How to Set Up a Custom Domain in useclick.io

Custom domains (also called branded domains) allow you to create short links using your own domain name instead of useclick.io. Turn generic links like useclick.io/abc123 into branded links like go.yourbrand.com/abc123 or link.yourbrand.com/promo—instantly recognizable and trustworthy to your audience.

What Are Custom Domains?

Custom domains let you use your own domain or subdomain for link shortening. Instead of sharing links with the UseClick domain, you use your brand's domain, making every link a branding opportunity.

Example:

• Default: useclick.io/summer-sale
• With Custom Domain: go.yourbrand.com/summer-sale

Your audience immediately knows the link is from your brand, increasing trust and click-through rates.

Why Use Custom Domains?

Enhanced Brand Recognition

Every link becomes a touchpoint for your brand. When people see go.nike.com/new-shoes, they know exactly who it's from before clicking.

Higher Click-Through Rates

Studies show branded short links receive 39% more clicks than generic shorteners. People trust links from recognizable brands more than random domains.

Professional Appearance

Custom domains make your marketing look polished and intentional. Compare a random shortened link to go.yourbrand.com/offer—which would you trust more?

Better Deliverability

Custom domains are less likely to be flagged by spam filters since you control the domain reputation. Generic shorteners are often blocked or filtered.

Consistent Branding Across Channels

Use the same custom domain for social media, email marketing, print materials, and anywhere else you share links. Consistency builds trust.

Own Your Link Data

With your own domain, you're not dependent on a third-party shortener's domain. If you ever switch platforms, your branded domain stays with you.

Custom Domain Types

Subdomain (Recommended)

Use a subdomain of your main domain for short links.

Examples:

• go.yourbrand.com
• link.yourbrand.com
• get.yourbrand.com
• try.yourbrand.com

Benefits:

• Doesn't interfere with your main website
• Easy to set up with simple DNS changes
• Can use multiple subdomains for different purposes
• Keeps your main domain clean

Best for: Most users, brands with existing websites, marketing teams

Root Domain

Use a separate domain dedicated entirely to link shortening.

Examples:

• yourbrand.link
• yourbrand.co
• getbrand.com

Benefits:

• Shortest possible links
• Dedicated domain for link tracking
• Can use creative domain extensions (.link, .click, .to)

Best for: Large brands, companies wanting ultra-short links, specialized link shortening operations

Prerequisites

Before setting up a custom domain, make sure you have:

• A domain you own: You need access to a domain's DNS settings
• DNS management access: Ability to add/edit DNS records (CNAME)
• Active UseClick account: Custom domains available on all plans
• 10 minutes: Setup is quick and automated

How UseClick Custom Domains Work

UseClick uses Vercel Domains API for fully automatic custom domain setup—enterprise-grade technology trusted by professional platforms worldwide.

Automatic SSL Provisioning

Unlike other platforms that require manual SSL setup or validation loops, UseClick automatically provisions SSL certificates in less than 5 seconds after DNS verification. No manual work needed!

The Complete Flow

1. You add your subdomain in UseClick dashboard
2. You create a CNAME DNS record pointing to cname.vercel-dns.com
3. You click "Verify DNS" in the dashboard
4. UseClick automatically checks DNS propagation
5. Vercel API provisions SSL certificate (under 5 seconds)
6. Your domain is ready with HTTPS immediately

Result: Fully working custom domain with HTTPS in minutes, not hours or days!

Step-by-Step Setup Guide

Step 1: Choose Your Subdomain

First, decide what subdomain you want to use. Popular choices:

• go - Short and action-oriented (go.yourbrand.com)
• link - Clear purpose (link.yourbrand.com)
• get - Great for offers (get.yourbrand.com)
• try - Perfect for trials (try.yourbrand.com)
• join - Community focused (join.yourbrand.com)

Step 2: Add Domain in UseClick Dashboard

1. Log into your UseClick dashboard
2. Navigate to Settings → Domains (or Dashboard → Domains)
3. Click "Add Domain"
4. Enter your chosen subdomain (e.g., go.yourbrand.com)
5. Click "Add Domain"

UseClick will display DNS configuration instructions specific to your domain.

