Definition of Custom domain
A Custom domain is your very own branded web address used for sending emails, instead of using the default domain from your email service provider (ESP). Think yourname@yourbrand.com versus yourname@genericemailprovider.com. This puts your brand front and center in every subscriber interaction, from inbox to click.
Why you should care
Using a custom domain creates instant recognition and trust with your audience. When subscribers see your branded domain in their inbox, they're more likely to engage with your email.
Consider different domain structures based on your needs. You might use:
- Your main domain (acme.com) for your website and one-to-one emails
- A dedicated subdomain (daily.acme.com) for one-to-many sends
- A separate subdomain (alerts.acme.com) for transactional messages
This separation helps maintain your sending reputation across different types of communications while keeping everything under the same roof.
The biggest win? When you break up with your ESP, your custom domain goes with you, no awkward custody battles. Your subscribers never notice the behind-the-scenes switch. You get to keep all the trust and engagement you've worked so hard to build. That's smart.
Some resources we rely on
Ask Claude for help with Custom domain
Copy and paste this prompt into Claude or the AI of your choice. Be sure to tweak the context for your situation.
<goal>
Generate distinctive, memorable domain name options for your newsletter that reinforce your brand and enhance deliverability.
</goal>
<context>
* My newsletter focuses on [TOPIC/NICHE]
* My target audience is [AUDIENCE DESCRIPTION]
* My newsletter's key themes include [LIST 3-5 CORE THEMES]
* My brand voice can be described as [BRAND PERSONALITY]
* The progress my readers want to make is [READER GOALS]
* I need domain options ideally 10 characters or less (assuming most .com domains are taken)
</context>
<output>
Please provide:
* 10 creative domain name options under 10 characters (with suitable TLDs)
* For each option, explain why it connects to my content and audience
* 3 newsletter subdomain suggestions (e.g., newsletter.domain.com)
* 3 transactional/system email subdomain options (e.g., mail.domain.com)
* Evaluation of each domain for memorability, brandability, and typing ease
</output>
<example>
For a coffee industry newsletter:
- brewup.co - Short, memorable, ties to coffee brewing process
- cupnews.io - Direct connection to coffee, modern TLD
- beanmag.co - References coffee beans, magazine feel
Newsletter subdomain: read.brewup.co
Transactional subdomain: post.brewup.co
</example>
<guardrails>
* Avoid hyphens and numbers which reduce memorability
* Ensure domains are pronounceable in conversation
* Consider how domain will look in an email address
* Avoid terms that might trigger spam filters
* Focus on unique terms rather than generic keywords
</guardrails>