How To Create A Free Email Address For Your Domain

The most exciting thing to me about buying a domain name for my blog is being able to have an email address that uses my domain name. The email address ashley@lillyandlemons.com just looks so much more professional than a Gmail email address.

I wanted to use an email host server that is simple, has an app, and is free. Google Apps for Work was one of my options, but honestly, I didn't really feel like paying for it. It's only $5 per month per user, and it was hard saying no to Google since it's seriously the best thing ever, but I really wanted to find something that was free.

After doing some research, I found Zoho Mail. Zoho is an email hosting website that allows you to have up to 25 free email addresses for your domain name! I took a look through Zoho before signing up and decided that it definitely looked simple, efficient, and easy to use. It took me about half an hour to figure out how to create an email address for my domain name, but I was thrilled when it finally worked.

I love using Zoho so much that I want to share it with other bloggers to use! If you have your own domain name but no email hosting for it, I highly suggest using Zoho. Check out the step-by-step guide below for help!

step one || add the domain
The first step requires adding your domain name to Zoho. All you need to do is access the control panel, click "add domain," and type in your domain name.



step two || verify the domain
The second step involves verifying your domain. This can be done in two different methods: the CNAME method or TXT method. I personally prefer the CNAME method. To verify your domain, you first have to go to the domains section in the control panel of your Zoho account and select the CNAME tab.


Make a note of the specific zb code you see under the CNAME and the destination it points to. Head over to your domain DNS manager. Your DNS manager will look different depending on where you bought your domain name (I bought mine from Google), but they will all have the same general idea. Under the resource section, type in your specific zb code, CNAME for the type of file it is, 5m for the time, and zmverify.zoho.com for the IPv4 address. It should look like the second line in the picture below.


three || modify the records
Access your domain's DNS manager again. Add another record to allow you to enable email hosting once the domain has been verified. Leave the name blank, choose the type as "MX", use 1m for the time, and put 10mx.zoho.com for the IPv4 address. It should look like the first line in the picture below.


four || enable email hosting
Email hosting now needs to be enabled in the control panel. Head to where your domain is registered on Zoho and click on the envelope icon under "mail hosting" in the last column. The envelope should now turn a dark color.


five || create email accounts
It is now time to create email accounts! You can do so by accessing "user details" in the control panel. Click "add user" and fill in the details that you choose. If you have more than one domain name registered on Zoho, make sure you choose the correct domain that you want to use.


You can add up to 25 email addresses for free. I only have one email address for my account for now, but it's nice to know that I can add more in the future if needed.

six || start emailing!
Your email hosting setup should now be complete! I sent a couple different emails to different email addresses just to test it out and see if it worked. It should, but if it doesn't, Zoho has great support pages to answer any questions you may have.

I love using Zoho for my blog and would definitely recommend it to anyone else looking for email hosting. It even has an app for iPhone, which is so helpful to me since I always have my phone with me! Let me know if you end up using it for your own blog!

25 comments:

  1. I feel like this post was made for me! Zoho mail is exactly what I've been looking for - thank you so much for sharing!

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  2. Love this! You're so right, it looks so much more professional when it comes from your domain name, will definitely be joining this!

    Pick Your Beau

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  3. This was super helpful! I will definitely think about switching over. I've always wanted my own domain mail address to look more professional.

    Mikayla | A Seersucker State of Mind.

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  4. I've always wondered about doing this!! Thanks so much for such a helpful tutorial!

    xoxo A
    www.southernbelleintraining.com

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  5. I've always wondered how to do this!! I really appreciate the tutorial! It's super helpful and so detailed!

    xo Ashley

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  6. So helpful! I never knew how to do this before! I'm making the switch to a .com email address and I think this will help a lot! So important for branding :) I appreciate all the screenshots!

    Alessandra | blog.pumpup.com

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  7. Love the post! Having an email that complements your blog/website domain definitely looks professional and polished. I wish I would have known about this service, I pay $5 a month for my email through godaddy. Have a great weekend!

    xoxo, Danielle
    www.glamrme.com

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  8. I need to do this asap! You are so right that it looks more professional!

    -Morgan
    How 2 Wear It [] http://how2wearit.com

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  9. I'm getting a domain soon so I'll definitely keep this in mind! So thanks SO much for this tutorial! I wouldn't have been able to figure it out myself!

    Ally | http://www.preppylittlelesbian.blogspot.com

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  10. Great! I had an email address for my domain but it stopped working so I just made a gmail because I was getting so aggravated.. haha!

    Lauren
    The Fashionista's Diary

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  11. I definitely need to check this out soon!
    I'd love to have an email address associated with my domain.

    Thanks for the lovely tutorial.

    xoxo, Jenny || Breakfast at Lillys

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  12. This is so helpful! I am just starting a blog and have been thinking about setting up a special email account for it. I will definitely be doing this, thanks so much!

    http://somelikeitprep.blogspot.com

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  13. What a great resource! I've needed something like this for my design business, this is so perfect! :)

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  14. This is a great tutorial! I've been meaning to do this for years, but I never got around to it for some reason. I will definitely be following your step-by-step process!

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  15. I've seen so many people asking how to do this recently, so thanks for this tutorial. I'll be sure to share it! :)

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  16. After reading this post, it looks like I've been missing out! Looking into Zoho ASAP! x Nicole | www.changeanddress.com

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  17. I just made a gmail email address for my blog, but I have to say I do think domain email addresses look much more professional! Hopefully sometime in the future I can create my own. Thank you for sharing this free option!!

    Kayla | kaylablogs.com

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  18. I've been looking for a site like this so THANK YOU! Wow. So much information. Are you able to sync it somehow to Gmail though to have it still linked and still access your blog Gmails from your Zoho account in the transition?

    Coming Up Roses

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  19. Thank you so much for sharing this tutorial! You are awesome!! Can't wait to switch my email over :)

    XX, SS || A Little Seersucker Sass

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  20. I have been looking to get a blog e-mail and this looks perfect! I can't wait to try it out!

    xx. Brittany | Southern Soul

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  21. I have been wanting to set up a domain name. This is so helpful! Thank you so much!!!

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  22. This is incredibly helpful! I've been wanting to do this (using gmail right now). Thanks for sharing!

    x Sarah
    http://www.bohochiccafe.com

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  23. This is seriously the best thing! I need to really do this, because it definitely does look more professional!
    xoxo

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  24. I used Zoho for a really long time until last year when I switched to Gmail.. Zoho kept locking me out and I would get an influx of spam mail every single day, and eventually I switched to Google for Work to prevent the spam and keep my inbox organized! Hopefully Zoho doesn't do the same for you!

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