Step 3: Configure DNS Records

Now you need to add a CNAME record to your domain's DNS settings. This tells the internet that your subdomain should point to UseClick's servers.

DNS Record Details:

• Type: CNAME
• Name/Host: go (or your chosen subdomain)
• Target/Value: cname.vercel-dns.com
• TTL: 86400 (or Auto/Default)

Visual Example:

Type	Name	Target/Value	TTL
CNAME	go	cname.vercel-dns.com	86400

The exact steps to add this record depend on your DNS provider. See the DNS Provider Guides section below for specific instructions.

Step 4: Verify DNS Configuration

1. After adding the DNS record, return to the UseClick dashboard
2. Find your domain in the domains list
3. Click "Verify DNS"
4. UseClick will check if the DNS record is properly configured

What happens during verification:

• UseClick queries DNS servers for your CNAME record
• Verifies it points to the correct target
• Calls Vercel API to add the domain
• Vercel automatically provisions an SSL certificate
• Domain status updates to "Active"

Step 5: Test Your Custom Domain

1. Create a new short link using your custom domain
2. Copy the short link
3. Open it in a new browser tab
4. Verify it redirects to your destination URL
5. Check that the browser shows a secure padlock (HTTPS)

Success! Your custom domain is now fully set up and ready to use.

DNS Provider Setup Guides

Here are step-by-step instructions for popular DNS providers:

Cloudflare

1. Log into your Cloudflare account
2. Select your domain
3. Go to DNS → Records
4. Click "Add record"
5. Type: CNAME
6. Name: go (your subdomain)
7. Target: cname.vercel-dns.com
8. Proxy status: DNS only (gray cloud, not orange)
9. Click "Save"

GoDaddy

1. Log into your GoDaddy account
2. Go to My Products → DNS
3. Find your domain and click "DNS"
4. Scroll to Records section
5. Click "Add"
6. Type: CNAME
7. Name: go
8. Value: cname.vercel-dns.com
9. TTL: 1 Hour (or default)
10. Click "Save"

Namecheap

1. Log into your Namecheap account
2. Go to Domain List
3. Click "Manage" next to your domain
4. Go to Advanced DNS tab
5. Click "Add New Record"
6. Type: CNAME Record
7. Host: go
8. Value: cname.vercel-dns.com
9. TTL: Automatic
10. Click the green checkmark to save

Google Domains (now Squarespace)

1. Log into Google Domains/Squarespace
2. Select your domain
3. Go to DNS settings
4. Scroll to Custom resource records
5. Name: go
6. Type: CNAME
7. Data: cname.vercel-dns.com
8. TTL: Leave default
9. Click "Add"

Other DNS Providers

The process is similar for all DNS providers:

1. Log into your DNS provider's control panel
2. Find the DNS management or DNS records section
3. Add a new CNAME record
4. Set the name/host to your subdomain (e.g., go)
5. Set the target/value to cname.vercel-dns.com
6. Save the record

Using Your Custom Domain

Creating Links with Custom Domains

Once your custom domain is verified, you can use it for new links:

1. Click "Create Link" in your dashboard
2. Enter your destination URL
3. In the Domain dropdown, select your custom domain
4. Enter your custom slug or let UseClick generate one
5. Click "Create"

Your link will be created as go.yourbrand.com/your-slug

Setting a Default Domain

You can set a custom domain as your default so all new links use it automatically:

1. Go to Settings → Domains
2. Find your custom domain
3. Click "Set as Default"

Now all new links will automatically use your custom domain unless you manually choose a different one.

Updating Existing Links

You can change existing links to use your custom domain:

1. Find the link in your dashboard
2. Click the edit/pencil icon
3. Change the domain dropdown to your custom domain
4. Update the slug if needed
5. Click "Save"

SSL/HTTPS Configuration

UseClick automatically handles all SSL certificate provisioning and renewal. You don't need to do anything!

