How to use Gmail with your own domain name

How to use Gmail with your own domain name

Most of our users are already familiar with the Gmail interface, but using Gmail as myname@gmail.com isn’t very professional. This tutorial will show you how to use Gmail with your own domain name, how to send and receive email with you@yourdomain.com

Why use Gmail instead of your desktop email program?

• You can do it for FREE
• You can easily access your email anywhere
• It SAVES SPACE on your web hosting account.

For this tutorial we’ll walk you through the FREE version of how to use Gmail with your own domain name, since the paid version setup is almost identical.

Basically,  you’ll just forward all the mail from you@yourdomain.org to a Gmail account, and change a setting so outgoing mail says you@yourdomain.org too. That’s it! So let’s jump right in.

1) Create a Gmail account

You probably already have a Gmail account, and you could use it for your nonprofit’s email, but just like finances, it’s best to keep business and personal separate.

Here’s how to make the account:

• Visit the Gmail sign-up page and pick a new email address. name.organization@gmail.com usually works well.
• Follow the rest of the steps to create your account, and sign in.

2) Create your custom email and forward it

Maine Hosting includes email hosting, with at least 1 email forwarder.
Below are the instructions:

First, login to cPanel

1. Log into cPanel (Login Instructions)
2. In the Mail section, click Forwarders
3. Under the Email Account Forwarders section, Click Add Forwarder
4. Type in the Address to Forward (you@yourdomain.org)
5. Select “Forward to email address” (you.organization@gmail.com)
6. Click Add Forwarder

Note: If you would like to store an archive of your email on our servers you can setup an email account in cPanel, or use an existing setup email account and then just create a forwarder for it. This way there is always a full archive of your email stored, outside of Google.

3) Enable Gmail to send as yourdomain.org

This step will allow you to send email as you@yourdomain.org using Gmail’s SMTP servers.

1. Return to Gmail, click the gear icon, then Settings
2. Click Accounts and Import, then Add another email address in the Send mail as section
3. Enter your name and you@yourdomain.org, allow Treat as an alias and then Next Step
4. Enter the following credentials:

• SMTP Server: smtp.gmail.com
• Username: The part of your gmail address that comes before “@gmail.com”
• Password: Your Gmail or App-specific password
• Port: 587
• Secure connection using: TLS

4) Final Configuration

1. You’ll be sent an email with a verification link. Make sure to click it to enable your new address.
2. Once you are returned to the Settings page, click Make default next to your new, custom email.
3. Send a friend an email to test outgoing messages
4. Have them send you a message to confirm incoming messages

And that’s it! You now know how to use Gmail with your own domain name!