Custom Domain

Understanding Custom Domain Setup

By default, newsletters are sent from contact@hakanai.io. With custom domain configuration, you can send newsletters from your own domain (e.g., newsletter@yourcompany.com), making your emails appear more professional and trustworthy to your subscribers.

Why Use a Custom Domain?

• Brand consistency: Emails appear to come directly from your organization
• Improved deliverability: Your domain reputation affects email delivery rates
• Professional appearance: Recipients see your branded email address
• Trust building: Subscribers recognize emails as coming from your authentic source
• Replies reach you: All replies, including automatic ones, go to your address (see below)

Where Replies Go

This applies to every email sent for your campaign, including the subscription confirmation email.

Without a custom domain, emails are sent from contact@hakanai.io. When a subscriber replies by hand, we route that reply to you. But automatic replies, such as an out-of-office responder or an anti-spam auto-responder, ignore that routing and answer the From address instead. They therefore land in the Hakanai inbox and are not forwarded to you.

With a custom domain, the From address is your own. Every reply, whether a person clicked reply or a mailbox answered automatically, goes to your address. If you want to capture all subscriber replies, including automatic ones, a custom domain is the only way to do it.

Setting Up Your Custom Domain

Step 1: Configure Your Sender Address

In your campaign settings, navigate to the Custom Domain section and specify:

• Sender email: The email address you want to use (e.g., newsletter@yourcompany.com)
• Sender name: The display name recipients will see (e.g., "Your Company Newsletter")

Step 2: DNS Configuration

After adding your sender address, you'll receive DNS records that must be added to your domain:

DKIM Records (Required)

Two DKIM records ensure email authentication:

brevo1._domainkey.yourcompany.com → CNAME → b1.yourcompany-com.dkim.brevo.com
brevo2._domainkey.yourcompany.com → CNAME → b2.yourcompany-com.dkim.brevo.com

Domain Ownership Verification (Required)

A TXT record proves you control the domain:

yourcompany.com → TXT → brevo-code:xxxxxxxxxxxx

Step 3: Validation

After adding the DNS records:

1. Click "Refresh" in the custom domain configuration
2. The system will check if records are properly configured
3. Status will change from "Pending" to "Active" when verification is complete

It may take up to 48 hours for DNS changes to propagate worldwide, though they're often active within a few minutes.

DNS Record Status

The configuration panel shows the status of each DNS record:

• Pending: Record hasn't been added to your DNS
• Active: Record is properly set up and verified

Tips

1. DNS propagation time: DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to propagate worldwide, though they're often active within a few hours
2. Keep records active: Don't remove the DNS records once configured, as this will break email authentication
3. Monitor deliverability: Watch your email open rates and delivery statistics after switching to a custom domain

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

"Domain not configured" error

• Verify DNS records are added exactly as shown
• Check with your DNS provider about propagation time
• Ensure there are no typos in the record values

"Authentication failed" status

• Confirm both DKIM records are properly configured
• Verify the ownership verification record is set up
• Try the "Refresh" button after making DNS changes

Emails not being delivered

• Check that your domain has a good reputation
• Ensure your domain isn't on any email blacklists
• Verify all DNS records show "Configured" status

Getting Help

If you encounter issues:

1. Double-check the DNS records match exactly what's shown in your configuration
2. Contact your DNS provider for assistance with adding records
3. Use online DNS checker tools to verify your records are publicly visible
4. Try the "Refresh" button after making DNS changes
5. Contact our support team for assistance (contact@hakanai.io)

Security Considerations

• DKIM authentication: The configured DKIM records ensure recipients can verify emails actually came from your domain
• Domain reputation: Your custom domain's email reputation will affect deliverability
• Access control: Only configure custom domains for domains you fully control

By properly configuring a custom domain, you'll enhance your newsletter's professional appearance and potentially improve email deliverability to your subscribers.