How Automatic SSL Works

• Instant provisioning: SSL certificate issued in under 5 seconds after DNS verification
• Auto-renewal: Certificates automatically renewed before expiration
• No validation loops: Unlike some platforms, there's no Error 1001 or endless validation
• Always HTTPS: All custom domain links automatically use HTTPS

Certificate Provider: Let's Encrypt (trusted by all major browsers)

Checking SSL Status

1. Open a link using your custom domain
2. Check for the padlock icon in your browser's address bar
3. Click the padlock to view certificate details
4. Verify it shows a valid certificate

Best Practices

Choosing Subdomains

• Keep it short: go, get, try are better than shortlinks
• Make it memorable: Easy to type and remember
• Action-oriented: Use verbs that encourage clicking
• Avoid numbers/hyphens: They're harder to communicate verbally

Domain Organization

• Multiple subdomains: Use different subdomains for different purposes (e.g., go for general, try for trials)
• Department-specific: sales.brand.com, support.brand.com
• Campaign-specific: promo.brand.com for promotional campaigns

Link Slug Conventions

• Be descriptive: go.brand.com/summer-sale instead of go.brand.com/xyz
• Use lowercase: Easier to type and looks cleaner
• Hyphens for spaces: new-product not new_product or newproduct
• Keep them short: Defeats the purpose if slugs are too long

Monitoring & Maintenance

• Regular checks: Periodically verify your domain is working
• Monitor analytics: Track which domains/links perform best
• Update DNS carefully: Always test changes in development first
• Document setup: Keep records of your DNS configuration

Troubleshooting Common Issues

DNS Verification Fails

Problem: "DNS not configured correctly" error when verifying.

Solutions:

• Wait longer: DNS propagation can take up to 48 hours (usually 5-30 minutes)
• Check CNAME target: Ensure it's exactly cname.vercel-dns.com (no trailing dots)
• Verify subdomain: Make sure you entered the right subdomain in both UseClick and DNS
• Disable proxy: If using Cloudflare, turn off the proxy (gray cloud)
• Remove conflicting records: Delete any A or AAAA records for the same subdomain
• Use DNS checker: Use dnschecker.org to verify propagation

SSL Certificate Not Working

Problem: Browser shows "Not Secure" or certificate errors.

Solutions:

• Wait a few minutes: SSL provisioning happens automatically but may take 1-5 minutes
• Verify DNS first: SSL won't provision until DNS is correctly configured
• Check domain status: In UseClick dashboard, domain should show "Active" with SSL
• Clear browser cache: Hard refresh (Ctrl+Shift+R or Cmd+Shift+R)
• Try incognito mode: Test in a private browser window

Links Not Redirecting

Problem: Custom domain links show errors or don't redirect.

Solutions:

• Verify domain is active: Check domain status in dashboard
• Check slug exists: Make sure you created a link with that slug
• Wait for propagation: If just set up, wait 5-30 minutes
• Test with different slug: Try creating a new test link
• Check destination URL: Ensure your target URL is valid and accessible

Domain Stuck in "Pending" Status

Problem: Domain shows "Pending" for extended period.

Solutions:

• Click "Verify DNS" again: Manually trigger verification
• Check DNS records: Verify CNAME is correct in your DNS provider
• Wait for DNS propagation: Can take up to 48 hours in rare cases
• Contact support: If stuck for over 48 hours, reach out for help

Cloudflare Proxy Enabled (Error)

Problem: Using Cloudflare with proxy enabled (orange cloud).

Solution:

1. Log into Cloudflare
2. Go to DNS settings
3. Find your CNAME record
4. Click the orange cloud to turn it gray (DNS only)
5. Save changes
6. Return to UseClick and verify again

TTL Too High

Problem: Changes not appearing due to long TTL (Time To Live).

