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What happens if someone goes directly to my custom domain or clicks an invalid link?

Alexander Hancock

This feature is available with some paid plans

Sometimes, people will try to go directly to your custom domain or they'll make a mistake typing a link you've shared. When this happens, the link will take them to a Bitly error page.

To direct them back to your content and prevent them from seeing those error pages, set up a Default page and an Error/404 page.

Default page

The Default page is the address a visitor will be directed to if they enter only your custom domain.

Let's say you have a music business at the website erigbymusicstars.com, and you're using the custom domain erigby.com to customize links. If you set erigbymusicstars.com as your Default page, visitors will be directed there if they enter only erigby.com.

Error/404 page

The Error/404 page works the same way, but is used when someone enters your custom domain and makes a mistake with the rest of the web address (the back-half).

So, if the only short link your music business has created is erigby.com/ricedream, and someone enters erigby.com/peopledream, they would usually see a Bitly error page. With an Error/404 page, you could direct all invalid addresses to another website address. This could be any page on your site, even your own error page.

Setting up your landing pages

To set up your landing pages:

  1. Log in to your Bitly account.
  2. Click Settings in the left sidebar.
    Bitly-settings-global.png
  3. Click Custom Domains.
    Bitly
  4. Click Manage in the top-right corner of the custom domain box.
    Bitly
  5. In the Landing pages section, enter the full addresses for your desired Default page and Error / 404 page. It's fine if you use the same URL for both.

    The Default page is the website visitors will be redirected to if they enter your custom domain without a back-half. The Error / 404 page is where they'll go if they use an invalid link.

    landing_pages.png
  6. Once the URLs have been entered select Save Changes for each entry.
    Screen_Shot_2022-02-24_at_9.46.34_AM.png

Now your account is set up to redirect to your landing pages.

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.