This article is meant for those who already successfully registered a domain with IONOS by 1&1.
Do I need a website?
No, it is not necessary to have a website attached to your domain, but you will need to have an email address that uses that domain, as this will be ideal for sending. If your domain is example.com, your email may look something like newsletter@example.com
Does MailerLite provide an email address?
It is not currently an option to purchase an email address or host a domain in MailerLite. To connect a domain and matching email address for sending, they will first need to be set up with a hosting provider.
Some trustworthy hosting providers are Godaddy, Cloudflare, and Bluehost. For an email address, we highly recommend using Squarespace Domains, which allows you to create an email address with your own domain.
How to add a domain to MailerLite
Head to the Account settings page and click the Domains tab.
Under Sending domains, click Add domain.
Enter an email address that includes your paid domain, which will be used to send campaigns. Click Save.
4. Check your inbox for the verification email and follow the steps to verify the email address.
📧 Didn't receive the verification email?
If you haven’t received a verification email from us, use the Resend verification email feature, or contact our Support team for additional assistance.
5. Once the domain has been added, click on the Authenticate button. A window will appear containing Name and Value fields your DKIM and SPF records. Copy these fields and keep this page open.
How to use IONOS automatic domain authentication setup
1. Follow the steps above.
2. Under the Automatic tab, log in to your IONOS account. Follow the instructions to connect to your account.
3. Next, you'll see the DNS records that MailerLite will configure for you. Click the Authorize or Connect button to proceed.
4. MailerLite will attempt to verify the correct setup of your DNS records. You can check the status by clicking the Pending button under Authentication and then clicking Verify domain. Alternatively, you can refresh the page.
5. Once the DNS configuration is successful, the button will display Authenticated. Please note that this process may take some time.
Note: If you already have an SPF (Sender Policy Framework) record in your DNS zone, rest assured that we won't remove it or create a second one. Instead, we will generate a merged SPF record and replace the existing one for you.
Manual authentication
If you would like to access the DNS records and authenticate manually, switch to the Manual tab.
Log in to your IONOS account and select the option Domains & SSL.
2. Search for your domain and under Actions click on DNS.
How to add the DKIM record
Click Add record.
2. Select the option CNAME.
If you are using the Classic MailerLite, instructions for adding the DKIM record can be found here.
3. In the Host Name section, enter the value that is above the record value. It will look like litesrv._domainkey.yourdomain.com - however the exact value can be found in your MailerLite account under Account Settings > Domains > Authenticate or by simply clicking here.
4. In the Points to section, add the value located in the text box which can be copied directly from MailerLite.
5. Click Save.
How to add the SPF record
Click again on Add record.
Select the option SPF(TXT).
3. In the Host name field, enter @.
4. In the Value field, paste the SPF value that is shown in your MailerLite account.
5. Click Save.
🛠️ Need help? For solutions to common issues, check our guide Troubleshooting: Domain authentication.
Please note: If you have any questions, we encourage reaching out directly to the support team of your hosting provider for better assistance.
In this case, IONOS support page can be found here.