Dedicated Sending Domain
How to Set Up a Dedicated Sending Domain for Email Clarity
A dedicated sending domain is the heartbeat of your email marketing. It gives you complete control over your brand's appearance in the inbox, ensuring your crucial communication maintains a strong reputation with services like Gmail and Yahoo. This step helps you avoid spam filters, guaranteeing you never miss a beat when connecting with your clients.
💡 Why This Matters
By default, emails sent from any white-label GHL platform often include a generic server name in the "sent via" or "mailed-by" field (e.g., mg.msgsndr.org). Setting up a custom, dedicated domain removes this generic tag, allowing your emails to appear solely from your brand. This level of authentication is now mandatory for better deliverability, especially with new 2024 requirements from Google and Yahoo.
Note: Dedicated sending domains only apply to users within the PulseHub Email System. If you are using a brand new domain for email, remember to warm it up before sending to a large list. Skipping this step can severely affect deliverability.
🔗 Choosing Your Subdomain (The Rhythm of Your Email)
A subdomain is a secondary part of your root domain (e.g., the mg in [email protected]). You must use a unique subdomain that is not used for any other purpose.
Recommended (Unique)
Avoid (Generic)
🛠 Step-by-Step Setup Guide in PulseHub (GHL)
Follow these steps to establish your dedicated sending domain:
1. Initial Setup
Navigate to Settings -> Email Services in your PulseHub account.
Click the 'Dedicated domain and IP' button.
Add your chosen subdomain (e.g., reply.yourbrand.com).
2. DNS Verification
After adding your subdomain, you will be prompted to verify your DNS records.
You can choose to let PulseHub auto-configure the records (recommended).
If automatic configuration fails, you will need to manually enter the records yourself.
Important: DNS changes can take up to 24 hours to propagate globally. Patience is key. If verification exceeds this timeframe, check your DNS settings carefully.
3. Manually Adding DNS Records (If Required)
You will need to access your domain provider's dashboard (e.g., Cloudflare, GoDaddy, Hostinger). PulseHub will provide you with specific CNAME, MX, and TXT records.
Log in to your domain provider.
Find the section for managing DNS records.
Create the required records using the exact details provided in PulseHub.
4. Setting the DMARC Record (Crucial for 2024 Compliance)
For better email authentication with Google and Yahoo, a DMARC record is now essential.
In your domain's DNS Records, add a new record with the following details:
Field
Setting for Subdomain (Recommended)
Type
TXT
Name
dmarc.subdomainprefix (e.g., dmarc.reply if you used reply.yourdomain.com)
Content
v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:[email protected] (Replace the email address with the one that should receive DMARC reports)
Save and Verify.
⚙ Advanced Domain Configuration
Setting a Dedicated Domain as Default
After verification, you can designate this domain as the default sender for all non-workflow and bulk emails.
Navigate to Settings -> Email Services.
Click on SMTP Service - Dedicated Domain and IP.
Check the checkbox next to your verified domain to set it as active/default.
Setting Default Headers
Ensure a consistent 'From' name and address for emails sent from this domain:
Navigate to Settings -> Email Services.
Click on SMTP Service - Dedicated Domain and IP.
Click on 'Set headers' under your dedicated domain and specify the default sender details.
🛑 Troubleshooting Common Issues
Error Message
Solution
'Domain already pointing to email server!'
This means your domain has conflicting, existing DNS records. You must remove all existing MX or SPF records before proceeding. Use a free tool like MXToolbox to check for conflicts.
DNS records not verified yet.
You may need to manually force the verification process in PulseHub. If the issue persists, contact your hosting provider to confirm the records are published correctly.
Domain Verified but no SSL Certificate.
Try re-verifying the domain. The SSL certificate is usually auto-generated upon verification. If it still fails, contact your hosting provider.
✅ Points to Remember
Professional Email: From 2024, use a professional email address (e.g., Google Workspace, Microsoft 365) for bulk sending; free services like Gmail or Outlook are unsuitable.
Authentication: DKIM, DMARC, and SPF records are non-negotiable for email authentication.
Unsubscribe Links: A one-click unsubscribe link is automatically integrated into the email header, requiring no action from you, which helps clients opt-out without marking your email as spam.
This setup ensures your PulseHub is configured for optimal performance, keeping your client communications in perfect flow.