> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.emailfirst.co/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Configure Your Kit Account for Email-First Success

> Configure your Kit account correctly from the start — sender domain, profile, and compliance settings — to protect deliverability and subscriber trust.

The decisions you make when setting up your Kit account have a direct impact on your deliverability, your subscribers' trust, and the long-term health of your list. Spend 30 minutes doing this properly at the start and you'll avoid painful problems later — like emails landing in spam, compliance issues, or a damaged sender reputation.

## Initial Setup Walkthrough

Follow these steps in order the first time you configure your Kit account.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create your account and verify your email">
    Go to [kit.com](https://kit.com) and sign up with your email address. Kit will send you a verification email — click the link before doing anything else. An unverified account has sending restrictions that will silently limit you.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set your sender name and email address">
    Navigate to **Settings → Email** and set your **From name** and **From email address**. Your From name should be your personal name, your brand name, or a combination (e.g., "Alex from Indie Maker"). Avoid generic names like "Newsletter" or "Team". Your From email address should come from your own domain — not Gmail, Yahoo, or any free provider.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add your physical address for compliance">
    Go to **Settings → Email** and scroll to the address section. Enter a physical mailing address. This is legally required by CAN-SPAM in the US and is standard compliance practice globally. Kit automatically appends this address to every email footer.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Connect your custom sending domain">
    In **Settings → Email**, find the **Custom Sending Domain** section and enter your domain (e.g., `yourdomain.com`). Kit will generate the DNS records you need to add — specifically an SPF record and two DKIM records.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add the DNS records to your domain registrar">
    Log in to your domain registrar (Cloudflare, Namecheap, GoDaddy, etc.) and add the SPF and DKIM records that Kit provides. SPF authorises Kit's servers to send on behalf of your domain. DKIM cryptographically signs outgoing emails so receiving servers can verify they're genuine. Both are essential for deliverability.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Verify your domain in Kit">
    Return to **Settings → Email** in Kit and click **Verify DNS Records**. Verification can take anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours depending on your DNS provider. Once verified, Kit will show a green confirmation and all future emails will be sent from your custom domain.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>
  Do not send emails from a Gmail, Yahoo, or Hotmail address. These providers block bulk sending from their domains, which will devastate your deliverability. Google and Yahoo's 2024 bulk sender requirements make this a hard rule, not a preference — your emails will be rejected or filtered to spam at scale.
</Warning>

## Setting Up Your Profile

Your Kit profile appears on your public-facing landing pages and confirmation emails. Go to **Settings → Profile** and add:

* **Full name** — your real name or the name associated with your brand
* **Bio** — one or two sentences about what you do and who you serve. Write it for a potential subscriber who has just landed on your opt-in page.
* **Profile photo** — use a clear, professional headshot. Subscribers are far more likely to trust a real face than a logo, especially if you're a solo creator.

Your profile URL will be `yourname.ck.page` by default. You can customise this slug in profile settings.

## Time Zone and Sending Defaults

Set your time zone under **Settings → Account**. Kit uses your time zone for all scheduled sends, so an email scheduled for "Tuesday at 9am" will go out at 9am in your local time. Get this wrong and your carefully timed newsletter arrives at 3am.

While you're in settings, review the **Default Email Template**. Kit's default is intentionally minimal — plain text with your logo. Most creators get better engagement from plain-text or near-plain-text emails than from heavily designed HTML templates, because plain-text emails feel personal rather than broadcast.

## Connecting Kit to Your Website

You don't need to integrate Kit with your website to start sending email, but if you want to embed opt-in forms on your existing site, Kit gives you two options:

* **JavaScript snippet** — a single `<script>` tag you add once to your site's `<head>`. All Kit forms load dynamically. Use this for most websites.
* **HTML snippet** — a static embed that doesn't require JavaScript. Use this for static site generators or environments that restrict script embeds.

Find the embed code for any form by going to **Forms → your form → Embed**.

<Note>
  Kit requires a physical address in every email footer for CAN-SPAM compliance. If you don't want to use your home address, use a PO box or virtual mailbox service. Services like Anytime Mailbox or PostScan Mail provide a real street address for a few dollars per month — a worthwhile investment for privacy.
</Note>

## Exploring the Dashboard

Once your account is configured, take a few minutes to orient yourself. Kit's main navigation covers:

| Section         | What you do here                                                                 |
| --------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Subscribers** | View, search, filter, and manage your subscriber list. Import contacts here too. |
| **Forms**       | Create and manage opt-in forms and landing pages.                                |
| **Sequences**   | Build automated email series.                                                    |
| **Automations** | Create visual workflow automations.                                              |
| **Broadcasts**  | Write and send one-time emails to your list or a segment.                        |
| **Commerce**    | Create and manage digital products for sale.                                     |
| **Reports**     | View aggregate stats across broadcasts, forms, and sequences.                    |

With your account properly configured, you're ready to start building your list. Move on to [Forms & Landing Pages](/kit/forms-and-landing-pages) to create your first opt-in, or [Importing Subscribers](/kit/importing-subscribers) if you're migrating from another platform.