Purchasing a custom domain at a domain registrar and connecting that domain to your landing page is an excellent way of ensuring strong brand alignment, improved Google indexing, and better Google Ads compatibility. Check out this article for more information on why to connect to your own custom domain.
How does connecting a domain work in Unbounce?
Through the use of a subdomain via CNAME record! A subdomain is an extension of the root domain that helps you organize different pages or directories on your website. For example, www. is a subdomain; other examples are about.mywebsite.com, get.mywebsite.com, or learn.mywebsite.com. The prefixes before 'mywebsite.com' are examples of subdomains.
Adding a CNAME record within your domain hosting provider's DNS settings will point your users to a landing page on Unbounce's servers.
Follow the steps below to add your domain to Unbounce:
- Add Your Domain to Unbounce (two options depending on subscription type):
- Connecting your Domain via a CNAME Record (Essential, Premium plans, or prior), or
- Connecting your Domain Automatically (Launch, Build, Experiment, Optimize, Accelerate, or Concierge plans)
- Enabling SSL,
- Changing the URL of Your Landing Page, and
- Adding Integrations & Publishing your Page
Step 1: Add Your Domain to Unbounce
Got a WordPress domain? Check out Connecting Your Domain Using the WordPress Plugin for more information.
Update: January 2023
We've simplified our domain setup experience! If you're on a Launch, Build, Experiment, Optimize, Accelerate, or Concierge plan, you'll no longer need to log into your DNS settings to add a CNAME record (you can still access the manual setup steps if you prefer).
If you're on a different plan (Essential, Premium, etc.), you must connect your custom domain using a CNAME record, which involves access to your DNS settings.
Connect your domain depending on your plan type:
Connecting your Domain via a CNAME Record (Essential, Premium plans, or prior)
These steps will explain how to connect your domain to Unbounce, including setting up a CNAME record.
For this, you'll need the following:
- Administrative access to your domain's DNS settings with your DNS hosting service, and
- Owner/Administrative access to your Unbounce account.
If you already have a website at your root domain (e.g., www.mywebsite.com), you'll need to use a different subdomain (e.g., about.mywebsite.com, or get.mywebsite.com) since your Unbounce landing pages can't live at the same URL as your homepage.
For a detailed walk-through, here's a video on how to add a custom domain and a CNAME record:1. Add the Domain to Unbounce
- Log in to the Unbounce app.
- Select the Client under which you would like to add your custom domain from the drop-down menu in the upper left-hand corner of the page.
- Once in the correct Client, click the Domains tab from the navigation bar on the left side of the screen:
- Click the Connect a Custom Domain button or try connecting a domain manually link. A new dialog box will appear:
- In the dialog box that appears, enter the subdomain and root domain within the fields provided:
- Need help adding your domain, or see a message about a deleted domain? You may need some assistance from our Support team. Take a look at our FAQ article on recovering a deleted domain.
At this step, you may see the feature to connect your domain manually, especially if you're working with a GoDaddy, Media Template, or 1&1 domain: Adding Your Domain Automatically.
- Need help adding your domain, or see a message about a deleted domain? You may need some assistance from our Support team. Take a look at our FAQ article on recovering a deleted domain.
- Click the Create Domain button to confirm. A new dialog box will appear with CNAME record setup steps.
- Click the Copy to Clipboard button to copy your unique CNAME record. Ensure to copy this as you will need it for the next step:
You've added your domain with Unbounce! Now, navigate to your DNS hosting service to set up that CNAME record.
2. Set up your CNAME record with your DNS hosting service
Note:
Your DNS hosting service is authoritative for hosting your DNS records. A domain registrar is where you purchase domain names. There are DNS hosting providers that offer domain registration, and vice versa, but the two services should not be confused.
By setting up your CNAME record, you will forward all your site traffic to your Unbounce landing page from your DNS hosting service.
Describing the process of adding a CNAME record varies wildly because there are so many different hosting providers.
Please check which DNS hosting service option belongs to you and follow the link from the list below for the proper instructions on how to set up a CNAME record:
- GoDaddy, 1on1 IONOS, or MediaTemple
- Google Domains
- BlueHost
- DreamHost
- HostGator
- Namecheap
- Network Solutions
- DNSimple
- CPanel-based hosting solution (Example: LunarHost, Monster Host, SiteCloud, JustHost)
- General CNAME setup instructions for a hosting provider not listed above.
3. Hurry Up and Wait!
Now that you've set up your CNAME record with your DNS hosting service, navigate back to the Domains tab in Unbounce.
