🔗 PAGE 6 — Connecting Your Domain
Connecting, Transferring & Pointing Your Website to the Right Place
You already learned what a domain is.
Now let’s talk about what happens when you actually want that domain to open your website.
This is where people start seeing words such as:
Connect
Transfer
DNS
A Record
CNAME
Primary Domain
Redirect
and suddenly think:
“I don’t know what any of this means.” 😳
You do not need to become a domain technician.
But you should understand enough to know what is happening to one of your most important business assets.
🌐 FIRST — YOUR DOMAIN AND WEBSITE CAN BE WITH DIFFERENT COMPANIES
You may have purchased your domain from one company and built your website somewhere else.
For example:
DOMAIN
Registered with your domain provider
WEBSITE
Built with Shopify
That is perfectly okay.
You do not necessarily have to move the domain.
You can simply:
CONNECT IT.
🔗 WHAT DOES “CONNECT MY DOMAIN” MEAN?
Connecting your domain means:
Your domain stays registered where you originally purchased it...
but its settings are updated so visitors are directed to your website.
For example:
You purchased:
mybusiness.com
from one provider.
You build your website on Shopify.
You connect:
mybusiness.com
to the Shopify store.
Now when customers type:
mybusiness.com
they see your Shopify website.
But you still manage and renew the domain through the original domain provider.
Shopify currently confirms that when you connect a third-party domain, the original provider remains the registrar and continues handling domain billing, renewal and DNS management.
🚚 WHAT DOES “TRANSFER MY DOMAIN” MEAN?
Transferring is different.
A transfer means you're moving management of the domain registration from one provider to another.
For example:
BEFORE
Domain registered with Company A.
AFTER TRANSFER
Domain registration managed through Shopify.
Once an eligible domain is transferred to Shopify, Shopify handles the domain settings, billing and renewals from the Shopify admin.
🧠 CONNECT vs. TRANSFER
Here is the easiest way to remember it:
🔗 CONNECT
“Keep my domain where it is, but send visitors to my website.”
🚚 TRANSFER
“Move management of my domain to another provider.”
These are NOT the same thing.
🟢 YOU DO NOT HAVE TO TRANSFER YOUR DOMAIN TO USE SHOPIFY
This is important.
If your domain is registered somewhere else, you can still use it with Shopify.
You can connect it.
Shopify currently says that connecting a third-party domain does not add an extra Shopify connection fee, and the domain continues to be renewed with the third-party registrar.
DON’T MOVE A DOMAIN JUST BECAUSE YOU THINK YOU HAVE TO.
You may not need to.
🤔 SHOULD I CONNECT OR TRANSFER?
There isn’t one correct answer for everybody.
CONNECTING MAY MAKE SENSE IF:
✔️ You’re happy with your current domain provider
✔️ You want to keep your domain management separate
✔️ Your business email or other services are connected to the current provider
✔️ You recently registered or transferred the domain
✔️ The domain isn’t eligible to transfer
✔️ You simply want to get your website connected
TRANSFERRING MAY MAKE SENSE IF:
✔️ You want domain and website management in one place
✔️ You want to reduce the number of accounts you maintain
✔️ You no longer need services connected to the previous registrar
✔️ The domain is eligible for transfer
Shopify itself currently recommends that if you’re unsure, starting with a connection can be simpler because you can transfer later if needed.
🚨 DON’T CANCEL YOUR DOMAIN BECAUSE YOU CHANGED WEBSITE COMPANIES
This deserves its own section.
Suppose you built your website with one company and now you’re moving to Shopify.
DO NOT ASSUME YOU SHOULD CANCEL THE DOMAIN.
Your domain and website are separate.
If you cancel or fail to renew the domain, you could eventually lose:
yourbusiness.com
Instead:
KEEP THE DOMAIN.
Then connect it to the new website or transfer it appropriately.
🔧 WHAT IS DNS?
DNS stands for:
Domain Name System
You do not need a technical lesson.
Think of DNS like directions for your domain.
DNS records tell internet services where different parts of your domain should go.
That may include:
🌐 Your website
📧 Your email
🔗 Subdomains
and other services.
This is why changing DNS randomly can cause problems.
📍 WHAT IS AN A RECORD?
An A record is one type of DNS record.
In simple language, it can help point your main domain to the server or service where your website is located.
When manually connecting a third-party domain to Shopify, Shopify currently gives merchants a specific IPv4 A-record destination to use.
You do not need to memorize Shopify’s IP address.
Use the current instructions shown by Shopify when you’re actually connecting the domain.
Why?
Because technical requirements can change.
🔗 WHAT IS A CNAME RECORD?
A CNAME record can help point a subdomain to another domain/service.
One common example is:
www
Shopify currently instructs merchants manually connecting a third-party domain to point the www CNAME to Shopify’s designated address.
Again:
UNDERSTAND WHAT IT DOES.
Don’t memorize the technical value.
Use the provider’s current setup instructions.
📧 BE CAREFUL WITH EMAIL DNS RECORDS
Remember Page 2?
Your domain might also have DNS records that help your business email work.
