This article shows you how to set up your domain for sending emails from Force24. You will need to generate a set of DNS records in your account, then add them to your DNS Host (the service or software your company uses to manage its domain and DNS records).

Once the records are in place, the platform will verify them and you can send from your new subdomain.

Before you start

You will need access to your DNS Host to add the records. If someone else looks after this for you, such as an internal colleague or an external agency, you can still follow steps 1 to 4 yourself, then send them the records in step 5.

Is there a cost?

If this is your first email subdomain being set up in Force24, you will not be charged.

If you add additional email domains (more than 1), you may incur a £95 fixed fee plus a £10 per month SSL certificate fee, depending on the terms agreed in your contract.

If you are not sure, please reach out to your account manager to confirm.

How do I set up my email domain?

To add your email domain to Force24, DNS records need to be added to your current DNS Host. Follow the steps below to generate and obtain them.

Step 1: Open your Account Settings

Click the cog icon in the top right corner of your account, then select Account Settings.

The cog icon menu with the Account Settings option

Step 2: Start adding a new email subdomain

Scroll down to the Email DNS Configuration section and click Add New Email Subdomain.

The Email DNS Configuration section with the Add New Email Subdomain button

Step 3: Enter your subdomain and domain

In the Email DNS Configuration - Add New pop up that opens, enter the details of your Subdomain and Domain.

The Add New pop up with Subdomain and Domain fields

If you are unsure what to enter, it is typically something like:

email.yoursite.com

comms.yoursite.com

marketing.yoursite.com

Essentially, this should be your apex domain (replace yoursite.com with your own website, so ours would be force24.co.uk) and a subdomain of your choosing, such as email, comms or marketing.

Step 4: Generate your DNS records

Click Generate DNS records. Your DNS records will be created and shown on screen. They are also stored in the platform, so you can come back and find them again whenever you need them.

The generated DNS records

No separate email authentication setup

You do not need to set up DKIM, SPF or DMARC separately. These records and the Force24 platform take care of all of that for you.

Step 5: Add the records to your DNS Host

How you do this depends on who manages your DNS.

Important

Whoever adds the records needs to know two things:

  • The records must match exactly what Force24 shows you.
  • The records must not be proxied.

Option A: You manage your own DNS

You can copy and paste the records directly from Force24 into your DNS Host, which makes sure they match exactly:

The copy option next to a DNS record

If you need further help adding your DNS records with your specific DNS Host, there are additional support articles in the section below:

The DNS Host help articles section

Using a specific DNS Host?

For specific information on GoDaddy, 123 Reg or Krystal Hosting configuration, see these articles:

  • How to add DNS records using GoDaddy
  • How to add DNS records using 123Reg
  • How to add DNS Records to Krystal Hosting
  • Adding other DNS Records

Option B: Someone else manages your DNS

If you do not have access to your DNS Host, and it is managed by an internal member of the team or an external agency, enter their email address in the section below. Force24 will send them the DNS records so they can add them for you:

The field for entering an email address to send the DNS records to

Step 6: Check your records are verified

Once your DNS records have been added to your DNS Host, they will not go live on the internet straight away. How long this takes depends on the TTL (time to live) settings in your DNS Host. Once they are live, the platform should verify them within 24 hours.

To check, go back to the same area in Force24. When everything is verified, there will be no warnings or notes, and each record will show a green tick, as below.

DNS records each showing a green tick

All records must show a green tick before you can send from your subdomain.

Do not change verified records

Please do not change these records once they are verified. The status will not update again after verification, and changing the records could cause you deliverability issues in future. If you have any concerns about your records, email Force24 support at support@force24.co.uk which will open a support ticket for you.

Using the same domain on more than one account?

If the same apex domain is used across more than one Force24 account, two additional TXT records need to be added to your DNS Host.