How To Add A Custom Sending Domain

Setting Up Your Custom Sending Domain in ListSend

By default, Vesta's ListSend sends emails on your behalf to your subscribers using a shared domain (VestaHQ.com for example). This works out of the box with no setup required, but using your own domain can improve deliverability and makes your emails appear to come directly from you.

Before You Start

You'll need access to your domain registrar (such as Namecheap, GoDaddy, or similar) -- the platform where you manage your domain's DNS settings. This is not necessarily the same place as your website host.

If you have a webmaster, developer, or someone who helped setup your website or current email, they should be able to help with this. You'll need to send them the DNS settings specific to your account and they should be able to get it setup on your end.

It can take up to 48 hours for DNS settings to propagate (basically make it to all the servers), but it usually only takes 20-30 minutes.

Step 1: Add Your Domain in ListSend

Navigate to the Email Settings tab in ListSend.
Enter your domain (for example, yourdomain.com).
Enter your subdomain. We recommend "listsend" (resulting in listsend.yourdomain.com), but you can use any subdomain you prefer as long as you don't currently use that subdomain for something else. If you already use "mail" for something else, choose a different subdomain.
Click Add Domain. ListSend will generate a set of DNS records for you to add to your registrar.

Step 2: Add the Required DNS Records

You'll be shown a list of records to create. Go line by line. At minimum, you need the two CNAME records. The TXT records are optional but strongly recommended for deliverability.

These are the settings you'd want to send to your web developer if you have someone.

CNAME Record 1 (required)

Type: CNAME
Host/Name: The subdomain you chose (e.g., "listsend")
Value: Copy the value provided by ListSend

Namecheap users: When entering the host/name, do not include your root domain at the end. Namecheap appends it automatically. Only enter the portion before the first period.

So for example, instead of putting "listsend.yourdomain.com" you'd just put "listsend" -- Namecheap and some other domain registrar companies automatically add the rest of your domain to the end. I know it's a little confusing, we wish they all did it the same way too!

CNAME Records #2 and #3 -- DKIM (required)

Type: CNAME
Host/Name: s1._domainkey & s2._domainkey
Value: Copy the value provided by ListSend

This is basically a key that tells our servers and the receiving email servers that you actually own this domain.

TXT Record -- DMARC (recommended)

Type: TXT
Host/Name: Copy the value provided by ListSend (for example _dmarc.listsend.yourdomain.com or if on Namecheap just _dmarc.listsend)
Value: Copy the value provided by ListSend

After adding all records, save your changes in your registrar.

TXT Record -- SPF (recommended)

Type: TXT
Host/Name: @ (this represents your root domain)
Value: Copy the value provided by ListSend

Important: You can only have one SPF record per domain.

If you already have one (for example, from Google Workspace or another email service), do not create a second one. Instead, edit your existing SPF record and add the ListSend include value to it.

If you already have an SPF record:

Add include: sendgrid.net to your existing record, before the ~all or -all.

For example:

v=spf1 include:sendgrid.net include:_spf.google.com ~all

SendGrid is the backend service we use for delivering your emails.

Step 3: Verify Your Domain

Return to the domain settings screen in ListSend.
Click Verify.
ListSend will check for your DNS records. If they aren't found yet, wait a few minutes and try again. DNS changes can take a few minutes to propagate. It can be up to 48 hours, but sometimes usually will happen faster.
The system enforces a minimum wait between verification attempts, so there's no benefit to clicking repeatedly.
Once verified, the status will update to confirm your records were found. Note that DMARC detection may occasionally lag even when set up correctly -- this is normal.

Step 4: Set Up Your Sender Identity

After your domain is verified, configure who the email appears to come from.

Navigate to Sender Identity settings in the top navigation bar.

Fill in the following fields:
- Nickname: An internal label for your own reference. Only you will see this.
- From Address: The email address your subscribers will see as the sender (e.g., events@yourdomain.com or notifications@yourdomain.com). This does not need to be a functioning inbox, but it must use your verified domain. It is helpful for deliverability if it IS a functioning inbox though.
- From Name: The display name that appears in your subscribers' inboxes (e.g., "Happy Heron Presents").
- Reply-To: This should be a real, monitored email address. Any subscriber who replies to your email will reach this address.
- Physical Address: A valid mailing address is legally required for commercial email senders under CAN-SPAM. If you have a business or LLC address, use that. A P.O. box will also work.
Click Create Sender.

Your emails will now send from your custom domain with your chosen sender