# Add a domain

> Get started sending email by adding and verifying a domain you own.

MailBlastr sends email using a domain you own. Before you can send email, you must have a **verified domain** associated with your account. Verification publishes DNS records that prove you control the domain and let receiving servers authenticate your mail (SPF and DKIM), which is essential for deliverability.

## Add a domain

You can add and verify a domain you own in two ways:

- In the **Domains** dashboard page.
- Using the [MailBlastr API](https://www.mailblastr.com/docs/api/domains-create).

To add a new domain from the MailBlastr dashboard:

1. **Open the Domains page** — In your MailBlastr dashboard, navigate to the **Domains** page.
2. **Click Add Domain** — Click the **Add Domain** button.
3. **Enter your domain (use a subdomain)** — We strongly recommend sending from a subdomain such as `notifications.example.com` instead of your root domain `example.com`, to follow deliverability best practices. Choose a subdomain that reflects the purpose of your mail, like `customers.example.com` or `updates.example.com`. You can have multiple subdomains under one root domain, but each must be configured and verified individually.
4. **Choose a region** — Select the region to send your email from. Choose the one closest to the majority of your recipients to reduce latency.
5. **(Optional) Set a custom Return-Path** — The Return-Path defaults to `send.example.com`. You can provide a custom subdomain for the Return-Path address if you prefer.
6. **Update your DNS records** — Open the **Records** tab for your domain to find the records to add at your DNS host. Add the SPF and DKIM records (`TXT` and `MX`) exactly as MailBlastr generated them — copy and paste to avoid configuration errors. These records prove you own the domain and have permission to send.
7. **Wait for verification** — When the records are correct, your domain often verifies within 15 minutes. DNS changes can occasionally take up to 72 hours to propagate globally. If verification has not completed after 72 hours, use the **Restart verification** button in the dashboard to trigger a fresh check.
8. **Add a DMARC record** — After your domain is verified, add a DMARC record to build additional trust in your domain and protect against spoofing. DMARC is an authentication protocol that lets receivers reject unauthenticated messages, and it is important for deliverability.
9. **(Optional) Update domain settings** — Once verified, you may wish to enable open and click tracking or enforce TLS for the domain. See [Managing domains](https://www.mailblastr.com/docs/domains/managing).

> **Note:** You can verify your records are publicly visible with any public DNS lookup tool before waiting on MailBlastr. If the records resolve but the domain still will not verify, double-check that the values match exactly — a trailing space or wrapped line is the most common cause.

## What gets published

The Records tab lists every DNS record MailBlastr needs. A typical setup includes:

**DNS records**

| Name | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `DKIM (TXT)` | authentication | No | A single TXT record at `mailblastr._domainkey.yourdomain.com` holding your domain’s public key. Signs your messages so receivers can verify they were not altered in transit. Required. |
| `SPF (TXT) + MX` | authentication | No | Authorizes MailBlastr to send on behalf of your sending subdomain and routes the Return-Path. Required. |
| `DMARC (TXT)` | policy | No | Tells receivers what to do with mail that fails SPF/DKIM. Added after verification; strongly recommended. |

> **Warning:** Emails can only be sent from a verified domain you own — or a subdomain of one. Until verification completes, `POST /emails` will reject sends from that domain with a `validation_error`.

## Next steps

- [Create an API key](https://www.mailblastr.com/docs/create-an-api-key) if you have not already.
- Send your first email with the [Quickstart](https://www.mailblastr.com/docs/quickstart).
- Learn how to edit, re-verify, and configure domains in [Managing domains](https://www.mailblastr.com/docs/domains/managing).