Check Domain Name Availability
After you choose a domain name, check its availability. You can type a domain into your navigation bar, a search engine, or use a dedicated domain name search database to make sure its available to purchase.
Its best practice to have a few domain name options ready in case your first choice is taken. If your preferred domain name is unavailable, take a moment to think about what the replacement should be ideally, once you get your domain, you wont want or need to change it anytime soon. Try simple variations like including the or my at the front of your domain name, or changing the TLD. If youre set on a specific domain, you can also reach out to the owner and see if theyre willing to sell, and at what price.
If youre launching a business, consider buying multiple domains including common alternate spellings of your brand name, and international domains if you plan to scale so visitors have more ways to find you. You can move, forward, or point domains to ensure people land exactly where you want them to, no matter which domain they use.
Transferring Vs Connecting Domains
There are two ways to use a custom domain from a third-party for your Squarespace-built website. You can transfer the domain to Squarespace, or you can connect it.
Transferring a Domain
This is Squarespaces recommended way to use a custom domain for their websites. If you transfer your domain, you can manage and control both your domain and website through Squarespace.
Note: In order to transfer a domain, it must be included on Squarespaces list of available TLDs.
Squarespace makes transferring a domain super simple. Just visit this site and follow the prompts.
Connecting a Domain
Sometimes, users want to keep their domain name with their current third-party provider, yet still use it for their Squarespace site. This is possible by connecting your domain. Just note: youll have to manage your domain and website on each separate platform.
If you choose to go this route, heres how youd accomplish it:
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In the Home Menu of your Squarespace website, click Settings, then clickDomains.
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Enter the fulldomain nameyouâreconnectingin theDomain Namefield, then click Continue.
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Select yourdomainprovider from the drop-down menu
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Then clickConnect Domain.
Transfer Domain Name To Reg Names
To transfer your domain to our registrar, you need to make sure you stick to the following steps:
Were going to elaborate on each of the steps below to make the entire process easier for you.
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Here Are Some Facts That I Wish I Had Known About Domain Selection Several Years Ago:
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When you register a business, the name you chose, as well as your location, become public record.
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When you search for a URLs availability on GoDaddy or Google, those searches also become publicly available information.
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Right now, there are thousands of humans and robots combing these public records and snatching up the corresponding domain URLs before you can get around to buying them at a reasonable price.
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Domain selection can have a huge effect on your websites search performance.
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Can I Remove The Www From My Domain
Yes. You can remove the “www” from your domain.
You can only remove the “www” from a Squarespace domain you already registered, and it must be set as your primary domain.
Unless you’re absolutely sure that you want to only display your naked domain, this isn’t always necessary. Without changing any settings, visitors can find your site with or without typing “www” before it. If they type “yourdomain.com,” they’ll be taken to your domain, and the “www.yourdomain.com” will appear. This is a fairly standard practice across the internet.
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The Difference Between Web Hosting & Domain Hosting
In order to understand how your Squarespace website operates, you first need to understand the difference between web hosting and domain hosting.
Web Hosting
Imagine for a second that your web content is a person. A web host would be that persons home a place for them to live and exist. So, for example, if you build a Squarespace website, then Squarespace is your web host. They allow your website to essentially live on their servers.
Domain Hosting
Now, think of domains as the address to your websites home. Domains help users locate your website. Domains are the www.yourdomain.com for your site.
All Squarespace websites are assigned a domain when theyre created, and it usually looks something like www.yoursite.squarespace.com. However, if you want to remove the .squarespace.com then you can buy custom domains from several online domain sites like GoDaddy or Hover. Those third-party sites then become your domain host.
Once you own the custom domain you want, you can transfer or connect it to Squarespace.
This is what well dive into next:
Transfer Status Error Messages
If your domain displays an error message, you can clear it depending on the message:
- Domain is lockedâ This message displays if the domain is locked, which blocks the transfer. To fix the issue, log into your domain provider and unlock the domain. After unlocking the domain, this message will clear.
- â This message displays if your domain provider rejected the authorization code you entered in Step 3. To fix the issue, ensure the authorization code is correct, enter it in the error messageâs text field, then click Submit. We suggest copying and pasting the code for accuracy. After entering the correct authorization code, this message will clear.
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Squarespace Now Sells You Domain Names Directly So You Can Sidestep Godaddy
Website builder Squarespace is adding an extra string to its bow today with the launch of Squarespace Domains, a service that helps users procure more than 200 top-level domain names, priced from $20 to $70 a year.
