How to Get an Email Address With Your Domain Name In It

When you’re starting a new blog, one of the most frustrating little technical tidbits is that question of, “Now how the heck do I get an email address that has my domain name at the end?!”

For example, this blog’s domain is startablogforprofit.com. Most newbie bloggers would just create a free Gmail email address at something like startablogforprofit@gmail.com (that’s not my email address, by the way! Someone else owns it.)

Note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you buy from my link I might make a small commission. This does not affect the price you pay. See the full affiliate disclosure here.

BUT if you want to look super professional, you NEED to get an email address with your blog’s domain at the end. In my case, that would look like this: hello@startablogforprofit.com.

Below, I will walk you through, step-by-step, different ways to get a domain name email address.

Table of Contents

Why do I need an email address with my own domain?

#1 It looks legit.

Anyone can create an email address with your blog name ending with “@gmail.com.”

But when someone has an email address ending in their blog’s domain (like hello@startablogforprofit.com), that means that person owns that domain.

It’s much more legitimate, and removes any doubt about where the email really came from.

#2 It is required if you want to get approved for certain affiliate programs!

For example, I applied to join Skimlinks and got denied because the email address I had put on there did not end in “startablogforprofit.com.” They asked me to send them an email from an email address ending in “startablogforprofit.com” in order to get approved.

This totally makes sense given what I stated above: Anyone could try to apply to Skimlinks on behalf of startablogforprofit.com. One way Skimlinks can verify that I, the owner of this website, actually submitted that application is if they can confirm my email address ending in “startablogforprofit.com.”

3 ways to get an email address with your domain name

#1 Do it through your web hosting service

Level of difficulty: Easy

What you will need:

Domain name (Get one at Google Domains)
Web hosting that comes with email services (such as SiteGround)

Cost: “Free” (it comes with your web hosting)

The easiest (but not the best) way to get an email address ending in your domain name is to do it through your web hosting service. For most popular web hosts, when you purchase hosting, they’ll also give you access to something called a cPanel, where you can create email inboxes ending in your domain name.

Two big caveats here:

#1 This isn’t ideal because, unlike with Gmail or G Suite, every time you want to check your email, you’re going to have to log into your web hosting cPanel to do so.

Note: There IS a way around this by forwarding your email from your web host to your Gmail inbox, but this also isn’t ideal. One, there will always be a delay of about one hour. And two, your email is more likely to be marked as spam (at least, that’s what happened for me).

Examples of web hosting services that come with email services:

Bluehost
SiteGround
GoDaddy
BigScoots

Note: WP Engine, which I use, does NOT come with email services.

Pros:

It’s “free” since it comes with your web hosting account
It’s simple

Con:

It’s not automatically connected to your Gmail inbox (or other email provider), so you have to constantly log into your web hosting account to check email.
Even if you connect it to your Gmail inbox, there is a DELAY with incoming emails.
Your outgoing emails will constantly go to recipients’ Spam folders.

#2 Create an “alias” email address (email forwarding)

Level of difficulty: Hard

What you will need:

Domain name (Get one at Google Domains)
Gmail account (Sign up for FREE)

Cost: Free

You can set up something known as an “alias” email address. This essentially lets you send and receive an email from your “blogdomain@gmail.com” Gmail address (or really any Gmail address) but make it look like you’re sending it from “hello@blogdomain.com.” The recipient won’t know the difference.

You can do this in two ways:

Option 1: If you do option #1 explained above, then you can have Gmail “treat as an alias.”

*RECOMMENDED* Option 2: Alternatively, if you purchase your domain through Google Domains (which I highly recommend!) you can set up “email forwarding” right within your Google Domains account.

Option 2 Steps: How to Set Up Email Forwarding via Google Domains/G Suite

Step 1: Purchase a domain from Google Domains.

Of all the domain name registrars I’ve used and researched since 2009 (including Bluehost, SiteGround, and NameCheap), I still think Google Domains is the best.

Is your domain hosted somewhere else? Here’s how to transfer your domain to Google Domains (I highly recommend this!).

