Personal Domains for Email

Why have your own domain name?

Having your own domain name allows you to keep an email address for ever, even if you change isps. It also allows you to use different email addresses for different things and can help reduce the amount of spam you receive.

How much does it cost?

Typically under £15 for two years for uk domains and a bit more for others, if you do it yourself.

How do I get a domain name?

There are hundreds probably thousands of domain name registrars out there who will sell you one. Learn a bit before jumping in, price is of course important to most people.

Also what do you get for your money? at a minimum you should get email forwarding for a least one address preferably more.

Beware of catch all forwarding which forwards everything sent to anyaddress@yourshinynewdomain.com you will start getting unsolicited mail once the domain is live.

How do I use my domain name for mail?

The simplest way is too just forward mail sent to your personal doamin to your current email address. However if you want people to reply to your personal domain address you nedd to make sure this at least appears as your "reply to" address if not your "from address".

You will need to change these in your email settings whether your are using webmail or a mail server.

Note that some isps block ougoing email if the purported from address does not match their address. BTinternet is one of those, most who initially block will allow use of personal domains on request if one can find the neccessary part of their website or helpfiles.

Don't be talked into transferring the domain to their servers unless your sure you want to, change isps instead.