Managing Domains

When you create your TribeNest website, it's automatically available at a web address based on your profile name (like yourname.tribenest.com). But if you own a domain name -- like yourname.com -- you can connect it to your TribeNest site so fans reach you there instead.

Your Default Web Address

Every TribeNest website gets a free web address based on your profile's subdomain. This works right away with no setup needed. It looks something like:

yourname.tribenest.com

This is a great starting point, and you can always add a custom domain later when you're ready.

Viewing Your Domains

1. From your dashboard, go to My Website in the sidebar
2. Click the Domains button in the top-right corner of the My Website page
3. You'll see a list of all domains connected to your website

Each domain shows its current status:

• Verified (green) -- The domain is properly connected and working
• Pending (yellow) -- The domain has been added but DNS changes haven't taken effect yet

Adding a Custom Domain

1. On the Domains page, click Add Domain
2. In the dialog that appears, enter your domain name (for example, yourname.com or music.yourname.com)
3. Click Add Domain to confirm

TribeNest will automatically set up your domain along with a www version (for root domains) and a links subdomain for your smart links.

Setting Up DNS Records

After adding your domain, you'll need to update your DNS settings with your domain registrar (the company where you purchased your domain, like GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google Domains, or Cloudflare).

1. On the Domains page, find your newly added domain -- it will show a Pending status
2. Below the domain name, you'll see the DNS records you need to add
3. Each record shows three pieces of information:
   • Type -- The kind of record (like CNAME or TXT)
   • Name/Host -- Where to enter this in your registrar (often "@" for the root domain)
   • Value -- The value to paste into your registrar

How to Update DNS at Your Registrar

The exact steps vary by registrar, but the general process is:

1. Log in to your domain registrar's website
2. Find the DNS settings or DNS management section for your domain
3. Add each record shown on your TribeNest Domains page
4. Save your changes

Checking Domain Status

After you've updated your DNS records, you can check whether everything is connected properly.

1. On the Domains page, find the domain you want to check
2. Click the refresh icon next to the domain name
3. TribeNest will check your DNS records and update the status

Once the status changes to Verified, your domain is fully connected and visitors can reach your website using that address.

Removing a Domain

If you need to disconnect a domain from your website:

1. On the Domains page, find the domain you want to remove
2. Click the trash icon next to the domain name
3. Confirm the deletion when prompted

The domain will be removed from your TribeNest website. You can always add it back later if you change your mind.

Tips for Custom Domains

• Buy your domain name first. You'll need to own a domain before you can connect it. Popular registrars include Namecheap, GoDaddy, Google Domains, and Cloudflare.
• Keep it simple. A short, memorable domain that matches your artist or brand name is ideal.
• Double-check your DNS entries. A small typo can prevent your domain from connecting. Copy and paste the values from TribeNest directly.
• Be patient with DNS. It can take a little time for changes to spread across the internet. If it's been more than 24 hours and things still aren't working, double-check your records or reach out to support.

Next Steps

Once your domain is connected, make sure your website is published and live. Learn how in Publishing Your Website.