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How do I add my own custom domain to Bitly?

Tony Roma
  • Updated

Instead of creating links with the bit.ly domain, you can set up your own short domain to brand and personalize your links. To brand your links, you'll need a domain with 32 characters or less, including the dot.

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.

To add a custom domain:

  1. Sign in to your Bitly account.
  2. Click the profile menu.
    image-001.jpg
  3. Select Settings.
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  4. Click Custom Domains below your account name.
    image-003.jpg
  5. Click Add Custom Domain. If you're purchasing your own custom domain from a provider like GoDaddy, choose a short domain with 32 characters or less, including the dot.
    image-004.jpg
  6. If you're using a free domain from Bitly. Follow the prompts and skip the next few steps.
    2022-02-28_03h49_58.png
  7. Enter your custom domain.
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  8. Select No, this is an unused domain if this is a short domain that will only be used to create links in Bitly.
    Select Yes, I used this for my website... if you will be using a subdomain.
  9. Select the group or groups where you'll use this domain to shorten links.
    image-010.jpg
  10. Click Next.
  11. Log in to your domain provider, such as GoDaddy.
  12. Configure the following in your domain provider's DNS settings.
    RECORD TYPE HOSTNAME VALUE
    A @ 67.199.248.12
    A @ 67.199.248.13
    If you're using a subdomain, set a CNAME record type, too.
    RECORD TYPE HOSTNAME VALUE
    CNAME @ cname.bitly.com

    Here's an example setup from GoDaddy's DNS Management. 

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  13. Go back to Bitly and click Add domain.
    image-013.jpg
  14. Click View your domains on the confirmation screen.
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  15. Click Manage to set up your error pages.
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  16. Enter the Root domain URL and click Save changes. This is the page where you'll direct visitors if they click or enter your custom domain with no back-half.
    image-023.jpg
  17. Enter the Invalid address URL and click Save changes. This is the page where you'll direct visitors if they click or enter a short link with an invalid back-half.
    image-025.jpg

Now you're ready to create branded links with your own custom domain!