You will see a Configuring message, meaning that Unbounce and your DNS hosting service are working together to try to establish that forwarding connection so that your pages can show up on your domain:
This step can take as quickly as a few minutes; in some extreme cases, it can take up to a few hours or days. So hang tight as your CNAME record propagates.
Once your domain is correctly configured, you will notice a Working and Secure message beside your recently added domain.
If you're having trouble with your CNAME record, running into errors, or your CNAME record is stuck in Configuring status, see this article for troubleshooting tips and tricks: Why is my CNAME stuck in "Looking for CNAME" or "Configuring" status?
You can now connect your domain to a landing page! Continue to step 2.
Connecting your Domain Automatically (Launch, Build, Experiment, Optimize, Accelerate, or Concierge plans)
For Launch, Build, Experiment, Optimize, Accelerate, or Concierge plans, adding a domain just got easier with Entri.
You'll need the login credentials for the DNS hosting service, and Entri will automatically configure your chosen subdomain and root domain back to Unbounce via a CNAME record, without you having to navigate into the DNS records and manually add the CNAME record.
Want to connect your domain manually without using Entri? See our FAQ to learn more.
- Log in to the Unbounce app.
- Select the Client under which you would like to add your custom domain from the drop-down menu in the upper left-hand corner of the page.
- Once in the correct Client, click the Domains tab from the navigation bar on the left side of the screen:
- Click the Connect a Custom Domain button. A new dialog box will appear:
- Click the blue Connect button to begin connecting your domain:
- Enter the subdomain and root domain within the fields provided. Click Continue:
- Need help adding your domain? You may need some assistance from our Support team. Please see our FAQ article on recovering a deleted domain to learn more.
- Entri will begin analyzing your root domain. Wait a few moments, and the DNS hosting service login credentials will appear, or you'll be asked to authorize this setup in the DNS hosting service:
- This will automatically begin to add the CNAME record to your hosting service.
- Continue by confirming steps within the DNS hosting account.
- Once the CNAME is created, you'll see confirmation back in Unbounce. Click Done.
- Allow the domain a few moments to propagate/configure in Unbounce:
Under the domain you added to Unbounce, you'll see a Configuring message, meaning that Unbounce and your DNS hosting service are working together to try to establish that forwarding connection so that your pages can show up on your domain:
This can take anywhere from a few moments to a few hours or even a few days. Please allow the CNAME some time to propagate.
Once configured, you will notice a Working and Secure message beside the domain:
You can refresh the domain a few times to see this message.
You're all set! You can now connect your domain to a landing page. Continue to step 2. Want to connect your domain manually without using Entri? See our FAQ to learn more.
Step 2: Enabling SSL
Once you've set up your domain, you can add an extra layer of security & encryption by enabling SSL. This will provide an additional security layer, protecting visitors interacting with your landing page.
You can enable SSL (HTTPS) on all Unbounce domains connected via CNAME in a few easy steps.
- Navigate to the Domains tab on the left-hand side of the Unbounce platform.
- Toggle the Force' HTTPS' on all non-WordPress domains button on the top-right corner of the Domains page:
Check out our documentation for more information about securing your pages with SSL, and some best practices to ensure that your page content is secure: How Do I Secure my Landing Page Domain with SSL?
Enabling SSL on WordPress domains must be set up outside of Unbounce. Follow our documentation for more insight on enabling SSL on WordPress domains.
Step 3: Changing the URL of Your Landing Page
Follow the steps below to change the URL of your landing page to include your newly added custom domain:
- Navigate to the Page Overview for the relevant landing page.
- Click on the current URL at the top of the Page Overview:
- Click the Domain Name drop-down menu to choose from your available domains:
- Customize your page path as desired (/about, /contact-page, /homepage etc.):
- Click the Save URL button to finalize the changes.
Congratulations, you've successfully set up your first custom domain for your Unbounce landing page!
For some FAQs on changing your display URL, see our documentation: How Can I Change My Display URL?
Step 4: Adding Integrations & Publishing your Page
After adding your domain, next would be the best time to add and test integrations.
Once you've connected your custom domain, enabled SSL, changed your display URL, and added some integrations, you're ready to publish your page.
See these articles to help you manage your page(s):
Glossary
For more information about CNAME records, how they work, and additional DNS terminology, head over to our DNS glossary.
Connect Your Domain Checklist
We understand that connecting your domain can be a long and tedious process. Here's a to-do list to make your job a whole lot easier! You can download this checklist to keep track of what steps you've completed to connect your domain to Unbounce.