Adding a custom domain allows users to create branded links through BL.INK. Branded links are a great way to promote specific content that’s anchored to your brand.
BL.INK offers a few different options for setting up a custom domain name to shorten links. Users are able to set up a domain name that is already owned or purchase a new domain within the BL.INK account.
Continue reading to learn about the different options for setting up a custom domain to use with BL.INK or for information on removing a domain from a BL.INK account.
Using a Domain Owned with Another Registrar
Before getting started with setting up a domain that is owned through another registrar, it’s important to note that in order to use BL.INK to shorten links, the DNS will need to be updated for the domain name. To use the domain’s root (ex. yourdomain.com), users will need to point the A record to BL.INK so that we’re able to route the traffic to the correct destination.
If a website lives on the root of the domain, consider setting up a subdomain for use with BL.INK (ex. links.yourdomain.com). DNS will still need to be configured for the subdomain, but this will prevent the website from being impacted.
To set up a domain owned through another registrar, start by logging into the BL.INK account.
From the drop-down, select Add New Domains.
Then click 'Add an existing domain' in the top right, and follow the steps to configure the domain name to be used with BL.INK.
NOTE:
Users will need to log in to the domain name host account (where the domain was purchased or is currently hosted) to configure the domain's DNS to point to BL.INK. Check out these articles for more information on DNS configuration.
Keep in mind, when adding an existing domain, the DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to complete.
Purchasing a New Domain through BL.INK
To purchase a new domain, start by logging in to the BL.INK account. Click on My Domains.
This page allows users to simply search and purchase a domain through BL.INK. The search will return options for domains relevant to the search terms entered.
Once the desired domain is selected, click the domain to add to the card, and follow through the prompts to complete checkout. The domain will be added to your BL.INK account immediately and the DNS will be configured automatically.
Once the domain has been added, users can then navigate back to the BL.INK homepage and click on the dropdown at the top of the page and the new domain will be displayed here.
Setting the Default Domain
BL.INK allows users to set a default domain from the account settings to ensure that the domain shows automatically instead of having to select it each time a link is created.
To set the domain as the default, click your name in the upper right, and then click My Account.
From here, find Default Domain on the right. Click the drop-down and select the domain from the list. Then click Save.
NOTE:
For the changes to take effect, users may need to log out and then log back in to see the default domain in the drop-down menu at the top of the BL.INK dashboard.
Removing a Domain Name
To remove a domain from a BL.INK account, users must reach out to BL.INK Support via email at help@bl.ink. It requires work from the engineering team to remove the domain from the account. This can take some time to complete depending on the current workload.
If the domain was added to a new account in error, users may opt to create a new account for the correct domain. To use the same email address associated with an existing account, the BL.INK support team can remove the existing account to free up the email address for use with the new account. Please reach out to us at help@bl.ink for help with deleting an account.
If you have any questions regarding adding or removing a domain from your BL.INK account, feel free to submit a ticket.