So, you’ve built a beautiful website using Webflow and now it’s time to point your domain to it. Don’t worry, it’s a straightforward process that we’ll walk you through step by step. By the end of this tutorial, you’ll have your domain successfully connected to your Webflow site.
Step 1: Access Your DNS Settings
The first thing you need to do is access the DNS settings of your domain. This can usually be done through your domain registrar’s website or control panel.
Look for an option like “Manage DNS” or “DNS Settings”. Once you’re there, you’re ready for the next step.
Step 2: Create a CNAME Record
In order to point your domain to Webflow, you’ll need to create a CNAME record. A CNAME record stands for Canonical Name record and it allows you to associate your domain with another domain name. In this case, we want to associate your domain with the Webflow server.
To create a CNAME record, look for an option like “Add Record” or “Create Record”. Select “CNAME” as the type of record and enter www as the name (if you want your website to be accessible at www.yourdomain.com).
Then, in the value field, enter the Target provided by Webflow. It usually looks something like proxy-ssl.webflow.com.
Once you’ve filled in the necessary details, save or submit the changes. It may take some time for these changes to propagate across the internet, so don’t worry if your website doesn’t immediately start pointing to Webflow.
Step 3: Set Up an A Record (Optional)
If you want your website to be accessible without the www prefix (e.g., yourdomain.com), you’ll need to set up an A record. An A record, or Address record, links your domain directly to an IP address.
To set up an A record, create another record similar to the CNAME record. This time, select “A” as the type of record and leave the name field blank (or enter @).
In the value field, enter the IP address provided by Webflow. Save or submit the changes once you’re done.
Step 4: Verify and Publish
After creating the necessary DNS records, go back to Webflow and navigate to your project settings. Under the Hosting tab, click on “Set up Custom Domain”.
Enter your domain name (with or without www) and click on “Verify DNS Settings”. Webflow will check if your DNS settings are correctly configured.
If everything is set up correctly, you’ll see a green success message. Now you can publish your site! Click on “Publish” and Webflow will deploy your website on your custom domain.
Final Thoughts
Pointing your domain to Webflow is a crucial step in making your website accessible to visitors. By following these steps and properly configuring your DNS settings, you’ll be able to seamlessly connect your domain with Webflow’s powerful hosting platform.
Remember that DNS changes may take some time to propagate, so be patient if it doesn’t immediately start working.