Guide to Custom Domains on bcz.co

## Why Use a Custom Domain? A custom domain (like yourbrand.com) gives your site a professional identity. While your free bcz.co subdomain (yourbrand.bcz.co) works great for getting started, a custom domain: - **Builds trust**: Visitors trust branded domains more - **Improves SEO**: Search engines favor custom domains - **Looks professional**: Shows you're serious about your brand - **Portable**: You own the domain even if you switch platforms ## Getting a Custom Domain ### Step 1: Choose Your Domain Name Pick a domain that's: - Short and memorable - Easy to spell and pronounce - Related to your brand or business - Available (check with a domain registrar) **Popular registrars:** - Namecheap - Google Domains - Cloudflare Registrar - GoDaddy ### Step 2: Purchase Your Domain Register your domain through any registrar. Prices typically range from $10-15/year for common extensions (.com, .co, .io). ### Step 3: Connect to bcz.co In your bcz.co dashboard: 1. Go to Site Settings > Domain 2. Enter your custom domain 3. Follow the DNS setup instructions ### DNS Configuration You'll need to add these DNS records at your domain registrar: **Option A: CNAME record (recommended)** | Type | Name | Value | |------|------|-------| | CNAME | @ | sites.bcz.co | | CNAME | www | sites.bcz.co | **Option B: A records (if CNAME isn't supported for root domain)** | Type | Name | Value | |------|------|-------| | A | @ | (IP provided in dashboard) | | CNAME | www | sites.bcz.co | ### Step 4: Wait for Propagation DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to propagate worldwide, though it usually happens within a few hours. During this time, your site may be accessible intermittently. ### Step 5: SSL Certificate Once your domain is connected, bcz.co automatically provisions a free SSL certificate. Your site will be served over HTTPS with no additional configuration needed. ## Multiple Domains On the Pro and Business plans, you can connect a custom domain to each of your sites. This is great for: - Running multiple brands - Creating microsites for campaigns - Separating your store from your portfolio - Building client sites (Business plan with white-label) ## Subdomain Support You can also use subdomains: - shop.yourbrand.com for your store - links.yourbrand.com for your link page - promo.yourbrand.com for a campaign landing page Just add additional CNAME records for each subdomain. ## Troubleshooting ### Domain Not Connecting - Verify DNS records are correct - Wait for propagation (up to 48 hours) - Check for conflicting DNS records - Ensure your domain registrar isn't blocking the connection ### SSL Issues - SSL certificates are provisioned automatically - Allow up to 24 hours for certificate issuance - If issues persist, contact [email protected] ### Email Setup Connecting a domain to bcz.co does not affect your email. If you use email on your domain (like [email protected]), your MX records remain unchanged. ## Best Practices - **Use HTTPS always**: bcz.co handles this automatically - **Set up www redirect**: Both yourbrand.com and www.yourbrand.com should work - **Keep your registration current**: Don't let your domain expire - **Enable domain privacy**: Most registrars offer free WHOIS privacy ## Conclusion A custom domain is a small investment that makes a big difference in how your online presence is perceived. With bcz.co, connecting your domain takes just a few minutes. Ready to go professional? Connect your custom domain on bcz.co today.