Founded in 2004, Squarespace has built a solid reputation in the creative realm, with a DIY platform for building and hosting websites and a content-management system for bloggers. And from today, anyone can search for their preferred domain across a multitude of TLDs, including .academy, .camera, .pizza, .plumbing, and more.
Squarespace is also touting WHOIS Privacy as a free add-on for subscribers. This means that when you register a domain name, your personal details will automatically be hidden in the WHOIS public database, something that GoDaddy and other providers charge for. Other perks include a beautiful ad-free parking page, and will soon include SSL certificates and free domain-name transfers.
This move pits Squarespace against some major competitors, oldies such as GoDaddy, as well as relative newcomers, like Google, which offers a similar service in the U.S.
In many ways, its surprising the New York-based company has not offered domain name registration as part of its package before now, though historically, the company has offered a free domain as part of a Squarespace annual subscription. It certainly makes sense rather than having to mess around with different vendors, you can now do everything from within the one platform.
Squarespace Domain Downgrades Cancellations & Refunds
The general rule with Squarespace is that if you fail to make your payments, you get 45 days before the domain is rereleased to the registrar. That means you wont be able to use it any longer, unless you buy it again and no one else has bought it before you.
If you downgrade from an annual plan to monthly billing, your free domain will expire at the end of the yearly billing cycle. For refunds, you get a 5 day grace period, but after that you cant get money back on a bought domain.
Deleting your Squarespace site gives you the option to renew your domain, or let it expire. You can also transfer a domain you bought with Squarespace to another provider.
In short, Squarespace is pretty accommodating if you leave their service. Thats always a nice surprise with website builders.
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What Is Web Hosting
Web hosting is a kind of warehouse that stores all the information on your site: pictures, music, video, texts, product cards, descriptions, prices – all the materials that you fill out the site with. All Squarespace sites are hosted on servers, much like store merchandise is placed on store shelves by sellers.
Connecting And Transferring Domains To Squarespace
If youve already bought a domain from another provider, you can connect it to your Squarespace site. It can be a technical affair, but luckily Squarespace has great guides on how to do it, whether you bought your domain from GoDaddy, Namecheap, or a number of other providers.
The broad strokes involve setting things up in your Squarespace backend, and then changing DNS parameters in your domain name providers settings. Its easier than it sounds, and you can always contact your providers support for help.
Now the thing to note is that Squarespace would rather you transfer the domain to them.
- Its easier to manage in the long term because you can do it all from the Squarespace backend
- You do need to re-register the domain, which costs between $20-$70
- No additional transfer fee
- If eligible, Squarespace will give you credit to make up for that one free year you didnt get.
Just like with connecting, domain transfers can be a bit tedious. Once again, however, Squarespace has excellent guide on how to do it as seamlessly as possible. This is important because it can take up to 15 days before a domain is properly transferred.
Step 2 of 5 on how to transfer a domain to Squarespace
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Can You Transfer Your Godaddy Domain To Squarespace
Connecting a GoDaddy domain to your Squarespace site. Your domain could qualify for one free year of hosting. Squarespace can help with any issues with your domain directly. Your domain must be eligible to transfer. Learn more about the differences between transferring and connecting or get started with a transfer here.
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Point To An Ip Address
If youre pointing to an IP address, add an A record to your DNS settings.
A records can point your domain with a subdomain or without it. Follow these steps to add an A record that points your domain without a subdomain:
Heres how that would look pointing to Tumblrs IP address, 72.32.231.8:
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One Year Of Free Domain For Yearly Plans
Squarespace offers a free domain when you buy a yearly subscription. It also works if youre using the free trial and upgrade to an annual plan. Same if youre on a monthly plan and upgrade to an annual plan.
- Once you select a domain, there is a five day grace period where you can still decide to change it. After that, its set in stone.
- Squarespace domains are set to auto-renew by default. You can disable the option in your Domains panel.
- After the first year, youll need to pay $20 per year for the domain. Depending on the TLD, there may also be taxes to pay on top.
Finally, if you want to buy additional domains, they will cost you $20 $70 each, depending on the TLD . Having multiple domains point to the same site can be useful for covering misspellings or translated versions of your domain name, for example.
About Squarespace TLDs TLD stands for Top Level Domain.Theyre also known as domain extensions. Squarespace lets you choose from more than 200 of them. The most common, like .com or .net are cheaper than specialised ones like .art , .software or .pizza .
What’s A Good Domain Name
Excited to get that perfect domain name before someone else snatches it? Go ahead and research domain names so you know what’s available, but it’s easier to wait to register a domain name until you’ve started your website if you’ll be using Squarespace or Weebly. You can also look on ICANN, the international domain registry. If you dont find a record of the domain name you want, that name is available for you to register.
