How to | Authenticate your Email Domain

To improve your email deliverability and ensure professional communication, we highly recommend authenticating your email domain.

While not strictly required, authenticating your domain helps prevent your messages from being flagged as spam and ensures that emails sent through GB Members reliably reach your students’ inboxes.

You MUST have a branded Gmail account using Google Workspace with the following format: 👉 info@gbschoolname.com

GB Members uses Brevo for email and SMTP services, which work best when your domain is authenticated.

You must have an email hosted through Gmail/Google Workspace, but you can purchase your domain from any provider.
📘 Review this help article for steps to connect your domain to Gmail.

If your domain was previously purchased through Google, please note that it has now been migrated to Squarespace.
🔗 For more information on domain migration, refer to this help article.

Requirements:

• A branded domain
• The domain is connected to a GMAIL, ex, info@gbschoolname.com
• Administrative access to your domain's DNS settings, to add our 3 DNS Records.

Overview: 

1. You will need a branded domain, like gbstaugstine.com. You can get this through GoDaddy or another domain provider.
2. Then, you must set up a Google Workspace Business Starter account.
3. In Google Workspace, you will connect your domain and create a Gmail like info@gbstaugstine.com
4. Near the bottom of this help article are DNS Records that must be added to your Domain within your domain provider. 
5. If this is a new email being added to your GB Members, you must complete the steps for the GMAIL Tracking after the Support team has confirmed it has been added. 

If you would like 1-1 assistance, you can schedule a consultation. 

Contents:

1. Set Up Your Branded Email Domain
2. Add DNS Records to your Domain
3. Notify Support
4. Complete Gmail Watch

✅ Already have your domain connected to Google Workspace?
You can skip ahead and add these DNS records directly in your Domain Manager.

 1. Set Up Your Branded Email Domain

If you haven't already, purchase a domain from a provider like GoDaddy.

Setting up your email with your branded domain is done through Google Workspace. We recommend setting up an email format like info@gbschoolname.com. 

Here are general guidelines for creating a Google Workspace and connecting your domain.

1. Sign Up and Basic Information:

• • Visit the Google Workspace signup page, workspace.google.com
  • We recommend selecting the "Business Starter" Package
  • You will enter your business name, the number of employees (including yourself), and your region. Provide your contact details.

2. Domain Name:

• • You should already own a domain; choose "Yes, I have a domain I can use"

 3. User Accounts and Setup:

• • After choosing your domain situation, follow the instructions to create your administrator account and set up your password.
  • You'll then be able to add user accounts for your team members (if applicable).

Here are some helpful resources for further guidance:

• • Google Workspace Setup Guide for your organization size: https://support.google.com/a/?hl=en
  • Google Workspace FAQ: https://support.google.com/a/?hl=en
  • Accessing your Google Workspace domain settings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdJMY6bTAIY

 2. Add DNS Records to your Domain

To authenticate your email domain, you’ll need to add a set of DNS records (TXT records) to your domain manager. These records help verify that emails sent from your domain are legitimate and improve deliverability.

1. 1. Log in to your domain provider (GoDaddy, Squarespace, Wix, or wherever you purchased/host your domain).

   2. Navigate to the DNS Management or Domain Settings area.

   3. Add the required DNS records:

• • • Brevo Record
    • DKIM Record
    • DMARC Record

👉 Each provider’s interface looks different. Use the help guides below for step-by-step instructions specific to your provider:

• • GoDaddy: Manage DNS records
  • Squarespace: Manage DNS records
  • Wix: Managing DNS records

💡 Tip: Some providers don’t allow “@” in the Hostname field. In that case, use your domain (e.g., gbmyschool.com) or leave the field blank.

ADD DNS RECORDS: 

• • Brevo Code
    • Type: TXT
    • Hostname: @
      • Note: Some email domain providers do not support '@'. In that case, try entering the domain or leaving the field blank while adding this
        DNS record.
    • Data:
      • brevo-code:03a637e956d72f34f5785ea2afb0ba2d
  • DKIM Record
    • Type: TXT
    • Hostname: mail._domainkey
    • Data: 
      • k=rsa;p=MIGfMA0GCSqGSIb3DQEBAQUAA4GNADCBiQKBgQDeMVIzrCa3T14JsNY0IRv5/2V1/v2itlviLQBwXsa7shBD6TrBkswsFUToPyMRWC9tbR/5ey0nRBH0ZVxp+lsmTxid2Y2z+FApQ6ra2VsXfbJP3HE6wAO0YTVEJt1TmeczhEd2Jiz/fcabIISgXEdSpTYJhb0ct0VJRxcg4c8c7wIDAQAB
  • DMARC Record
    • Type: TXT
    • Hostname: _dmarc
    • Data: 
      • v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:rua@dmarc.brevo.com

3. Notify Support

Please use Live chat or email us at software@graciebarra.com to let us know your domain and that you have added the records to your DNS settings. If you have to create a new email, please tell us the email associated with the domain. 

Our team will review and validate your domain authentication with Brevo. Once confirmed, your school’s emails sent through the GB Members CRM will benefit from improved deliverability and security.

4. Complete Gmail Watch

If this is a new email being added to your GB Members, you must complete the steps for the GMAIL Tracking after the Support team has confirmed it has been added. 

Conclusion:

Authenticating your branded email domain is critical in ensuring your communications reach your community effectively. If you encounter any issues or have questions during this process, please contact our support team for assistance.

Related Articles:

• Track Emails & Calendar | GMAIL

Need Assistance?

For further assistance or clarifications, please contact northamerica@graciebarra.com

You can also schedule a 1-1 consultation: https://graciebarra.link/gbmembers-consultation