How to add a custom domain to your webpage: Complete Guide

Setting up a custom domain for your webpage gives it a professional appearance and makes it easier for visitors to find and remember your site. Instead of using a subdomain like mysite.pagelet.host, you can use your own domain like mycompany.com.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through the entire process, from purchasing a domain to configuring DNS settings with major providers.

What You'll Need

Before getting started, make sure you have:

• ✅ A custom domain (purchased from any registrar)
• ✅ Access to your domain's DNS settings
• ✅ Your webpage hosted on a platform that supports custom domains
• ✅ The IP address where your site is hosted (e.g., 66.135.24.74)

Understanding DNS Records

DNS (Domain Name System) is like the phonebook of the internet. When someone types your domain name, DNS tells their browser where to find your website.

Key DNS Record Types

• A Record: Points your domain to an IP address (IPv4)
• AAAA Record: Points your domain to an IPv6 address
• CNAME Record: Points your domain to another domain name
• MX Record: Handles email routing

For most custom domain setups, you'll primarily work with A records.

Basic DNS Configuration

Regardless of your domain provider, you'll typically need to set up these records:

Type: A
Name: @
Value: 66.135.24.74
TTL: 3600 (or Auto)

Type: A  
Name: www
Value: 66.135.24.74
TTL: 3600 (or Auto)

What this means:

• @ represents your root domain (example.com)
• www handles the www subdomain (www.example.com)
• Both point to the same server IP address

Provider-Specific Setup Guides

🔵 Namecheap

1. Log in to your Namecheap account
2. Navigate to Domain List → Click "Manage" next to your domain
3. Go to Advanced DNS tab
4. Delete existing A records (if any)
5. Add new A records:

Type: A Record
Host: @
Value: 66.135.24.74
TTL: Automatic

Type: A Record  
Host: www
Value: 66.135.24.74
TTL: Automatic

6. Save changes and wait for propagation (up to 24 hours)

🟠 GoDaddy

1. Sign in to your GoDaddy account
2. Go to My Products → DNS next to your domain
3. Click on DNS Records
4. Find existing A records and click the pencil icon to edit
5. Update or add these records:

Type: A
Name: @
Value: 66.135.24.74
TTL: 1 Hour

Type: A
Name: www  
Value: 66.135.24.74
TTL: 1 Hour

6. Click Save and wait for changes to take effect

🟡 Cloudflare

Cloudflare offers additional benefits like CDN and DDoS protection:

1. Log in to Cloudflare
2. Select your domain
3. Go to DNS tab
4. Add or edit A records:

Type: A
Name: @
IPv4 address: 66.135.24.74
Proxy status: Proxied (🟠) or DNS only (☁️)
TTL: Auto

Type: A
Name: www
IPv4 address: 66.135.24.74  
Proxy status: Proxied (🟠) or DNS only (☁️)
TTL: Auto

Pro tip: Start with "DNS only" mode until your site is working, then enable proxy for additional features.

🔴 Google Domains

Note: Google Domains was sold to Squarespace in 2023, but the process remains similar:

1. Access your Google Domains account
2. Click on your domain name
3. Go to DNS in the left sidebar
4. Scroll to Custom resource records
5. Add these records:

Name: @
Type: A  
TTL: 3600
Data: 66.135.24.74

Name: www
Type: A
TTL: 3600  
Data: 66.135.24.74

6. Click Add for each record

🟢 Squarespace Domains

1. Log in to your Squarespace account
2. Go to Settings → Domains
3. Click on your domain → DNS Settings
4. Add or edit A records:

Host: @
Type: A
Priority: N/A
Value: 66.135.24.74

Host: www
Type: A  
Priority: N/A
Value: 66.135.24.74

🟣 Route 53 (AWS)

For AWS Route 53 users:

1. Open the Route 53 console
2. Choose Hosted zones
3. Select your domain's hosted zone
4. Create records:

Record name: (leave blank for root)
Record type: A
Value: 66.135.24.74
TTL: 300

Record name: www
Record type: A
Value: 66.135.24.74
TTL: 300

🔶 Porkbun

1. Log in to Porkbun
2. Go to Account → Domain Management
3. Click DNS next to your domain
4. Add or edit records:

Type: A
Host: @
Answer: 66.135.24.74
TTL: 600

Type: A
Host: www  
Answer: 66.135.24.74
TTL: 600

Advanced Configuration Options

Setting Up Subdomains

You can create subdomains like blog.yourdomain.com or shop.yourdomain.com:

Type: A
Name: blog
Value: 66.135.24.74
TTL: 3600

Email Configuration

If you plan to use email with your domain, you'll need MX records. Here's an example for Google Workspace:

Type: MX
Name: @
Priority: 1
Value: aspmx.l.google.com

SSL/HTTPS Setup

Pagelet automatically handles SSL certificate generation for your custom domain. Once your DNS records are properly configured and propagated, we'll automatically generate and install a free SSL certificate for your domain using Let's Encrypt.

No additional configuration is needed on your part - your site will be served over HTTPS within minutes of DNS propagation.

Verification and Troubleshooting

Check DNS Propagation

Use these tools to verify your DNS changes:

• WhatsMyDNS.net - Global DNS propagation checker
• Google DNS Checker - nslookup yourdomain.com 8.8.8.8
• Command line: dig yourdomain.com (Mac/Linux)

Common Issues and Solutions

Problem: Website not loading after 24 hours Solution:

• Verify IP address is correct
• Check for typos in DNS records
• Ensure TTL isn't too high

Problem: www works but root domain doesn't (or vice versa) Solution:

• Make sure both @ and www A records exist
• Check if one is redirecting to the other

Problem: Old website still showing Solution:

• Clear browser cache
• Try incognito/private browsing
• Check DNS propagation tools

Problem: SSL certificate errors Solution:

• Wait for automatic certificate generation
• Contact your hosting provider
• Verify domain ownership

TTL (Time To Live) Explained

TTL determines how long DNS servers cache your records:

• 300 seconds (5 minutes): For testing/frequent changes
• 3600 seconds (1 hour): Standard setting
• 86400 seconds (24 hours): For stable configurations

Lower TTL = faster updates but more DNS queries Higher TTL = slower updates but better performance

Best Practices

1. Plan Your DNS Structure

yourdomain.com (main site)
www.yourdomain.com (redirect to main)
blog.yourdomain.com (blog subdomain)
api.yourdomain.com (API subdomain)

2. Use Consistent TTL Values

Set TTL to 300 seconds during initial setup, then increase to 3600+ once stable.

3. Keep Records Simple

Only add the DNS records you actually need. Extra records can cause confusion.

4. Document Your Setup

Keep a record of your DNS configuration for future reference.

5. Test Thoroughly

• Test both www and non-www versions
• Check on different devices and networks
• Verify SSL certificate installation

Platform-Specific Instructions

For Pagelet.host Users

If you're using Pagelet.host with a premium account:

1. Configure DNS using any of the guides above
2. Wait for propagation (up to 24 hours)
3. Add domain in dashboard through the custom domain field
4. SSL certificate will be automatically generated
5. Test your site at your custom domain

For Other Platforms

• Netlify: Use their DNS records or configure custom domains in dashboard
• Vercel: Add domain in project settings, then configure DNS
• GitHub Pages: Add CNAME file and configure DNS
• WordPress.com: Upgrade plan required, then add in domain settings

Security Considerations

DNSSEC

Enable DNSSEC if your registrar supports it for additional security:

• Prevents DNS spoofing attacks
• Ensures DNS responses haven't been tampered with
• Supported by most major registrars

CAA Records

Certificate Authority Authorization records specify which CAs can issue certificates for your domain:

Type: CAA
Name: @
Value: 0 issue "letsencrypt.org"

Conclusion

Setting up a custom domain might seem complex at first, but following these step-by-step instructions for your specific provider will get you up and running quickly. Remember that DNS changes can take up to 24 hours to fully propagate worldwide, so be patient if your domain doesn't work immediately.

Key takeaways:

• ✅ Configure both @ and www A records
• ✅ Use the correct IP address (66.135.24.74 for Pagelet.host)
• ✅ Wait for DNS propagation (up to 24 hours)
• ✅ Test thoroughly across different devices
• ✅ Enable SSL/HTTPS for security

Once your custom domain is set up, your webpage will have a professional appearance that builds trust with visitors and makes your site easier to remember and share.