Step 2: Point your domain toward your web host (or Cloudflare, if you use it) by configuring DNS records/nameservers

Log into Google Domains.

Go to “My Domains.” Click “Manage” next to your domain name.

Then, click “DNS” in the menu on the left. Under “Name servers,” select “Use custom name servers.”

If you have Cloudflare, here is how to find YOUR name servers (they’re different for everyone):

Step 1: Log into Cloudflare and click on “DNS.”

Step 2: Scroll down to where it says “Cloudflare Nameservers and copy those.

Step 3: Paste the nameservers into the “Name servers” area of Google Domains.

Be sure to click “Save.” Now, you’re ready to move on to step 3.

If you do NOT have Cloudflare, copy and paste the nameservers provided by your web hosting company (e.g., Bluehost, SiteGround, WP Engine, etc.). You must find out what this is from your hosting company. Usually, there is a blog post available; if not, contact their customer support.

Step 3: Set up your MX records at Google Domains (or Cloudflare, if you use it).

This step is crucial; otherwise, your email won’t work.

If you use Cloudflare, go to Cloudflare and paste the following G Suite Gmail MX records. Where it says “blank,” type your blog’s domain name. For example: startablogforprofit.com. The TTL value is in seconds, so 3600 might show as “1 hour” in Cloudflare.

Name/Host/Alias	Time to Live (TTL*)	Record Type	Priority	Value/Answer/Destination
Blank or @	3600	MX	1	ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.COM
Blank or @	3600	MX	5	ALT1.ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.COM
Blank or @	3600	MX	5	ALT2.ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.COM
Blank or @	3600	MX	10	ALT3.ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.COM
Blank or @	3600	MX	10	ALT4.ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.COM

If you do NOT have Cloudflare, go to Google Domains > DNS and scroll down until you see where you can enter custom MX records. Paste the MX records above into Google Domains:

Step 4: Go to “Email” on the lefthand menu.

Scroll down until you see “Email forwarding.”

Enter your the email address ending with your domain name (you don’t need to type your domain name, as it’s already there. Just the name before it.)

Now, at this point, if you send a test email from a different email inbox to your newly created email address ending with your domain name—that test email should arrive in your forwarded inbox.

HOWEVER, you still cannot SEND email from that email address with your domain name. That’s why it’s crucial you go on to the next step.

Step 5: Add an “alias” to your Gmail inbox.

To be able to SEND email from your address ending with a domain name, you must add an “alias” to your Gmail inbox.

To do this, go to your Gmail inbox and click on Settings > Accounts.

Next, click on the “Accounts and Import” tab. Then, scroll down and click on “add another email address.”

Now things start to get a bit complicated, but stick with me. You will see the screen below.

Name: Put your name here. First and last name, or just first name, is fine.

Email address: Put the email address with your blog domain name that you want to add.

Click the button that says “Next Step.” You will then see this screen:

SMTP server: smtp.gmail.com

Username: This is the EMAIL ADDRESS of the Gmail inbox you are currently trying to add the alias to. It should end in “@gmail.com.” So, for example, startablogforprofit@gmail.com.

Password: This is the password for the Gmail inbox you are currently trying to add the alias to.

Port: 587

Make sure “Secured connection using TLS” is selected.

Click the button that says “Add Account.”

Step 5: Confirm the email address.

Now, Gmail sends an email to your new email address “alias” (the one ending in your domain name). Because you already enabled email forwarding, this email should arrive in the Gmail inbox you’re currently adding the alias to. Go check that inbox. The email will look like this:

You must either click the link in the email or copy and paste the verification code. Then, you’ll get the screen below.

Click “Confirm,” and you’re done! You can now send AND receive via your email address ending with your blog domain name.

#3 Get G Suite

Level of difficulty: Medium

What you will need:

Domain name
G Suite account

Cost: $6/month per user

This is why I highly recommend purchasing your domain through Google Domains: It will make it easer for you to set up things like email forwarding and G Suite. It’s also one of the least expensive options out there, and Domain Privacy is FREE.