the provider, so you can update them in your CloudFlare account (if you don't use CloudFlare for your domain DNS, please check this article - you must use it)

Find your domain on the NameCheap dashboard, select the email symbol and click on the tab 'Manage':

On the next screen you will be presented with the MX records like this:

You will need to add all of these records to the CloudFlare account that you use for this domain. 

STEP 3: ADD MX RECORDS IN YOUR CLOUDFLARE ACCOUNT

Login to the CloudFlare account that you use for the particular domain and navigate to the DNS tab like this:

Next, you will need to start to add records from the screen with yellow background above:

  1. Select 'MX' from the dropdown.
  2. Enter your domain name.
  3. Enter the first 'MX' records from the provider.
  4. Click 'Add Record' button.

Next, let's repeat the steps for the following record:

  1. Select 'TXT' from the dropdown menu.
  2. Enter your domain name.
  3. Enter the 'TXT' records from the provider.
  4. Click 'Add Record' button.

Next, let's add the following record from the provider:

  1. Select 'MX' from the dropdown menu.
  2. Enter your domain name.
  3. Enter the 2nd 'MX' record from the provider - select priority 2 (you will have the option to select it during the copy & paste process)
  4. Click 'Add Record' button.

Next, we will need to add a few CNAME records (the process for all of them will be same, so I will just demonstrate the first one):

  1. Select the 'CNAME' from the dropdown menu.
  2. Enter the domain provided by the email provider.
  3. Enter the record provided by the email provider.
  4. Click 'Add Record' button.

Repeat this process for all the CNAME records that your email provider gives you.

Next, enter the SRV records provided by the email provider:

1. Select the 'SRV' from the dropdown menu.
2. Enter the first part of the record provided by the email provider. Check this:

3. Enter the 2nd part of the record provided by the email provider. Check this:

4. Click 'Add Record' button.

And that's it - DNS records for the custom, branded email address has been updated.

STEP 4: TEST YOUR NEW EMAIL ADDRESS

Follow the instructions from the provider and login to your the inbox. 

Next, use another email address (your personal or any other) to send a test email to your new email address:

CONGRATULATIONS! 

Your new branded email address has been configured and you can start to use it.

TIP: We recommend you update your store email address under your store 'Main Store Settings', so your customers can start to use your new email address for communication. See here:

If you have any questions about this setup or anything related to Instant eCom Store, please do not hesitate to hit the 'Messenger' icon on the bottom right side on this page. We are here to help!