That’s why you should be careful when changing DNS.
Do NOT delete everything you see just because you’re connecting a website.
You could accidentally interrupt:
your business email.
If your domain already has email service, make sure you understand which records belong to the website and which belong to email.
🚨 THIS IS WHERE RANDOM CLICKING CAN CAUSE A PROBLEM
If you’re uncomfortable changing DNS records:
STOP.
Use your provider’s instructions or ask for technical support.
This is one of those situations where paying someone a small amount for help may be better than accidentally knocking your website or business email offline.
🛍️ CONNECTING A DOMAIN TO SHOPIFY
If your domain is registered somewhere other than Shopify, the basic process usually starts inside Shopify.
Shopify’s current process is:
Shopify Admin
⬇️
Settings
⬇️
Domains
⬇️
Connect existing domain
Then Shopify guides you through the connection process.
Depending on your domain provider, Shopify may be able to help automate some of the connection.
Shopify currently supports automatic connection for some providers, including Cloudflare, GoDaddy and IONOS.
If automatic connection isn’t available, you may need to update DNS manually.
⏰ DON’T PANIC IF IT DOESN’T WORK IMMEDIATELY
DNS changes can take time to update across the internet.
Shopify currently says a third-party domain connection often updates within a couple of hours but can take as long as about 48 hours to fully take effect.
So if you make the correct changes and your website doesn’t appear immediately:
GIVE IT TIME.
Don’t keep changing settings every five minutes.
That can make troubleshooting harder.
🌐 WHAT IS A PRIMARY DOMAIN?
You may have more than one domain connected to a website.
Your primary domain is the main address you want customers to see.
For example:
You may have:
mybusiness.com
and
but one will be treated as the primary customer-facing address.
The other can redirect visitors appropriately.
🤷🏽♀️ WWW OR NO WWW?
You may see:
or:
mybusiness.com
Either can work.
This is mostly about how your domain and website are configured.
CUSTOMERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET TO THE RIGHT WEBSITE EITHER WAY WHEN EVERYTHING IS SET UP PROPERLY.
Don’t spend hours worrying about whether one “looks more professional.”
Choose your primary version and make sure the other properly redirects.
🔄 WHAT IS A REDIRECT?
A redirect automatically sends someone from one web address to another.
For example:
Someone types:
but your primary domain is:
mybusiness.com
They can automatically be redirected to the primary address.
Redirects are also useful if you own more than one relevant domain.
🛒 SHOULD I BUY MISSPELLINGS OF MY DOMAIN?
Usually not.
You do not need to buy every possible spelling variation.
However, sometimes a business may intentionally purchase:
✔️ A very common misspelling
✔️ An older business domain
✔️ A shortened version
✔️ Another important brand variation
and redirect it to the primary website.
ONLY DO THIS IF THERE IS A REAL BUSINESS REASON.
Don’t create another unnecessary domain-renewal bill.
🧩 WHAT IS A SUBDOMAIN?
A subdomain appears before your main domain.
For example:
shop.mybusiness.com
members.mybusiness.com
booking.mybusiness.com
Here:
mybusiness.com = root domain
and:
shop
is the subdomain.
Shopify currently allows third-party subdomains to be connected to Shopify while the root domain can remain pointed elsewhere.
This can be useful when different parts of a business use different platforms.
🏢 EXAMPLE: ONE BUSINESS — DIFFERENT ONLINE SYSTEMS
Suppose you have:
MAIN WEBSITE
mybusiness.com
SHOP
shop.mybusiness.com
MEMBER AREA
members.mybusiness.com
They could potentially be hosted or managed through different systems.
You don’t necessarily need this setup.
But understanding subdomains helps you realize:
ONE DOMAIN CAN DO MORE THAN ONE THING.
🔐 MAKE SURE YOU CAN ACCESS THE DOMAIN ACCOUNT BEFORE YOU START
Before attempting a connection, verify:
☐ I know where my domain is registered.
☐ I know the login.
☐ I can access the account.
☐ My recovery email works.
☐ My recovery phone works.
☐ I know when the domain renews.
☐ I know whether business email uses this domain.
DO THIS BEFORE YOU START CHANGING SETTINGS.
👩🏽💻 WHAT IF SOMEONE ELSE BUILT MY WEBSITE?
Ask them:
WHERE IS MY DOMAIN REGISTERED?
WHOSE ACCOUNT IS IT UNDER?
WHO PAYS THE RENEWAL?
DO I HAVE ACCESS?
WHERE IS MY WEBSITE HOSTED?
WHERE IS MY BUSINESS EMAIL HOSTED?
You should know the answers.
If they say:
“Don’t worry about that. I handle everything.”
you still need the information.
HELP IS GOOD.
DEPENDENCE IS NOT THE SAME AS HELP.
🔒 DO NOT SEND YOUR DOMAIN PASSWORD AROUND
If someone needs to help connect your domain, first see whether the provider offers:
Staff access.
Delegated access.
Collaborator access.
Temporary access.
or another appropriate method.
SHARING YOUR MAIN PASSWORD SHOULD NOT BE THE FIRST OPTION.
