Integrating Mailgun with your DNS manager is crucial for businesses looking to enhance their email deliverability and maintain control over their email campaigns. By properly setting up Mailgun, you ensure your emails reach your recipients' inboxes, helping you maintain a strong sender reputation. This guide will walk you through connecting Mailgun to your DNS manager, ensuring a seamless setup.
Please Note: If you're using a non-generic DNS provider, such as Crazy Domain or Squarespace, please contact their support team for assistance with adding the necessary records to your domain.
How to Connect Mailgun to Your DNS Manager
Step 1: Create a Mailgun Account
Start by creating a Mailgun account. Make sure to select the appropriate plan that suits your needs. Avoid the foundational trial plan if you anticipate high email volumes, as it has limitations that might affect performance.
Step 2: Verify Your Account
Upon creating your account, verify your email and phone number. This is a crucial step to avoid any disruptions in email sending.
Step 3: Add Your Domain in Mailgun
Navigate to the domain settings in Mailgun.
Add a new domain or subdomain specifically for sending emails. It's recommended to use a dedicated subdomain for email campaigns to protect your main domain.
Step 4: Configure DNS Records
In Mailgun, you will see the DNS entries; 2 TXT records, 2 MX records, and 1 CNAME. Log in to your DNS manager (e.g., Cloudflare) and add the necessary DNS records provided by Mailgun.
Choose Type from the dropdown menu to add the DNS entry.
Here are the record types shown in Mailgun. NOTE: Do not use these exact
record hosts, as the hosts will be specific to the domain you are setting up.
Type: TXT ; Host: replies ; Value: paste from Mailgun page. Save
(Repeat for 2nd TXT record.)
Type: MX ; Host: replies ; Points to: paste from Mailgun page ; Priority: 10 ; TTL: leave defaulted to 1 hour.
(Repeat for 2nd MX record.)
Type: CNAME ; Host: email.replies ; Points to: enter value ; TTL: leave defaulted to 1 hour
Step 5: Click "Verify DNS Settings".
All 5 should have the green check mark. If any do not, check the record and re-attempt.
NOTE: If the green check marks are not showing up, you'll want to ensure that the Host pieces for each record only have the sub-domain piece of the total record. For example, if the total record is mailo._domainkey.mg.thedemoaccount.com, you would only put in mailo._domainkey.mg.
Step 6: Set Up Unsubscribe and Tracking Options (Optional)
In your Domain Settings on Mailgun, enable click and open tracking, as well as unsubscribe links, to maintain compliance and monitor your email campaign performance.
Updating the Unsubscribe settings in your Mailgun account:
1- In the left-hand navigation panel, go to Send and click on Sending to expand the list of options. Then select Domain Settings.
2- Under Domain Settings, choose your domain from the drop-down list.
3- Scroll down to the Unsubscribe section and click Edit. Toggle the Unsubscribe feature on or off as needed.
4- Click Save to apply your changes.
Pro Tips:
Use a Dedicated Subdomain: For businesses, it's advisable to use a dedicated subdomain for email campaigns to safeguard your primary domain.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication: Secure your Mailgun account with two-factor authentication to prevent unauthorized access.
Monitor Deliverability: Regularly check your email logs and analytics to ensure high deliverability rates.
FAQs
Q1: What is the benefit of using a dedicated subdomain for Mailgun?
A1: A dedicated subdomain isolates your email campaigns from your primary domain, protecting your main domain's reputation in case of deliverability issues.
Q2: How do I verify my domain in Mailgun?
A2: After adding your domain in Mailgun, you'll need to add specific DNS records to your DNS manager. Once done, return to Mailgun to verify these settings.
Q3: Can I use Mailgun with multiple domains?
A3: Yes, Mailgun allows you to add multiple domains, each with its settings, making it easier to manage different email campaigns.
Q4: What should I do if my DNS records are not verified?
A4: If your DNS records do not verify, double-check that the entries are correct and that there are no typos. You may also need to wait a few minutes and try again some DNS providers take 24-48 hours to propagate records and update them we would suggest, although it usually takes less time, it is advised to wait for that long before reaching out to the support.
Q5: How do I enable click and open tracking in Mailgun?
A5: Go to the domain settings in Mailgun and enable click and open tracking under the tracking settings. This allows you to monitor the effectiveness of your email campaigns.
Q6: Can I use my Root domain in Mailgun?
A6: Yes, you can add your root domain in Mailgun as well, but please make sure that it is not connected to any other email service like Google Workspace.