Unlock Your WordPress Potential: A Step-by-Step Guide to Adding a Custom Domain Alias for Your Landing Page

When conducting a marketing campaign, it’s essential for every detail to appear professional. A long, cluttered URL can make your landing page seem untrustworthy and negatively impact your conversion rates.

A custom domain alias resolves this issue by providing your page with a branded, reliable link such as yourpromo.com. The best part is that you don’t need to set up a new WordPress site to implement one.

In this guide, we will walk you through the process of adding a custom domain alias for your WordPress landing page.

Why Should You Add a Custom Domain to Your WordPress Landing Page?

Landing pages are effective tools for driving sales, expanding email lists, promoting products, and more. While these pages typically share the same domain as your main website, there are occasions when using a custom domain can be advantageous.

Imagine you operate a food blog called mycookingrecipes.com, where you share delicious recipes.

Now, you want to expand your offerings by providing online cooking courses. It’s often beneficial to keep your recipes and courses distinct to prevent confusion among your existing audience.

A custom domain can be the perfect solution. Instead of building an entirely new website, you can simply redirect a custom domain to a landing page for your courses within your current site.

This feature enables you to efficiently manage both online courses and recipes within a single WordPress installation, reducing maintenance time and optimizing costs.

The same principle holds true for marketing agencies creating landing pages for clients on platforms like Unbounce. A custom domain allows you to host all those pages from one WordPress installation, simplifying your workflow.

Now, let’s explore how to effortlessly add a custom domain alias to your WordPress landing page. You can use the quick links below to jump to a specific step:

Step 1: Obtain a Domain Name and WordPress Page Builder

First, ensure that your WordPress hosting provider permits you to link multiple domains to the same WordPress site.

Next, you’ll need to select a new domain name. We recommend Network Solutions, a top domain name registrar known for competitive pricing and compatibility with any WordPress hosting provider.

Additionally, CanadaCreate users can enjoy discounts of up to 67% on new domain registrations by using our Network Solutions coupon and promo code.NAMEBOY at checkout.

If you need assistance in selecting a domain name, consider these helpful guides:

• How to Choose the Best Domain Name: Tips and Tools
• How to Check Domain Name Availability: Easy Domain Search Tools
• Should You Opt for a New Domain Extension for Your Website?
• What is the Real Cost of a Domain Name? Expert Insights

Finally, you’ll need SeedProd, the leading WordPress page builder plugin, featuring over 300 templates and 90 blocks that you can easily drag and drop onto your landing pages.

It also allows you to map a custom domain to any landing page.

Step 2: Create Your Landing Page on WordPress

Begin by creating a landing page on your current WordPress site. Later, you will connect a new domain name to this landing page.

First, install and activate the SeedProd plugin. For detailed instructions, refer to our comprehensive guide on installing a WordPress plugin.

Once the plugin is activated, SeedProd will prompt you for your license key.

You can locate this key in your account on the SeedProd website. After entering it, click on ‘Verify Key.’

Next, navigate toSeedProd » Landing Pagesand select ‘Add New Landing Page.’

Select a SeedProd Page Template

On the following screen, you can choose a template for your custom page in WordPress.

SeedProd offers templates categorized by various campaign types such as coming soon, webinar, and 404 page. Use the tabs at the top of the screen to filter templates by campaign type.

Since you are creating a landing page, consider browsing the ‘Sales’ or ‘Lead Squeeze’ template categories.

To preview a template, simply hover over the design and click the magnifying glass icon.

Once you find a design you like, click on ‘Choose This Template.’ In our examples, we are using the ‘Masterclass Sales Page’ template, but feel free to select any template that suits your needs.

Create a Page Title That is Optimized for SEO

Next, enter a name for your landing page. SeedProd will automatically generate a URL based on this title, but you can modify the URL to your preference.

To enhance search engine understanding of your page, consider adding relevant keywords, which can significantly boost your WordPress SEO.

For further information, refer to our article on creating SEO-friendly URL structures in WordPress.

Once you are satisfied with the information you have entered, click the ‘Save and Start Editing the Page’ button.

Design Your Page with SeedProd Blocks and Sections

This will open the drag-and-drop page builder. On the right side, you’ll see a live preview of your page, along with block settings displayed on the left.

The page builder is incredibly user-friendly.

To customize a block, simply click on it in the page editor. The left-hand toolbar will then display all the settings for that block. For instance, here we are modifying the text in a ‘Headline’ block.

