Essential Guide: How to Get Domain Email with Shopify

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Understanding Shopify's Email Hosting Policy
  3. Selecting a Third-Party Email Hosting Service
  4. Step-by-Step Guide to Connecting Your Email Hosting to Shopify
  5. Setting Up Email Forwarding
  6. Best Practices and Tips
  7. Conclusion
  8. FAQ
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Introduction

Have you ever considered the impact of using a professional email address on your business's credibility? Studies show that customers are significantly more likely to trust businesses with domain-specific email addresses than those using free email services. As an e-commerce platform, Shopify offers a myriad of tools and services to bolster your online store's success. However, navigating through the process of setting up a domain-specific email can seem daunting. This is especially true since Shopify itself does not provide email hosting services. But fear not, for this comprehensive guide is designed to demystify the process of obtaining a domain email for your Shopify store, providing you with a step-by-step approach to enhance your brand's professionalism and trustworthiness. Discover how to seamlessly integrate third-party email hosting services with your Shopify-managed domain, taking your business communication to the next level.

Understanding Shopify's Email Hosting Policy

Before we delve into the specifics of setting up a domain email with Shopify, it's crucial to understand Shopify's email hosting policy. Shopify excels in offering an extensive array of services tailored to e-commerce businesses but stops short of providing email hosting. This means you cannot directly create and manage email accounts from Shopify. However, Shopify facilitates the integration of third-party email hosting services, allowing you to use your custom domain email address seamlessly.

Selecting a Third-Party Email Hosting Service

Choosing the right third-party email hosting service is pivotal. Two of the most popular options are Zoho Mail and Google Workspace. Both services offer robust email solutions that can be connected to your Shopify domain. The choice between them would largely depend on your business needs, budget, and preference for specific features, such as the seamless integration with other Google services offered by Google Workspace.

Zoho Mail:

  • Cost-effective for startups and small businesses.
  • Integrates seamlessly with other Zoho apps.

Google Workspace:

  • Ideal for businesses looking for a comprehensive suite of productivity tools beyond email.
  • Offers extensive storage and collaboration tools.

Step-by-Step Guide to Connecting Your Email Hosting to Shopify

  1. Verify Your Domain: Before setting up your email, ensure your domain is verified with Shopify. This solidifies your domain ownership and secures your brand’s authenticity.

  2. Create Your Custom Email Address: Proceed to create your custom email address (e.g., hello@mydomain.com) within your chosen third-party email hosting service.

  3. Connecting to Shopify: To integrate your email hosting service with Shopify, you will need to adjust your DNS settings. This usually involves adding MX (Mail Exchange) records provided by your email host to your Shopify domain settings.

  4. Add SPF and DKIM Records: Sender Policy Framework (SPF) and DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) records are essential to enhance email delivery and protect against spam and phishing. Adding these records to your domain's DNS settings can significantly increase the reliability of your email communication.

Setting Up Email Forwarding

For those who might not be ready to commit to a paid email hosting service, Shopify offers an email forwarding option. This allows you to create custom email addresses under your domain that can forward incoming emails to an existing email account, such as Gmail or Outlook. While this does not allow you to send emails from the custom domain, it enables you to maintain a professional appearance in customer communications.

To set up email forwarding on a Shopify-managed domain:

  • Navigate to Settings > Domains in your Shopify admin.
  • Choose your domain, and then find the Email forwarding section.
  • Add the custom email address you wish to create and specify the existing email address that will receive the forwarded emails.

Best Practices and Tips

  • Testing: After setting up your email or email forwarding, send a test email to ensure everything is functioning correctly. This helps identify and rectify any setup issues promptly.
  • Professionalism: Use your domain-specific email for all business communications to enhance your brand's professionalism and trustworthiness.
  • Support and Troubleshooting: If you encounter difficulties, refer to the support resources of your third-party email hosting service or contact their customer support for assistance.

Conclusion

Establishing a domain-specific email address for your Shopify store is a strategic move that can enhance your brand's professionalism and credibility. While Shopify does not offer email hosting directly, the platform supports seamless integration with leading third-party email services, offering a flexible solution to meet your business email needs. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can set up a domain email that reinforces your brand identity, fosters trust with your customers, and streamlines your communications.

FAQ

Can I use my existing domain email with Shopify?

Yes, you can use your existing domain email with Shopify by connecting your third-party email hosting service with your Shopify domain.

Is it necessary to have a domain email for my Shopify store?

While it's not mandatory, having a domain-specific email address is highly recommended to enhance your business's professionalism and credibility.

Can Shopify support help me set up my domain email?

Shopify support can offer guidance on configuring your domain settings for email integration but cannot directly access or manage your third-party email hosting service.

How much does it cost to have a domain email with Shopify?

The cost depends on the third-party email hosting service you choose. Options range from free services like Zoho Mail to premium services like Google Workspace, which come with additional features and fees.

Can I send email from my domain without an email host?

No, to send emails from your domain, you need an email hosting service. Shopify provides email forwarding, which allows you to receive emails sent to your domain email, but you cannot send emails from your domain without an email host.

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