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How To Setup A Custom Domain

Luke Brawner
Updated

Question: Can I use a custom domain name that I purchased from a domain registrar?
(e.g., GoDaddy, Hover, NameCheap, Google Domains)

 

Answer: Yes, you can use a custom domain name you already own and forward it to your Simplecast website. 


Custom Domain FAQs:

  • To use a custom domain name at the root (yourname.com), you will need to modify the DNS Records wherever you purchased the domain. This will include editing the CNAME for 'www' AND adding 3 A-Records (instructions below).

  • If you only want to add a subdomain to a custom domain you already own and use for another website (ex: podcast.yourdomain.com), you do not need to add the 3 A-Records. You just need to add a CNAME for the subdomain name pointing to: site.simplecast.com
    (Exactly like this. Do not substitute site with your own custom domain name. Type in site.simplecast.com)

  • Every domain registrar is set up a little differently. Please contact your domain registrar support for questions directly related to managing the DNS settings on their website or contact us in Simplecast support if you have questions or need additional help.

Quick Access to DNS Settings (for copy/paste in text document):

 

Simplecast A-Records to add:
3.209.36.65
34.239.225.42
54.158.235.112

 

CNAME (Value)*:
site.simplecast.com

*Do not substitute your own site name for the CNAME value. The CNAME value should be site.simplecast.com


ℹ️ In this tutorial, you will see www.yourcustomdomain.com. This is only an example. You will replace this with your custom domain name.
​

• • •

 

How To Setup A Custom Domain

Step 1: Modify the DNS Settings of your Custom Domain

1. Log in to your domain registrar account (e.g., GoDaddy, Hover, NameCheap, Google Domains), then locate the DNS settings or management page for your custom domain. 

 


2. Edit or Add CNAME
Look for an existing CNAME record for www and click pencil to edit.
If there is no existing CNAME record for www, click 'Add' and select CNAME.

 

 

🤓 Did you know? 

  • www is the subdomain of your root domain. 

  • The root domain is the domain name you purchased . 

  • If you preferred, you could replace 'www' with 'podcast' so the URL that would point to your Simplecast website would be podcast.yourcustomdomain.com instead of www.yourcustomdomain.com. 

  • For this tutorial, we are going to use 'www', but this is how it would look if you added a sub-domain other than 'www':

Click here to learn more about CNAMEs!


3. Fill in CNAME Fields

 

4. Add A-Records  
In addition to adding/editing a CNAME that points to site.simplecast.com, you need to add three (3) A-Records in order to use your root domain (yourcustomdomain.com)

ℹ️ If you only want to use a sub-domain and not forward the root domain, you can skip this step (For example: podcast.yourcustomdomain.com). 


Simplecast A-Records to add:
3.209.36.65
34.239.225.42
54.158.235.112

  • Edit any existing A Records with Host Name @ 

  • Do not edit or delete A-Records for Mail or Email as it could interfere with your email service.

1. A-Record: 3.209.36.65 

  • Host or Name: @

  • Points To: 3.209.36.65

  • TTL: 1 Hour

  • Click Save 

2. A-Record: 34.239.225.42

  • Host or Name: @

  • Points To: 34.239.225.42

  • TTL: 1 Hour

  • Click Save 

 

3. A-Record: 54.158.235.112

  • Host or Name: @

  • Points To: 54.158.235.112

  • TTL: 1 Hour

  • Click Save 

 

---------------------------------- ✅Completed DNS Settings----------------------------------

 

DNS Settings may look different for each registrar. This is GoDaddy.

 

 

 

Step 2: Simplecast Site Settings & Design

  • Log in to your Simplecast dashboard

  • Click on the GEAR ICON in the upper lefthand corner dropdown menu

  • Select SITE SETTINGS from the lefthand side menu

  • Click the box to ENABLE CUSTOM DOMAIN

  • Type/Paste in your custom domain name in the field as: yourcustomdomain.com

  • Click SAVE

 

Step 3: Test your Custom Domain

  • Open a new tab or window in your web browser and type in yourcustomdomain.com or www.yourcustomdomain.com. 

  • Your Simplecast website will open if your DNS settings are configured correctly. 

📌 Please note: It may take up to a couple hours before your custom domain is properly forwarding to your Simplecast website, but give it a little time and feel to reach out to our Support Team with a screenshot if you're uncertain about your CNAME or forwarding settings.

 

• • •

 

Does Simplecast support HTTPS/SSL for custom domains?

Yes. Once you configure your custom domain in your SITE SETTINGS and modify your DNS records, we provide you with a free SSL Certificate (https://) for all custom domains automatically and no additional configuration is required. (Seriously!)

 

When visitors to your site type in www.yourcustomdomain.com they will see https://www.yourcustomdomain.com in the address bar which will give them peace of mind knowing your Simplecast site is safe and secure. 

 

📌 Modern web browsers do not require you to put https:// when typing in a web address, but will be in the address bar after the website loads.

 

Links to popular domain registrar help articles:

  1. GoDaddy

  2. Hover

  3. NameCheap

  4. Google Domains

My custom domain is not working

• • •

Still have questions? We'd be happy to answer them. You can reach our Support Team at support@simplecast.com!

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