Utilize the options in the left-hand menu to format text, adjust alignment, add hyperlinks, and more.

Remember to adhere to best practices for writing headlines on landing pages. For additional tips, explore our guide on using a headline analyzer tool to enhance SEO titles in WordPress.

You can also incorporate CSS animations and box shadows through the settings found in the ‘Advanced’ tab.

To remove a block from your landing page, simply click to select the desired block.

Next, click the trash can icon located in the mini toolbar.

To add more content, locate the appropriate block in the left-hand menu and drag it onto the page layout.

You can then customize the block by following the same steps outlined above.

If you’re designing a landing page to promote products and services, SeedProd offers a variety of WooCommerce blocks that you can incorporate into your layout.

SeedProd also provides ‘Sections,’ which are collections of rows and block templates often used together, including headers, hero images, call-to-action buttons, and more.

To view all available sections, simply click on the ‘Sections’ tab.

To preview a section, hover your mouse over it and click the magnifying glass icon.

To add a section to your landing page, hover over it and click the ‘+’ icon.

This will place the section at the bottom of your landing page. You can rearrange both sections and blocks by dragging and dropping them to achieve your ideal layout.

You can also customize the font size, colors, background images, and more to enhance your design.

For comprehensive guidance on designing an attractive landing page, check out our tutorials on creating a landing page with WordPress and crafting a high-converting sales page.

Enable Third-Party Integrations with SeedProd

If your goal is to increase conversions, SeedProd integrates with many popular third-party tools you might already be using, including leading email marketing services and Google Analytics.

To link your landing page with your email marketing provider, click on the ‘Connect’ tab. Then, hover over the email marketing service you utilize, such as Constant Contact or Campaign Monitor.

Click the ‘Connect’ button when it appears.

SeedProd will guide you on how to link your page to your email marketing service.

Once you are satisfied with the setup of your page, click on ‘Save’ and then choose ‘Publish.’

Step 3: Add a Custom Domain to Your Landing Page

Next, you need to configure SeedProd to use a custom domain alias for your landing page.

To do this, simply select ‘Page Settings’ and then click on ‘Custom Domain.’

Then, toggle the ‘On’ button next to ‘Custom Domain’ and enter the desired domain name.

If your domain provider offers a free SSL certificate, like SiteGround, make sure to enable the ‘Force HTTPs’ option so it turns orange.

Remember to click the ‘Save’ button to apply your changes.

At this stage, visiting your custom domain will result in an error because it is not yet linked to your WordPress blog or website. Let’s fix that.

Step 4: Link Your Custom Domain Alias to Your WordPress Hosting

To link your custom domain alias to your WordPress hosting provider, you will need to update the DNS nameservers in your domain registrar account.

Nameservers act like the internet’s phonebook, directing browsers to the exact location of your website. By updating the nameservers, you can connect your new custom domain to your existing WordPress hosting account.

To find out the nameservers used by your hosting provider, reach out to their support team. For instance, Bluehost typically utilizes the following nameservers for most of its websites:

ns1.bluehost.com
ns2.bluehost.com

If you’re uncertain about the nameservers for your hosting provider, you can check your customer dashboard or contact their support team for assistance. For guidance on how to effectively request support, refer to our helpful guide.

Be sure to note down these nameservers, as you will need them for the next step.

In this guide, we will demonstrate how to create a custom alias for a domain registered with Network Solutions by directing it to Bluehost. The process is generally similar across most domain registrars, but you can always refer to your registrar’s documentation for specific details.

First, log in to your Network Solutions account. Then, click on the ‘Domains’ link located in the left-hand sidebar.

Next, navigate to your domain settings, scroll down to the ‘Advanced Tools’ section, and click on the ‘Manage’ link next to Nameservers (DNS).

A notification will appear indicating that changing nameservers will disconnect services from Network Solutions, such as email and website functionality. This action should only be taken if you are using a third-party provider. Click the ‘Continue’ button.

Next, replace the current nameservers by entering the new nameservers in the designated fields.

After that, click the ‘Save’ button.

For further information, please refer to our guide on how to easily change DNS nameservers.

Step 5: Add a Custom Domain to Your Hosting Account

Now that your custom domain is directed to your WordPress hosting provider, it’s time to add the domain to your hosting account.

We will demonstrate how to add a domain name in Bluehost, but the process is quite similar for most hosting providers.

