Connect a Domain

CONNECTING your domain name/URL to your website or funnel is simple and takes just TWO STEPS:  

-Step 1 takes place within ShinePages

-Step 2 takes place within your Domain Registrar (we recommend Namecheap!)

**Note: BEFORE YOU CONNECT YOUR DOMAIN:

-Make sure that ONLY the pages of your Website or Funnel that you want to show up in Search Results (the ones you want "google to be able to find") have the "Add To Sitemap" option selected in Page Settings > SEO Info.  

-UNCHECK "Add to Sitemap" on any pages/steps (or the Store/Blog/Portfolio) you are NOT using or you do NOT wish to be seen by search engines prior to connecting your domain.

STEP ONE takes place within the ShinePages Builder:

1) Click the "gear" icon to get to Website Settings (or click "Funnel Settings" from your Funnel steps view)

2) Click "Domains"  

3) Click the pink button that says "Connect an Existing Domain" 

4) Type your domain name where indicated.  Do NOT include "www" or "https://"

NOTE:

After adding the domain, a red box with instructions and 2 DNS Record Values will show below.

These are the DNS Record Values provided by ShinePages that you'll need to copy and paste to the "Manage DNS" or "DNS Records" page of your Domain Registrar - ie: Namecheap/GoDaddy/Domains.com,etc. 

STEP TWO takes place at your Domain Registrar:

(ie: login to wherever you purchased your domain name)

No matter WHERE you purchased your domain (Namecheap/GoDaddy/etc.), you will essentially be making the same changes. *Please see below for REGISTRAR-SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS*

You'll want to access the "DNS Records" page for your domain.  How to access this page varies by Registrar - but generally after clicking on your Domain name - look for links or buttons that say:  "DNS",  "Manage DNS", "Advanced DNS Settings" etc. 

Once you are within the DNS Records page/area of your Domain Name, take these 2 actions: 

1) ADD A NEW A RECORD  (or EDIT an Existing "parked" A Record)  

To ADD a new A Record - you will want to click "Add New Record".
1) From the drop-down list, choose record type: A
2) In the field titled "name" (or sometimes titled "host"), type: @ (or leave blank if your specific domain registrar doesn't allow the @ symbol in this field)
3) In the field titled "value" or "data", type: 34.202.63.170
4) Then click the green check or "save" button.

2) ADD A NEW CNAME RECORD (or EDIT an Existing "parked" CNAME Record) 

To ADD a new CNAME record, you will want to click "Add New Record".
1) From the drop-down list, choose record type: CNAME
2) In the field titled "name" or "host", type: www
3) In the field titled "value" or "data", type: yourdomainhere.com (actually type your domain with NO "www")
4) Then click the green check or "save" button.

**Please note that when done, you should have:

- ONLY one A record with @ as the Host/Name and

- ONLY one CNAME record with www as the Host/Name.

Make sure that there aren't any duplicate records as they may result in an improperly-connected domain. 

Congrats! You've Connected Your Domain!

TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS: 

If you have ANY issues Adding (or Editing) the A or CNAME record as described above - check 3 things within your Domain Registrar's Settings:

1) Make sure that there are NO unnecessary DNS records that would potentially interfere with the new ShinePages records you have added. Please see this article to show you what to check with regards to: DNS Record Values Provided by ShinePages

2) Make sure there is NO "Forwarding" or "Redirects" set up for your Domain.

3) Make sure there are NO "Custom NameServers" set up. Instead you'll want to use the "Default" or "Basic" NameServers provided by your Domain Registrar. 

PLEASE NOTE that it can take anywhere from 1-48 hours for the DNS records to propagate across the internet and for your site to show as "LIVE". You will be able to see when your domain is connected or not - by heading back to your Custom Domain in Settings - click on the gear icon and then on "Toggle DNS Settings" (see screenshot below):

-If the block is still highlighted in RED - your domain has not been successfully connected. Please go back and double check your DNS records entered correctly within your Domain Host.

- If the block is highlighted in GREEN (as opposed to RED) your domain should be connected. Please see below mention on SSL security as well.

Your SSL certificate will automatically activate after all records are properly updated and propagated, showing your website as "SECURE" within a few hours of your site showing as "live". If it shows as GREEN as above and your SSL has not connected after 48 hours - please see this article: My Site Says "Not Secure"

REGISTRAR-SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS: 

Connect your GoDaddy Domain - Instructions Here

Connect your Namecheap Domain - Instructions Here

Connect your Google Domains Domain - Instructions Here

Connect your Siteground Domain - Instructions Here

Connecting a Subdomain

To connect a subdomain, you will need to follow similar steps as connecting your domain name (see above) with some slight changes:

For example - if you want to create a subdomain for your site such as "coursename.yoursite.com" you would follow these steps:

Log into your Domain Registrar and get to the area where you can edit or "manage" your DNS.

Add an A record with a host name of "coursename" and the value of: 34.202.63.170

Add a CNAME record with a host name of "www.coursename" and the value of: coursename.domain.com 

In ShinePages - go to Website Settings > Domains and "Connect Domain" of coursename.yoursite.com. As per instructions above in STEP ONE.

Forwarding Other Purchased Domains to Your Connected Domain

(How to get multiple domains to all go to YOUR website!) 

If you have purchased multiple domain names - we recommend that you "Connect" your one primary Domain of choice to your ShinePages site (following directions above) - and then simply "forward" or "redirect" any other domains to your one connected domain. 

This "Forwarding" or "Redirecting" will actually take place wherever you purchased your domain (ie: Namecheap, GoDaddy, etc.) 

Simply login to your Domain Registrar for that secondary domain(s).  Click on your secondary domain and then click on "DNS". 

Follow their instructions to set up "Forwarding".   Please note:  it may also be called a "Redirect". 

You will "Redirect" or "Forward" the secondary domain to your primary, connected domain.

-The "Source Domain" will be your secondary domain. 

-The "Destination URL" should be your primary, connected domain - where you'd like visitors to end up!

EXAMPLE: 

(NameCheap example shown below - called a "Redirect".  Note: GoDaddy calls it "Forwarding") 

In the example below the "secondary domain" (mypersonalbrand.co) is going to redirect to the primary, connected domain (https://shinepages.com) 

NB! Please see our related article below "Best Practices on getting your website indexed by Google" as a guide as to when is the right time to connect your domain whilst building your site.