Adding and verifying your domain is an essential step to ensure secure and reliable email delivery. This process protects your brand reputation, prevents spoofing, and increases the chances of your emails landing in the inbox instead of spam.
This article will guide you through adding your domain, verifying DNS records, and troubleshooting common issues.
What You'll Need Before You Start
Before setting up your domain, make sure you have the following in place:
- Access to your DNS provider's control panel (Cloudflare, GoDaddy, AWS Route 53, Namecheap, Google Domains, etc.) — log in to wherever your domain is currently hosted and add the required records there.
- The domain or subdomain you want to use for sending emails.
- Credentials or permissions to add/edit DNS records.
- A basic understanding of DNS record types (SPF, DKIM, DMARC, CNAME, TXT, MX).
Step 1: Add Your Domain
Adding your domain is the first step toward email authentication. Follow the three steps below.
Navigate to Settings → Email Services → Dedicated Domain & IP.
Inside the Dedicated Domains menu, click + Add Domain at the top right corner.
Enter the domain or subdomain you want to use. We recommend using a subdomain (e.g., mail.yourdomain.com) for better deliverability. Then click Add & Verify.
Step 2: Verify Your Domain
Verification ensures your emails are authenticated and trusted by inbox providers. This involves setting up DNS records for your domain.
| Record | Purpose |
|---|---|
| SPF | Sender Policy Framework — Authorizes which servers can send emails on behalf of your domain. |
| DKIM | DomainKeys Identified Mail — Adds a digital signature to your emails proving they haven't been altered in transit. |
| DMARC | Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance — Enforces authentication policies and provides reporting on email delivery. |
Once your domain is added, open the three-dot menu next to it and click Verify domain. This tells the system to check whether your DNS records are correctly configured.
After clicking Verify domain, you'll see a list of all DNS records your domain requires (SPF, DKIM, CNAME, MX, and DMARC). Each record shows its current verification status, and you can use the Copy buttons to paste values directly into your DNS provider. Once all records check out, your domain will be marked as verified.
This is the simplest method if your DNS provider is supported.
- After adding your domain, click Continue.
- The platform will detect your DNS provider (e.g., Cloudflare, GoDaddy, Namecheap).
- Log in and authorize Lead Connector to configure your DNS records automatically.
- Once completed, your domain will be marked as Verified.
If your DNS provider isn't supported for auto-configuration, you'll be prompted to set up records manually instead.
If auto-configure isn't available, add DNS records manually. The platform will provide the exact records you need. Follow these general guidelines:
- Type: Add records as TXT, CNAME, or MX as instructed.
- Name / Host: For root domains use "@". For subdomains (e.g., mail.yourdomain.com), enter only the subdomain part (e.g., "mail").
- Value: Copy and paste the values exactly as shown — do not alter them.
- TTL: Set to 5 minutes (300 seconds) where possible.
- Log into Cloudflare.
- Go to your domain's DNS settings.
- Add the records provided (TXT, CNAME, MX). Make sure records are set to DNS only (gray cloud) — not Proxied.
- Log into GoDaddy.
- Open Domains → Manage DNS.
- Click Add and enter each record.
- Open the AWS console.
- Go to Route 53 → Hosted Zones.
- Create the necessary record sets.
- Log into Namecheap.
- Go to Domain List → Manage → Advanced DNS.
- Add the DNS records provided.
- Log into Google Domains.
- Select your domain and go to DNS settings.
- Add the DNS records accordingly.
After Verification
Once your records are verified, here's what to expect and what to do next:
- SSL Certificate Issued: An SSL certificate is automatically issued — this typically takes 1–10 minutes after verification completes.
- Domain Status: Your domain will show as Verified / Active in the platform.
- Test Sending: Send test emails to confirm SPF and DKIM pass in the email headers.
- Monitor Deliverability: Use DMARC reports and inbox placement testing tools to track ongoing performance.
Your domain is now authenticated and ready for sending. Continue monitoring your DMARC reports regularly to catch any deliverability issues early.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
If verification fails, work through the following checklist:
- Double-check that each record matches exactly as provided — even a single character difference can cause failure.
- Ensure you selected the correct record type (TXT, CNAME, or MX).
- Verify the Host / Name field is correct — avoid adding extra "@" symbols or omitting the subdomain portion.
- Check if TTL is set too high — lower it to 300 seconds (5 minutes) if possible to speed up propagation.
- Be patient: DNS propagation can take up to 24–48 hours depending on your provider.
- For DMARC: Ensure only one DMARC record exists per domain — multiple records will cause authentication to fail.
- For SPF: Ensure there are no duplicate SPF records — only one SPF TXT record should exist per domain.
After updating DNS records, wait a few minutes then click Verify domain again from the three-dot menu to re-trigger the verification check.
Frequently Asked Questions
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