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Tech Note: In order to set up a custom domain for use with beehiiv, you must own the domain, or at least have the ability to modify its DNS settings. For more information about how to set up your host records in GoDaddy, please refer to their documentation here.
How to use a custom domain hosted by GoDaddy
Before we get started, it’s important to understand that while there are a few back and forth steps that you’ll have to take between your beehiiv account and your GoDaddy account, you should only need to set these aspects up once and when you’re done, you’ll be good to go.
We’ve broken the process down into these 4 sections:
C. Configure a Redirect Domain
In the following instructions, we will be using www.newsletterdaddy.co as our example.
A. Verify a custom domain
1. Log into your beehiiv account and from the left panel options, go to Settings > Publications > then click on the Domains tab found up top.
2. Scroll down to the Verified Domains section and click on Add Custom Domain.
3. Enter your custom domain URL and click on Add Domain.
4. You'll be provided with a custom TXT record that you will need to add to the DNS records of your domain.
5. In a separate tab, log into your account at GoDaddy and navigate to your Dashboard, then click on Domain.
6. Click on Manage DNS.
7. Click on Add New Record.
8. Select TXT record type from the dropdown menu.
9. Refer back to your beehiiv account page to copy and paste the values for the name of the TXT record here.
10. Within the Value field, paste in the beehiiv value.
11. Leave TTL set to "Default" and click on Save.
You will now see your custom TXT record added within your GoDaddy domain DNS settings.
12. Go back to your beehiiv account page and click on Verify.
If all is correct, you will see ‘Verified’ next to a green checkmark icon under that particular domain. Congrats! 🎉
If you would like to add additional domains that you may use as either a Web, Email, or Redirect Domain, you can click the Add Custom Domain button and repeat the process.
B. Configure a Web Domain
Now that you have added one or more custom domains to your account, you can configure one to use as a Web Domain where your beehiiv Publications will live.
1. From the Domains tab in your beehiiv account, scroll down to the Web Domain section and click on Select Custom Web Domain.
2. Select a domain from the dropdown list of already Verified Domains that you'd like to be your Web Domain. In this example, we have added 2 subdomains and will use the "www" option for the Web Domain.
3. Click on Configure Domain to confirm.
4. You’ll be prompted to Verify Domain Configuration and should follow the instructions in the box that pops up.
If you’re adding a root domain (yoursite.com for example) as the Web Domain, then it will provide you with an A record.
If you’re adding a subdomain (www.yoursite.com for example) as the Web Domain, then it will provide you with a new CNAME record.
5. In a separate tab, log into dcc.godaddy.com and navigate to your DNS records. Click on Add New Record.
6. If you have any existing CNAME or A records for "www" you will need to remove those first to avoid duplicates. So look through the DNS records you currently have and delete any with “www” as the host.
7. Click on the ADD NEW RECORD option.
8. Select the CNAME or A record type (depending on what you were given) from the dropdown options.
9. Add "www" as the Name value.
10. Add "cname.beehiiv.com" in the Value section.
11. Ensure that all 3 aspects are correct and click on Save.
You should now see your new CNAME or A record saved in your DNS settings.
12. Refer back to your beehiiv account page and click on Verify Setup.
13. If all is correct, then your domain will be verified, and you will see the green success checkmark under your Web Domain. Congrats! 🎉
Tech Note: It can take up to 24 hours to propagate a new DNS setting, during this time, your beehiiv account might show the status as “Verifying Configuration” which means that you just need to wait. If you have fully set up a custom domain and are still experiencing issues after 24 hours, we advise you to grab a full screenshot of your DNS records and then contact support so we can try and solve the issue with you.
C. Configure a Redirect Domain
Now that you have added one or more custom domains to your account, you can configure one to use as a Redirect Domain.
1. From the Domains tab in your beehiiv account, scroll down to the Redirect Domain section and click on Select Custom Redirect Domain.
2. Choose an option from your Verified Domains and click Configure Domain.
3. You’ll be prompted to Verify Domain Configuration and should follow the instructions in the box that pops up.
If you’re adding a root domain (yoursite.com for example) as the Redirect Domain, then it will provide you with a new A record that you will need to add to your DNS records.
Or, if you’re adding a subdomain (www.yoursite.com for example) as the Redirect Domain, then it will provide you with a new CNAME record that you will need to add to your DNS records.
4. In a separate tab, log into your account at GoDaddy and navigate to your DNS records, then refer back to your beehiiv tab to add either the A record or the CNAME record that you were provided to your DNS account.
5. Go back to your beehiiv account page and click on Verify Setup. If all is correct, then your domain will be verified, and you will see the green success checkmark under your Redirect Domain. Congrats! 🎉
D. Configure an Email Domain
Now that you have added a couple of custom domains to your account and used one as a Web Domain, you’ll need to select and configure one to use as your Email Domain.
1. From the Domains tab in your beehiiv account, scroll down to the Email Domain section and click on Select Custom Email Domain.
2. Select a domain from the dropdown list of already Verified Domains that you'd like to be your Email Domain.
3. Click on Configure Domain to confirm.
4. Click on the dropdown trigger and select Verify.
5. You will then be provided with 3 CNAME records that you will need to add to your GoDaddy DNS account to verify for sending.
6. In a separate tab, go to dcc.godaddy.com and navigate to your DNS records. Click on Add New Record option.
7. Click on record type and add a new CNAME. Then add each of the three CNAME records provided.
8. When finished you should have all 3 CNAME records added to your GoDaddy DNS account. Be sure to save your changes.
9. Go back to your beehiiv account page and click on Verify Setup.
Once verified, you’ll see the green checkmark confirming your Email Domain is ready. Congrats! 🎉
Option to update your email username
You will automatically be assigned a working Email Username for your Publication but you have the option to change this. It will be the email address that your subscribers will see your newsletters being sent from.
1. Under your verified Email Domain, click on Update Email to change your email username.
2. Type in the name you’d like to use for the “from” emails that your subscribers will see. Click on Confirm to verify.
3. Your Email Username is now set up for sending and your username is set. Congrats! 🎉
Additional custom domain resources
- Read this article for more information on using custom domains with your beehiiv account.
- Read this blog article to learn why a custom domain is essential for your business.
- Click here to see all articles on custom domains.
- Use this online tool to check your current DNS record status.