Using a Custom URL

So you’re one of those lucky folks with your own domain name (URL). Fantastic! And now you want to know how to assign that url to your awesome IndieMade site? Easy.

What is DNS?

DNS stands for domain name system, and is the internet's way of mapping easy-to-remember domain names to specific computers. When you visited the IndieMade website to read this document, for example, you used the easy-to-remember www.indiemade.com in your browser. Your browser used DNS to learn which computer servers are used to serve up this page.

You don't need to know how DNS works to use a custom URL, but you do need to make a few changes to your domain's settings so that when someone types www.yourwebsitenamegoeshere.com into his or her browser, that browser knows to come to IndieMade's servers for your site.

What is a CNAME?

A CNAME, or Canonical Name, is an alias for your domain name. You'll set up a CNAME for www to point to our servers.

What do I do?

Step 1 First, make sure you have selected a Standard or Plus plan and entered the custom url (www.yourwebsitenamegoeshere.com) when you signed up. (If you have chosen our Basic plan, please contact IndieMade support for help in upgrading and adding your url.)

Step 2 Add a CNAME with your DNS host (this is usually your domain registrar), using that host's control panel. You will add a CNAME record for www to yourwebsitenamegoeshere.indiemade.com. Depending on the DNS host you use, you may be able to add this CNAME record yourself, or you may need your host to add it for you. If you aren’t sure, get in touch with your DNS host, typically the same company you registered your URL with.

Step 3 Set up a "domain forward" from your base domain to the web domain (www.yourwebsitenamegoeshere.com).

Step 4 Wait. It normally takes an hour or two, but it can take a few days for the new domain mapping to propagate out. In the meantime you can continue to use your normal site URL, yourwebsitenamegoeshere.indiemade.com.

A final step

Once your changes have taken effect, and your custom URL is pointing at your IndieMade site, you'll want to take one more step: change your default base URL in your dashboard. Log in, navigate to Website > Promote, and type in your custom URL. When your IndieMade site notifies Google and Bing of changes in your site, it'll use your custom URL.

Popular DNS hosts' CNAME instructions

Although the four basic steps are the same, each DNS host is different. We have collected instructions for many popular hosts below. If your host isn't listed here, you may have to contact their customer support for help.