Create custom domain email using Gmail

If you are a new start-up and planning to setup some work emails, you might want to consider using this method to save up some start-up cost.
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First of all, why a custom domain email?

A custom domain email looks much more professional and give your clients a sense of confidence toward your business rather than a free Gmail. For example, kenneth@startech.com vs kenneth.startech@gmail.com, which of these looks more of a proper business email to you? Definitely the first one.

So, in this guide, we will teach you step-by-step on how to create a custom domain email for both receiving and send as.

The following are the items and steps required to create a custom domain email using Gmail.
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Items required:

1. A free Gmail account.
2. A custom domain name that has email forwarding feature.
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Steps to create custom domain email (Receive as)

Client will be able to send mails to your custom domain email which will be forwarded to your Gmail.

1. Signup for a free Gmail account. (For example: staffName.businessName@gmail.com)
2. Purchase a domain name with email forwarding feature from domain name registrar such as Namecheap.
3. Login to your user dashboard from your domain name registrar website.
4. Navigate to your list of domain(s) and click on Setting/Manage/etc. if available.
5. Then look for the option for email forwarding / redirect email or something similar.
6. Create an alias name and insert the email that you want it to forward to. In this case, it will be your Gmail which has been created in the first step.
7. Lastly, test your new custom domain email.

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Steps to create custom domain email (Send as / Reply as)

The following steps will be more complicated and it will only involve configurating your Gmail account.

There are 3 parts for the following setup.

1. Setting up Gmail account App Password to use Gmail SMTP servers securely.
2. Creating alias as an account for your Gmail inbox.
3. Setting Gmail SMTP server for your forwarded alias.
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Part 1 : Setting up Gmail account App Password to use Gmail SMTP servers securely.

1. Go to your Gmail account. Click on the top right user profile icon and click 'Manage your Google account' from the menu.
2. In the Google account page, go to Security tab. Navigate to 'Signing in to Google' section and click 'App passwords'.
   *Note: You must have 2-Step Verification enabled to have the App passwords option to be available.
3. In the 'App passwords' page, select 'Mail' from the app dropdown list and 'Other' from the device dropdown list.
4. Enter your domain name into the text input field and click 'Generate'.
5. Copy the generated 16-characters password which you will need it in the later steps. Click on done.
6. Return to your Gmail inbox.
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Part 2 : Creating alias as an account for your Gmail inbox.

1. In your Gmail inbox page, click on the 'Settings' icon on top right which is beside your profile image icon. Click on 'See all settings'.
2. Go to 'Accounts and Import' tab.
3. Scroll down to 'Send mail as' section and click on 'Add another email address'.
4. In the pop-up window, define a name that you want your recipient to see (Eg. Your name, Support Team, Sales Team, etc.). As for 'Email Address' input field, enter the custom domain email that you have created in the earlier half of this guide.
5. Click 'Next' once you have entered all the details.
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Part 3 : Setting Gmail SMTP server for your forwarded alias.

1. Insert the following details
   SMTP Server: smtp.gmail.com
   Port: 465
   Username: Your Gmail account (the one you are logged in as)
   Password: The generated app password you copied in Part 1.
2. Ensure all the information has been entered correctly. Click 'Add Account' to proceed.
3. Return to your Gmail inbox once you have successfully created the account. You will receive an email from Gmail Team with the subject named, 'Gmail Confirmation: Send Mail As'. Follow the instruction in the message to confirm your email address.
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Congratulations!

You have successfully created your custom domain email.
If you encountered any issue during the setup, feel free to contact us and we will try our best to guide you.

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