Add DNS Records to AWS

To send emails using your private domain name, you will first need to add your domain and create a subdomain within your Benchmark account. After the subdomain has been added, Benchmark will generate the DNS record that you'll add to your AWS Route 53 hosted zone.

This guide provides step-by-step instructions for adding the Benchmark DNS record to AWS Route 53.

Topics Covered in This Article

Add a DNS record to Route 53
Frequently Asked Questions

Before Getting Started

Benchmark does not have access to your AWS account.
Your DNS record is unique to the domain and subdomain you added to Benchmark.
Once your record is created, find it under Email Settings > Domain.
Propagation can take up to 48 hours, though changes generally propagate to Route 53's name servers within 60 seconds.
You'll need an existing Route 53 hosted zone for your domain. If you don't have one yet, create a public hosted zone first.

How to Add Your DNS Record to Route 53

The instructions included in this article were developed using resources from AWS.

Sign in to the AWS Management Console and open the Route 53 console.
In the navigation pane, choose Hosted zones.
Choose the name of the hosted zone for your domain. If you haven't created a Hosted Zone for your domain, complete the steps required.
Choose Create record.
Enter the details for your new NS record, using the values provided in Benchmark:

Record name: paste the hostname provided in Benchmark.
Record type: select NS from the dropdown.
Value: paste the nameserver value provided in Benchmark.
Routing policy: Simple routing (the default).
TTL (seconds): use the suggested time. If none is given, 300 seconds (5 minutes) is a reasonable default.

Choose Create records.

After you have finished adding the record, you may return to your Benchmark account to complete the process. If you have navigated away from the records screen, you can still verify your work by checking your domain on the Domain page. From there, click the Retry Verification button next to the domain you are validating. This will initiate a web check to confirm whether the record was added successfully. Please note that DNS record propagation — once the record is valid on the web — can take anywhere from 24 to 48 hours.

If the record is not added, your domain's verification will remain pending.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will adding this record affect my existing website or email?

No. This record only applies to the subdomain you added in Benchmark — it doesn't change or remove any existing records on your root domain.

How long does it take for my record to be verified?

Most records are verified within a few hours, but DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to fully propagate. If your domain still shows as unverified after 48 hours, double-check that the record matches exactly what's listed on your Domain page in Benchmark.

What if I don't have a Route 53 hosted zone for my domain?

You'll need to create a public hosted zone for your domain first, and make sure your domain's registrar is pointed to that hosted zone's name servers. Benchmark doesn't have access to your AWS account, so this setup has to happen on your end.

Can I add records for more than one subdomain?

Yes. Each subdomain you verify in Benchmark gets its own unique record. Add each subdomain in Benchmark first, then repeat the steps above for each one.