One of the most common questions we get after a church launches their new site is: "Okay, the website works, but how do I check my email?"
It is important to understand that Frame hosts your website, but we do not host your email.
To help you get set up, we have broken down exactly how custom email works and the steps you need to take to get your *@yourdomain.org up and running.
Step 1: Choose Your Email Provider
Since Frame doesn't host email, you need to sign up for a service that does. The two industry standards are:
Google Workspace (Recommended): This gives you Gmail, Google Drive, and Docs using your custom domain.
Pro Tip: As a church or non-profit, you may qualify for Google for Nonprofits, which provides Google Workspace for free.
Microsoft 365: This gives you Outlook, Word, and Excel using your custom domain.
Once you have chosen a provider and created your account with them, they will ask you to "Verify your domain" and "Setup MX Records."
Step 2: Locate Your Records (The "Secret Code")
To connect your new email provider to your domain, you need to find specific "records" inside your email provider's dashboard. These act as instructions for the internet.
1. MX Records (Mail Exchange)
Think of these as the instructions for the mailman. They tell the internet, "When a letter comes for this domain, please deliver it to Google's servers (or Microsoft's servers)."
2. SPF and DKIM Records (Security)
These are like security badges. They prove that the emails you send are actually coming from you and not a spammer. Without these, your emails might go to your members' junk folders.
Step 3: Send the Records to Frame Support
Need to edit this part to link to the a separate KB article on how they can add and manage the email records themselves for their domains.
Because your domain is pointed to the Frame platform, we manage your DNS (the address book that controls your domain).
We need you to send us the records so we can type them in for you.
Log into your Email Provider (Google/Microsoft).
Find the MX Records and SPF/TXT Records.
Copy them.
Email them to support@adventistconnect.org.
Once we receive them, we will update your domain settings.
Step 4: Wait for Propagation
Once our support team confirms that we have added your records, there is a waiting period called Propagation.
It can take anywhere from 1 to 48 hours for these changes to ripple across the internet. During this time, some people might be able to email you while others cannot. This is normal. Once the 48 hours are up, your new professional email will be fully active!