How to Use Your Own Domain for Branded URL Shortening

Why Use Your Own Domain for URL Shortening?

Using your own domain name for URL shortening adds a significant layer of personalization and professionalism to your brand. Instead of relying on generic short URLs, custom domains allow you to create branded links that reflect your business identity. This not only strengthens your brand recognition but also builds trust with your audience, as they can easily identify your brand in the shortened URLs.

Value of Custom Domains

Here are some key benefits of using your own domain for shortening URLs:

• Enhanced Branding: Custom domains make your links instantly recognizable, reinforcing your brand every time someone clicks on your URL.
• Increased Trust: People are more likely to click on a link that includes a recognizable domain name rather than a generic or unfamiliar one. This can lead to higher click-through rates.
• Consistency: By using a custom domain, you ensure that all your links are consistent with your brand’s image and messaging.
• Control and Flexibility: Custom domains give you more control over your links, including the ability to create memorable and meaningful aliases.

Use Cases for Custom Domains

Here are some scenarios where using a custom domain for URL shortening can be particularly beneficial:

1. Marketing Campaigns: Create branded links for your marketing campaigns, making them easier to recognize and increasing the chances of engagement.
2. Social Media: Use custom short URLs on social media to maintain brand consistency across all your posts and advertisements.
3. Email Marketing: Branded links in emails can help increase trust and click-through rates, leading to better campaign performance.
4. Client Projects: Agencies can use custom domains to create branded links for clients, adding a professional touch to their services.

Steps to Add Your Own Domain on clipit.link

Adding your own domain to clipit.link is a straightforward process. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Point Your Domain to the Server

Before adding your domain to clipit.link, you need to point it to our server. Here’s how:

1. Point Your Domain to the IP Address: First, ensure that your domain is pointed to the clipit.link server IP address, which is 5.161.77.227.
2. Use a DNS Provider: If you’re using a DNS provider like Cloudflare, point your domain’s name servers to Cloudflare. In the DNS zone at Cloudflare, create an A record pointing your domain to 5.161.77.227.

   Attention: If you’re using a CDN like Cloudflare, make sure the CDN is disabled and used only for DNS purposes. For example, in Cloudflare, do not proxy the domain; simply point the domain A record to our server IP address.

3. Allow Time for DNS Propagation: It may take a few minutes (1-5 minutes) for DNS changes to propagate.

Step 2: Log in to Your clipit.link Account

• Go to the clipit.link homepage and log in with your username and password.

Step 3: Navigate to the Domains Section

• On your dashboard, locate the left sidebar and click on “Domains.”

Step 4: Add a New Domain

1. Click on “Add Domain”: Enter your domain name in the field provided and click “Add Domain.”
2. Verification: After adding, clipit.link will verify the domain and a valid SSL certificate will be issued for free for the domain. Once verification is complete (it takes 1-5 minutes), your domain will be ready to use for shortening URLs.

Step 5: Start Using Your Domain

• Now that your domain is added, you can select it when shortening URLs. Simply choose your custom domain from the drop-down menu during the URL shortening process.

By adding your own domain to clipit.link, you gain greater control over your branding and can create custom links that resonate with your audience. Whether you’re running marketing campaigns, sharing content on social media, or sending out email newsletters, branded links help reinforce your identity and build trust with your audience.