🌐 THE BOSS WEBSITES & YOUR DOMAIN
If you registered your domain through:
THE BOSS WEBSITES
you can keep the domain registered there and connect it to the website platform you choose when appropriate.
You do not automatically need to move the domain simply because you’re using another website platform.
If you need help understanding where your domain is registered or how it should connect to your website, review the options available through:
🌐 THE BOSS WEBSITES — DOMAIN & WEBSITE SERVICES
Link button to:
📝 DOMAIN CONNECTION WORKSHEET
MY DOMAIN
DOMAIN REGISTRAR/PROVIDER
WEBSITE PLATFORM
BUSINESS EMAIL PROVIDER
DOMAIN RENEWAL DATE
AUTO-RENEW
☐ YES
☐ NO
I CAN ACCESS THE DOMAIN ACCOUNT
☐ YES
☐ NO
MY WEBSITE IS CURRENTLY:
☐ Connected
☐ Not connected
☐ I don’t know
MY DOMAIN IS:
☐ Staying with my current registrar
☐ Being transferred
☐ I haven’t decided
🔧 BEFORE CHANGING DNS
Check:
☐ I know what website platform I’m connecting.
☐ I have the platform’s current instructions.
☐ I know whether my email uses this domain.
☐ I took note of my existing DNS settings.
☐ I understand which records I am changing.
☐ I know how to contact my domain provider if something goes wrong.
IF YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND THE INSTRUCTIONS, DON’T GUESS.
🚨 COMMON DOMAIN MISTAKES
❌ Mistake #1
Canceling the domain when changing website companies.
❌ Mistake #2
Thinking connecting and transferring mean the same thing.
❌ Mistake #3
Letting the domain expire.
❌ Mistake #4
Deleting DNS records without understanding them.
❌ Mistake #5
Accidentally disrupting business email.
❌ Mistake #6
Not knowing where the domain is registered.
❌ Mistake #7
Letting a web designer own the domain account.
❌ Mistake #8
Changing settings repeatedly because the website didn’t update immediately.
❌ Mistake #9
Paying for several unnecessary domains.
❌ Mistake #10
Failing to keep account recovery information current.
⭐ MRS. GWEN’S DOMAIN CONNECTION RULES
1. KNOW WHERE YOUR DOMAIN IS REGISTERED.
2. CONNECTING IS NOT THE SAME AS TRANSFERRING.
3. DON’T CANCEL YOUR DOMAIN JUST BECAUSE YOU CHANGE WEBSITE PLATFORMS.
4. DON’T RANDOMLY DELETE DNS RECORDS.
5. CHECK WHETHER BUSINESS EMAIL IS CONNECTED BEFORE MAKING CHANGES.
6. KEEP CONTROL OF YOUR DOMAIN ACCOUNT.
7. KEEP AUTO-RENEW AND PAYMENT INFORMATION CURRENT.
8. GIVE DNS CHANGES TIME TO UPDATE.
9. ASK FOR HELP IF THE TECHNICAL DIRECTIONS DON’T MAKE SENSE.
10. TREAT YOUR DOMAIN LIKE A BUSINESS ASSET.
✅ BEFORE MOVING TO PAGE 7
Try to complete these:
☐ I know where my domain is registered.
☐ I know how to access my domain account.
☐ I know whether my domain is connected or transferred.
☐ I know where I renew and pay for my domain.
☐ I know which website platform my domain points to.
☐ I know whether my domain is connected to business email.
☐ My recovery information is current.
☐ My payment method is current.
☐ I know which domain is my primary business domain.
☐ I understand that DNS changes can take time.
❤️ THE BIG LESSON
Your domain may only cost a relatively small amount each year.
But its value to your business can be much greater.
It may be printed on:
Business cards.
Signs.
Packaging.
Advertisements.
Receipts.
Vehicles.
Social media.
Emails.
Marketing materials.
And customers may have used it for years.
DON’T TREAT YOUR DOMAIN LIKE A RANDOM SUBSCRIPTION.
Know where it is.
Know who controls it.
Know when it renews.
And make sure it always points where you intend it to go.
➡️ NEXT: BUSINESS BRANDING BASICS
Now that we've handled the technical foundation of your online presence, we're moving into what people actually see and remember about your business.
On the next page, we'll talk about:
Business names.
Logos.
Colors.
Fonts.
Your brand voice.
Consistency.
Personal branding.
Rebranding.
And why:
YOUR BRAND IS MUCH MORE THAN YOUR LOGO.
← PAGE 5: SHOPIFY — GETTING STARTED
🏠 ONLINE BUSINESS HOME
PAGE 7: BUSINESS BRANDING BASICS →
⚠️ IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER
This information is provided for general educational purposes only.
Domain providers, Shopify requirements, DNS settings, transfer eligibility, connection procedures and technical values can change. Always follow the current instructions provided by your domain registrar and website platform when connecting or transferring a domain.
Incorrect DNS changes can interrupt website or email service. If you're unsure which records should be changed, contact the appropriate provider or qualified technical professional before making changes.