Solution:

• Lower TTL: Set to 300-3600 seconds (5 minutes to 1 hour)
• Wait out old TTL: If you just changed it, wait for the old TTL period to expire
• Flush DNS cache: Run ipconfig /flushdns (Windows) or sudo dscacheutil -flushcache (Mac)

Advanced Features

Multiple Custom Domains

You can add multiple custom domains to your UseClick account:

• Different brands: Separate domains for different brands or products
• Testing: One for production, one for testing
• Campaigns: Dedicated domains for specific campaigns
• Geographic: Different domains for different countries/regions

Domain-Level Analytics

Track performance by custom domain:

• View clicks per domain
• Compare performance across different branded domains
• See which domain has the highest CTR
• Optimize your domain strategy based on data

Link in Bio with Custom Domains

You can use custom domains for your Link in Bio pages too:

1. Set up a custom domain
2. Go to your Link in Bio settings
3. Select your custom domain
4. Your bio page URL becomes: go.yourbrand.com/b/yourname

Geo-Targeting with Custom Domains

Combine custom domains with geo-targeting for powerful campaigns:

• Use regional subdomains: us.brand.com, uk.brand.com
• Or use geo-targeting on a single custom domain
• Track performance by region and domain

Domain Management

Editing Custom Domains

You can update domain settings:

1. Go to Settings → Domains
2. Find your domain
3. Click edit/settings icon
4. Update default domain status or other settings
5. Save changes

Removing Custom Domains

To remove a custom domain:

1. Go to Settings → Domains
2. Find the domain to remove
3. Click delete/trash icon
4. Confirm deletion

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to purchase a new domain?

No! You can use a subdomain of your existing domain (like go.yourdomain.com). No need to buy a new domain unless you want to.

How long does setup take?

DNS configuration takes 2-3 minutes. DNS propagation can take 5 minutes to 48 hours (usually 5-30 minutes). SSL provisioning is instant once DNS is verified.

Can I use a root domain (apex domain)?

Yes, but subdomains are recommended. Root domains require A records pointing to specific IPs, while subdomains use flexible CNAME records.

Is SSL/HTTPS included?

Yes! SSL certificates are automatically provisioned and renewed. All custom domain links use HTTPS.

How many custom domains can I add?

Plans include: Free (1), Starter (5), Growth (10), Pro (20), Business (Unlimited). Contact sales for enterprise needs.

Can I change my custom domain later?

Yes, but changing domains will change your link URLs. Old links with the old domain will stop working unless you keep that domain active.

What if my DNS provider isn't listed?

The process is similar across all providers. Look for DNS settings or DNS management, and add a CNAME record as described in this guide.

Will my existing links break?

No! Your existing useclick.io links continue working normally. Custom domains are optional and additive.

Can I use custom domains with Link in Bio?

Yes! Set up a custom domain, then select it in your Link in Bio settings.

Do I need technical knowledge?

Basic DNS knowledge helps, but our guides walk you through everything step-by-step. If you can log into your domain registrar, you can set this up.

What happens if DNS propagation fails?

Wait 24-48 hours for full global propagation. Use dnschecker.org to check propagation status worldwide.

Can I use the same domain with other services?

As long as you use different subdomains, yes. For example, go.domain.com for UseClick and www.domain.com for your website.

Domain Limits by Plan

Feature	Free	Starter	Growth	Pro	Business
Custom Domains	1	5	10	20	Unlimited
SSL/HTTPS	Automatic	Automatic	Automatic	Automatic	Automatic
DNS Support	CNAME	CNAME	CNAME	CNAME	CNAME
Setup Time	Instant	Instant	Instant	Instant	Instant

Need Help?

If you're having trouble setting up your custom domain:

• Email us at [email protected]
• Watch the video tutorial above
• Check dnschecker.org for DNS propagation status
• Review your DNS provider's documentation
• Join our community for peer support

Start building your brand with custom domains today—turn every link into a branding opportunity!