How To Get A Custom Email Domain In 2024 – Forbes Advisor UK

Despite the surge of communication and collaboration channels such as Zoom, Slack and Asana, 75% of all internet users in Great Britain still send and receive emails, according to Statista data.

In this article, you’ll learn about email domains and why you need one, as well as the custom email domain options to get started.

What is an email domain?

An email domain is the part of your email address after the @. Examples of email domains are gmail.com, yahoo.com and outlook.com.

As a business or professional, you can get a custom email domain that matches your website and represents your brand. For example, if your website domain name is nyinsurance.com, you can customise an email domain with those exact words. So the email address for your appraiser can look like this: [email protected].

Custom email domain ideation

Since you need a domain name to set up a custom email address, you must first choose an appropriate domain name. So, ensure you choose a name that reflects your brand name and conveys the essence of your website. Also, make sure it’s easy to remember and less likely to mistype.

Once you decide on your domain name, you can set up a custom email domain and begin creating usernames for specific departments, roles and team members. But note that only administrators can create such accounts, and some email domain providers restrict the number of user licenses per plan. That means you should consider such needs when choosing a plan.

For individuals, you can use any of the formats below.

Here are a few examples for departments.

And where your domain name is your name, you can use any of these as your username:

• Role: [email protected], [email protected]
• Initials: [email protected]
• Other filler words: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]

How to get a custom email domain

Getting a custom email is easy. Sometimes, all you need to do, especially if you already run a website, is create one from your web builder or hosting plan. Some even offer free or discounted email domains. And customising email domains can be as simple as clicking on “Emails” and adding as many email addresses as needed.

You can read our best website builder and best web hosting services to see the options available and how to get started if you’re yet to build or design your website.

To set up an email domain with an email hosting provider, follow the steps below.

• Step 1: Sign up on your chosen email hosting provider. Typically, the provider will also offer other services, including website building, website hosting, designing and marketing. So look for the option labeled “Email” and click on that
• Step 2: Choose your domain. You’ll see options to register a new domain name or choose an existing domain name. If you have a domain name, search for and connect to it. But if you don’t have one yet, choose a new domain, considering the key components of a domain name
• Step 3: Pay for your custom email domain. Enter your card details and provide your billing address. You can choose an annual payment plan or the month-to-month option, depending on what’s available and which suits your budget or needs
• Step 4: Create your email address. Once the domain is set, you can create a new email address with your preferred username and password. Your username is that part before the @ symbol, and we recommend choosing a strong password with a unique character so that someone can’t guess it easily. But make sure it’s something you can remember

Creating your business email can take less than five minutes, and you can start sending and receiving emails immediately.

Custom email domain hosting options

Email hosting service providers store emails and other content on a remote server. They’re the ones that make it possible for you to set up email accounts for your employees.

You’ll find many options, but you need to consider factors including your industry, current IT processes and needs, employee number and the hosting service’s storage capacity, security features, discounts and mobile responsiveness.

We compared several email hosting services based on their features and functions, and these are the recommended options if you’re setting up a custom email domain.

DreamHost

DreamHost has webmail built in, and it syncs mail across mobile and desktop devices. It also has robust antivirus functions and anti-spam and anti-phishing features to protect you from cybercriminals.

SiteGround

SiteGround provides website, email and WordPress site hosting. It also allows adding as many users as you want on an email domain. Administrators can also manage email accounts through a central panel.

A2 Hosting

A2 Hosting provides users with preinstalled webmail software, automated email forwarding and responding, unlimited email addresses and spam protection. It also has popular email clients preinstalled and integrates with phpList, Dada Mail and poMMo, enhancing customer communication processes.

Zoho Mail

Zoho Mail enables multiple domain hosting and aliases. It also has features that make planning, tracking and collaborating on processes easy. Zoho Mail also encrypts data, detects malware and allows users to create security policies, such as isolating or rejecting unauthorised emails.

Google Workspace

Besides hosting emails, Google Workspace is a suite of productivity applications, including Google Drive, Calendar and Meet. This email host also provides security features such as two-factor authentication (2FA), group-based policy controls that give users access only to authorised data and artificial intelligence (AI) for blocking spam, phishing emails and malware.

Benefits of custom email domains

Apart from offering customisation options and allowing you to create multiple email addresses for various departments and individuals associated with your business, these are the expected benefits of a custom email domain:

• It promotes brand marketing: You can add customised email addresses to your website, social media accounts, business cards and employee email signatures. That’s an easy way to market your brand
• It enhances your credibility: A custom email domain gives your business more credibility. It helps you look more professional to customers. And that strengthens their trust in your brand, making them more likely to make another purchase
• It gives you consistency: With a custom email domain, you’ll get consistency across various channels. You can create multiple addresses for specific roles such as support and sales, and customers can easily remember the formula for your business email addresses and contact you when necessary
• It provides an extra layer of security: Public email addresses are often prone to security breaches. But with a custom email domain, you have lower chances of data leaks or hacks, which keeps your data safe. Your data is more secure because of the enhanced encryptions and security measures, such as SSL certificates, which are available for custom email domains
• It gives you control: Owning a custom email domain means creating as many emails as you want and maintaining your domain name. Also, you can access and monitor emails. For instance, if a hiring manager leaves your company, the new employee can access necessary data.

Bottom line

Businesses can customise their email domains through email hosting providers, web builders and web hosting services. And that brings them credibility, control, security and other benefits. Plus, it’s easy to create your custom email domain.

You only have to pick a suitable email domain hosting option and begin creating as many email addresses as you want using any of the suggested formats.