Naming tips: Use only lettersno spaces or symbols. Make it easy to type and say try for 614 letters for the business part of the name. Try for .com as the second part of the domain name.
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Two: Link Your Domain
Note From Squarespace: If you see a message that says This domain is already connected to another Squarespace site, check any other Squarespace sites you manage to determine where the domain is connected. Then disconnect it from that site. For help logging into the correct site, visit Managing multiple sites.
Youll then select your domain provider from the drop-down list that Squarespace provides. If you dont see your domain provider from the list, select other. You will be able to connect your domain even if the provider is mentioned on the list.
Five: Add Your First Cname Record
On the first line of your Squarespace DNS Settings, copy the code that appears directly under the Host column. The code will be a random string of numbers and letters that must point to verify.squarespace.com.
In your providers DNS manager, create a CNAME with the value listed on your Squarespace DNS Settings.
Squarespace Note: If youre experiencing issues verifying your domain with a CNAME Record or if your domain provider doesnt support CNAME Records, verify your domain using a TXT Record.
Squarespace Note: If you dont add this CNAME, or if its entered incorrectly, the domain will unlink from your site after 15 days. If this happens, you can start over to reconnect the domain.
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Does Squarespace Own My Domain Name
No. Squarespace does not own your domain name. If you buy a domain name through Squarespace, you can do whatever you want with it. You can register it with Squarespace or transfer it to another registrar. It’s entirely up to you!
This is because Squarespace only acts as a registrar for your domain name. The registrar is not the same as the domain owner. And the domain owner is you. At least if you put your contact details in the WhoIs contact – if you put someone else there, it’s them.
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Can I Buy A Domain Name Through Squarespace
Yes! If you don’t have a domain name yet, you can buy one through Squarespace. Squarespace offers a variety of domains at different prices, so you’re sure to find one that fits your website perfectly.When you buy a domain from Squarespace, you’ll also get a free custom email address to match your domain name.
Squarespace offers a wide variety of domains at great prices. To buy a domain through Squarespace, just go to our domain page and search for the perfect domain for your business.
If you have any questions about buying a domain through Squarespace, you can find all the information you need in the Help Center. Also, Squarespace offers 24/7 support, so get in touch if you need help.
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Should You Transfer Your Domain To Squarespace
Squarespace is the website builder youve always wanted to use. But does that mean you should transfer your domain name to it?
If you already own a domain name and you want to create a website on Squarespace on it, you are given two options: You can point the domain name to your Squarespace website, or you can transfer it to Squarespace from your existing registrar.
Which option should you choose?
The long answer short is that it depends on what you want to achieve. Each of these two options has its pros and cons andto help you decideI will walk you through them in this post.
My Site Is Showing As Not Secure Or Missing The Security Certificate
The SSL security certificate may take some time to generate. We would recommend leaving 24 hours for this to complete but it should be a lot faster. You should also try clearing the cache of your browser in case older results are loading. If you are unsure and still having issues after some time, please contact us.
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Should I Buy A Domain With Squarespace
Where you buy your domain is completely up to you. Squarespace is a fantastic domain host with a low initial cost and a ton of built-in SEO and security features .
However, if you have domains from other third-party sites and want to keep them all in the same place, using a site like GoDaddy, BlueHost, NameCheap, or Google Domains is fine.
Should I Buy Domain From Squarespace
As a general rule, you should buy your domain from the same company you plan to host your website with. If youre planning on using Squarespace to build your site, then you should purchase your domain directly through them. Here are a few reasons why:
1. Ease of Use
Buying your domain through Squarespace is incredibly easy. You can search for the domain you want right from their platform and purchase it in just a few clicks. This is much easier than buying a domain through a third-party registrar and then connecting it to your Squarespace site.
2. Free Domain Privacy
When you purchase a domain through Squarespace, they include free WHOIS privacy. This means that your personal information
will be hidden from public view. This is important because it helps protect you from spam and identity theft.
PRO TIP:
3. Discounts on Domain Purchases
Squarespace often runs promotions where you can get a discount on your domain purchase. For example, they currently have a promotion where you can get a .com domain for just $12 per year. Thats a significant savings compared to the regular price of $20 per year.
Should You Buy Your Domain From Squarespace?
Overall, buying your domain directly from Squarespace is the best option. Its easy to do and comes with some great benefits like free WHOIS privacy and discounts on purchases. So if youre planning on using Squarespace to build your website, make sure to buy your domain through them as well.
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