Simply log in to your hosting account dashboard and navigate to the‘Websites’ tab. Then, click the ‘Add Site’ button.

On the following screen, select the option that allows you to link the domain to your account.

Important:When configuring the domain, make sure the ‘Document Root’ or ‘Directory’ points to the same folder as your primary WordPress website (usually public_html).

To ensure your landing page loads correctly, avoid selecting an ‘Empty Environment’ or creating a new folder. The objective is to link this domain to your existing WordPress site so that the plugin can recognize it.

Once you have completed the previous steps, simply click ‘Continue.’

Next, enter your website title.

If you prefer, you can skip this step and click the ‘Continue’ button.

Now, let’s proceed to add your domain name.

Enter the domain name you registered with another provider in the designated field, then click the ‘Continue’ button.

Bluehost will finalize the setup and verify that you have configured their nameservers for your domain.

To check if Bluehost has completed the setup of your domain name, navigate to the ‘Websites’ tab and click the ‘Settings’ button for the domain you just added.

After that, go to the ‘Settings’ tab.

If you see the ‘Finish Setup’ button, click on it.

Upon clicking the ‘Finish Setup’ button, Bluehost will inform you that you need to update your domain registrar settings with their nameservers.

Keep in mind that even after adding the nameservers, it may take 48 to 72 hours for your domain name to operate correctly due to DNS propagation. For more information, refer to our WordPress DNS configuration guide.

Please wait, click the ‘Save Changes’ button, and monitor this page regularly. If you encounter any issues, feel free to contact your domain registrar or Bluehost for assistance.

Don’t forget to verify your SSL settings. Although you enabled HTTPS in SeedProd, it’s essential to ensure that your hosting provider has issued an SSL certificate for your new custom domain.

Most hosting providers handle this automatically, but you might need to navigate to the ‘SSL/Security’ section of your hosting dashboard to request a certificate for the alias.

Once that’s completed, your landing page will be accessible through the custom domain.

Visit this URL to see your landing page live.

Common Questions About Custom Domain Aliases

Setting up custom domain aliases for WordPress landing pages may appear complicated initially, but many users have similar inquiries about the process. Here are the most frequently asked questions regarding domain aliasing, along with straightforward answers to assist you in getting started.

1. What is a domain alias, and how does it function?

A domain alias is an additional domain name that directs visitors to the same content as your primary website. When users access your alias domain, they will see your WordPress landing page, but the browser’s address bar will display the alias domain instead of your main site. It’s similar to having several entrances that all lead to the same space.

2. Is it necessary to purchase a separate hosting plan for my domain alias?

No, separate hosting is not required. Domain aliases utilize the same hosting account as your primary website. You only need to buy the new domain name and set it up to point to your existing hosting. Most hosting providers allow domain aliases under your current hosting plan.

3. Will using a domain alias impact my SEO rankings?

Using domain aliases typically does not negatively affect your SEO when managed properly. Since you are utilizing SeedProd, the plugin automatically includes the correct ‘Canonical URL’ tags in the page code. This informs Google that the landing page is a deliberate part of your marketing strategy, helping to avoid any penalties for duplicate content.

4. Is it possible to use multiple domain aliases for different landing pages?

Yes, you can create multiple domain aliases, each directing to different landing pages on your WordPress site. This is especially beneficial for managing various marketing campaigns at the same time. Each alias can feature its own unique domain that aligns with the specific campaign branding.

5. What happens if I discontinue a domain alias?

If you discontinue a domain alias, you can either allow the domain to expire or redirect it to your primary website. Be sure to update any marketing materials or links that reference the old alias domain to prevent broken links and ensure a positive user experience.

6. How long does it take for a domain alias to become active?

After configuring your domain alias, it usually takes 24-48 hours for the changes to fully propagate across the internet. However, you may notice it functioning within just a few hours. The exact duration can vary depending on your hosting provider and DNS settings.

Additional Resources

We hope this article has helped you understand how to add a custom domain alias for your WordPress landing page. You may also find these additional guides useful for growing your business:

• How to Choose the Perfect Domain Name: Tips and Tools
• How to Create an Effective Landing Page Using WordPress
• How to Easily Update Domain Nameservers and Point to a New Host
• Comprehensive Guide to WordPress SEO for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Approach

If you enjoyed this article, consider subscribing to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also connect with us on Twitter and Facebook.