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When to use a custom domain
All beehiiv accounts are ready to roll with a built-in beehiiv subdomain where your newsletter can live online. So while you certainly don’t need a custom domain (like your own website) to use with beehiiv, we'll show you how to add and set one up should you want to.
This article will guide you through adding custom domains to your beehiiv Publication so that they can be used as a Web Domain and/or Redirect Domain where your Publication will live online, as well as an Email Domain to be used to send your beehiiv newsletter.
Tech Note: beehiiv accounts who are using or plan to be using a custom domain must also set up DMARC authentication as an added layer of security. Refer to this article for instructions on setting DMARC up for your account.
We’ve broken the process down into these 4 sections:
C. Configure a Redirect Domain
Configuring custom domains video tutorial
How to add and configure custom domains
A. Verify a custom domain
1. Log into your beehiiv account and from the left panel options, go to Settings > Publication > 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 will 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 the domain host and navigate to the DNS records, then refer back to your beehiiv tab to add the TXT record to the DNS records. Be sure to save the new addition.
6. Once you've added your TXT record to your DNS records, refer 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 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.
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 or window, log into your domain host 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 records.
6. Refer back to your beehiiv account page and click on Verify Setup.
7. 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 record. During this time, your beehiiv account might show the status as “Verifying Configuration” which means that you may 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.
3. Choose an option from your Verified Domains and click Configure Domain.
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 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.
5. In a separate tab or window, log into your domain host 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 records.
6. 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 one or more custom domains to your account, you can 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 three dots and select Verify.
5. You will then be provided with 3 CNAME records that you will need to add to your DNS account to verify for sending.
6. In a separate tab or window, log into your domain host and navigate to your DNS records, then refer back to your beehiiv tab to add the CNAME records that you were provided to your DNS records. Be sure to save the new addition.
7. Go back to your beehiiv account page and click on Verify Setup.
9. 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.