A custom domain for email enables multiple features beyond being configured as a "from domain":

• The hover links and URLs included in emails to align branding.
• Allows individual recipients to better recognize and validate link branding before clicking.
• Authenticated with DKIM/SPF as a "from domain" for verification in the eyes of ISPs.

Note: Custom domain for email cannot be the same domain used for a custom landing page domain due to how DNS records work with domain security. Additionally, we only accept sub-domain choices for custom domains, such as email.yourparentdomain.com or info.yourparentdomain.com. In these examples, “yourparentdomain.com” is your company domain, root domain, or parent domain. Using a sub-domain of your company's root domain is considered a best practice for deliverability and recipient verification of branding.. You can contact our deliverability team for more insights on best practices for deliverability.

You may choose to implement the sub-domain onto your current sending IP or add a new IP. Make sure to indicate all of the details of your desired configuration, including the pod location and organization name when requesting a new domain. Remember that if you're setting up a new IP or ramping up to much higher volumes on an existing IP, IP reputation warming will be needed.

The provisioning team configures the custom domain for your organization. Based on your sub-domain choice, we provide the appropriate DNS records. If we are not hosting your DNS records, these DNS records will comprise of SPF, MX, bounce, reply, DKIM records, and more. If we are hosting, we provide our name server DNS records, and Acoustic implements the SPF, MX, bounce, reply, DKIM records, etc., after the name server records ahve been applied to your domains DNS environment.

Acoustic now provides auto-renewing SSL certificates for your sub-domain to secure your links in preparation for future browser security changes and to provide an extra layer of security for your emails. This requires a second set of DNS CNAME records to be implemented with your IT or domain hosting provider once the initial DNS records detailed above have been validated. If your organization has multiple sub-domains, we will combine the domains into a single SAN certificate per Campaign Org. After your IT or domain host implements the CNAME records, we then install the SSL certificate securing the sub-domain URLs used in emails using that sub-domain VMTA.

Warning: After a custom domain is configured, it cannot be repurposed or updated in any way.

Hosting of DNS records requires you to work with your IT team or DNS provider to implement DNS records we provide in the DNS environment of your domain. While Acoustic hosting requires you to have your IT team or DNS provider implement our name server records we provide. This allows us to host the DNS records of the domain.

Implementing the DNS records requires you to work with your IT team or domain hosting provider to implement the records we provide in the DNS environment of your domain.
Implementation of our provided DNS records and successful validation of your domain ensures your domain(s) are authenticated in the eyes of ISPs.

To receive a custom domain, reach out to our sales team (https://acoustic.co/lets-talk/) or your client success director to submit an inquiry about a custom domain.

Provision a custom domain

Warning: Do not follow the steps below until your sales representative or client success director places the order and a case is raised. Implementing these steps can cause harm to your system. Do not complete until directed to so do by a provisioning specialist. When an order is not required, a provisioning support case can be opened first by the client, then provisioning notifies the customer success director if an order is required.

1. A provisioning case is opened from the custom domain order (or a case is created by you if the custom domain is included with a previous active order).
   1. In the case, provide the pod number (if your organization is already configured), organization name, custom domain, and IP setup specifications (new IP, re-brand an existing IP, or add/brand an IP existing IP pool).
2. The Provisioning team validates the information provided before starting configurations.
3. The Provisioning team provides the appropriate DNS records to you via the case.
4. Provide the DNS records to your IT team or domain-hosting provider.
5. Your IT team or domain-hosting provider implements the DNS records for the sub-domain.
6. Confirm in the case after the DNS records are implemented.
7. The Provisioning team adds the custom domain to the domain settings and from domain/email response settings of your organization.
8. The Provisioning team performs a validation check on your domain, which includes a request to send us an email from the domain/VMTA within the Campaign organization to validate DNS/authentication end-to-end.

   Note: A successful validation confirms that you implemented our DNS records properly. This ensures that records in our internal system match what was implemented publicly.

9. If the DNS records do not validate, the case is updated. This typically means the DNS records are either not yet published or there is an error in which next steps are provided.
10. Upon DNS/authentication validation, the DNS CNAME records are then provided for email URL/link security.
11. Provide the DNS records to your IT team or domain-hosting provider.
12. Your IT team or domain-hosting provider implements the DNS records for the sub-domain.
13. Confirm in the case after the DNS records are implemented.
14. The Provisioning team performs a validation check of the DNS records, which includes a request to send us an email from the domain/VMTA within the Campaign organization to validate link security end-to-end.
15. The case is updated noting the completion of the custom domain setup.

Note: Upon setting up a custom domain for email, if you are also using a new IP (or adding/sending significant new volumes with the new domain), ensure you are performing the appropriate IP reputation warming program for your volumes and use-case to avoid deliverability issues.

Acoustic Support and Service experts are available to assist you in navigating your new organization and utilizing your domains. You can reach us via support case or your Account Representative or Client Success Director.