How do I configure my DNS settings to brand my Bitly links?

If you've already purchased a custom domain and would like to add your domain to your Bitly account, you will first need to configure your DNS settings.

Keep these things in mind as you choose and set up a custom domain:

• The domain for your short links must be different than your website domain.
• It can't be more than 32 characters long, including the dot.
• If you don't have one yet, Bitly offers a complimentary domain.

Setting your DNS Settings to Bitly’s IP

The Domain Name System (DNS) is what allows a web browser to translate a domain to a website. You will need to tell DNS that your custom domain now should point to Bitly.

The way you update DNS varies depending on your domain registrar. In general, the process goes something like this:

• Log into your domain registrar's website.
• Select the Custom Domain you want to modify.
• Find the section for managing DNS entries. The name of this section varies, but is usually something like DNS Configuration, DNS Records, or Advanced DNS. Links to instructions for popular hosting providers can be found here.

Depending on whether you are setting up a domain or subdomain your next steps will vary.

For a domain:

Edit the existing A Records for your site and change the IP addresses to 67.199.248.12 and 67.199.248.13. If there is one or no existing A Record, add new ones.

Edit the A Record’s Hostname to the character “@” or your base domain (both mean the same thing). If you have additional A Records pointing to other IP addresses, remove all others and leave only the ones pointing to Bitly's IP addresses.

For a subdomain (such as on.wsj.com):

Edit the existing CNAME Record for that subdomain to point to cname.bitly.com. When entering your subdomain, enter only the portion before the first dot. For example, with ‘on.wsj.com’ you would just type in ‘on’.

Note: In your DNS, you can also add a ‘www’ entry for your domain name, which you will point to 'cname.bitly.com'. For example, if your Custom Domain was 'fred.me' you'd point your CNAME Record for 'www.fred.me' to 'cname.bitly.com.'

Ex:

Now, once you've configured your DNS settings and you've ensured that the correct A records have been created, you are now ready to link your Custom Domain to your Bitly account.

1. Please log into your Bitly account and click on your settings on the top right.
   
   
   
   
2. Click Custom Domains
   
   
3. Once you've navigated to this tab, click Add a domain
   
   
4. Next, you will see the option to Get a domain from Bitly or I want to use my own domain

   If this is your first custom domain in Bitly, you can get a free domain--up to $30--by clicking Get a domain from Bitly

   If you're getting a domain from Bitly continue the instructions in this article here How to get a custom domain from Bitly
   
   
5. If you've clicked on I want to use my own domain and Next, you will be brought to a page to enter your domain name and confirm this domain is not currently in use.
   
   
6. Click Next. You will be able to choose on this page if you'd like to add your custom domain to all groups or only certain groups.
   
   
   1. If you choose only certain groups, a drop-down menu will appear and you can select which group(s) you'd like to add your custom domain to.
      
      
7. Click Next. You will be presented with the steps to configure your DNS settings with your domain host
   
   
8. Click Add Domain
   
   
9. If you are adding your own domain and it has been configured correctly, you're all set! Domains may take up to 24 hours to attach to your account and verify.
   
   
10. Click View your domains to check on the verification status

If your domain won't verify, make sure you've configured your DNS settings correctly.