Add & Verify Your Custom Domain

Adding a custom domain allows you to completely replace generic links with your own brand name. This builds audience trust, increases click-through rates, and keeps your marketing highly professional.

To make setup as easy as possible, we have split this guide into two specific pathways. You will choose whether you want to set up a Subdomain (Recommended) or a Root Domain, and follow the exact steps for your choice.

Phase 1: The Domain Dashboard

To begin the setup process, you first need to access your Custom Domains dashboard.

  1. Open your Dashboard.
  2. Select your desired active workspace from the top menu.
  3. Navigate to Custom Domains from the left sidebar menu.
  4. Click on My Domains to view your existing domains.

If you have not added a domain yet, the table will display "No data found." To get started, click the Add New Domain button in the top right corner.

Trimlink Domain List Dashboard
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Phase 2: Start the Setup Wizard

When you click Add New Domain, a setup wizard will appear.

Step 1: Does this domain currently have published content?

You will be asked if your domain currently hosts a live website, blog, or app.

  • Select "No" (Recommended): Choose this option to connect an unused domain or a fresh subdomain (like links.yourbrand.com).
  • Select "Yes": Only choose this if you are highly technical and know how to configure advanced DNS records without taking your existing website offline.

After selecting "No", type your desired domain into the input field and click Next.

Add Domain Step 1 - Domain Selection
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Phase 3: Choose Your Setup Pathway

At this point, you must decide how Trimlink will interact with your domain.

Choose Pathway A if you are setting up a Subdomain (Recommended). Choose Pathway B if you are setting up a Root Domain.

Using a subdomain (like links.yourbrand.com) is the safest and most popular method because it ensures your main website is never affected.

Video Demonstration

1. Select the Subdomain Option

On the setup screen, select the option to set up DNS for a Subdomain. Review the details and click Next.

Add Domain Step 2 - Subdomain Entry
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2. Configure Your CNAME Record

Trimlink will provide you with specific DNS instructions. Open a new tab, log in to your domain registrar (e.g., GoDaddy, Namecheap, Cloudflare), and create a new CNAME Record with the following details:

Record TypeHostname / NamePoints To / Value
CNAMElinks (or your chosen prefix)cname.trimlink.ai

Critical Note for Cloudflare Users: If you use Cloudflare, you must turn off the Proxy status (the Orange Cloud icon) for this CNAME record. It must be set to "DNS Only" for the verification to work. Once the domain is verified, you can turn the proxy back on if desired.

Trimlink CNAME Configuration Screen
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3. Verify the Subdomain

After saving the CNAME record at your registrar, return to your Trimlink dashboard. The status will display as Pending Verification. Once the global internet updates (usually within a few minutes to a few hours), it will automatically change to Verified.

Trimlink CNAME Verification Success
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Pathway B: Set Up a Root Domain

Use this option only if you have purchased a brand new, empty domain specifically for link shortening (e.g., brandlinks.com).

Video Demonstration

1. Select the Root Domain Option

On the setup screen, select the option indicating you are connecting a primary/root domain. Review the details and click Next.

Add Domain Step 2 - Root Domain Entry
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2. Choose Your SSL & DNS Management Method

If you are connecting a root domain, you must decide how to handle your SSL certificate (which keeps your links secure). Trimlink offers two choices:

Option 1: Use Trimlink's Free SSL Certificate via Cloudflare (Recommended) If you are not familiar with setting up SSL certificates, we recommend this option. It allows Cloudflare to manage your DNS records automatically and provides a free SSL certificate.

  • Action Required: Log in to your domain registrar and replace your existing Name Servers (NS Records) with the two specific Cloudflare Name Servers provided by Trimlink on your screen.

Option 2: Use Your Own SSL Certificate & A Record If you already have an SSL certificate for your domain, you can choose to use your own. Unlike subdomains, this method requires an A Record to point to Trimlink's secure servers.

  • Action Required: Open your domain registrar and create a new A Record with the details provided on your screen:
Record TypeHostname / NamePoints To / IP Address
A Record@ (which means root)(Enter the IP Address provided by Trimlink)

Important Note for Option 2: Make sure you delete any old A Records that point to "Parked" pages at your registrar, as having multiple A Records will cause the verification to fail.

3. Verify the Root Domain

After saving your Name Servers or your A Record, check your Trimlink dashboard. The status will show Pending Verification. Wait for the DNS changes to propagate across the internet. Once complete, your domain will update to Verified.

Domain Verification Pending Screen
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Trimlink A Record Configuration Screen
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Phase 4: Workflow for Option 2 (No Custom Domain)

If you selected Option 2 ("No, I want to learn how to use short URLs without a custom domain") during Step 2 of the setup wizard, follow these advanced server steps.

This option allows you to easily share concise links (like example.com/go) without touching your DNS settings. However, it requires modifying your website's actual server files.

1. Enter Your URL Structure

In the setup screen input box, enter your domain followed by the folder name (slug) you want to use.

  • Info: If your domain is example.com and your slug is go, enter example.com/go in the box.

2. Update Your Server Configuration

Because you are not using DNS records, you must tell your website's server how to handle the traffic for that specific folder.

For NGINX Servers

If your website is hosted on an NGINX server, add one of the following configurations to your server block:

Method A: Proxy Pass (Keeps the user on your domain)

server {
    location ~ ^/go/(.*)$ {
        set $slug $1;
        proxy_pass [https://trimlink.ai/$slug](https://trimlink.ai/$slug);
        proxy_set_header Host trimlink.ai;
        proxy_redirect off;
    }
}

Method B: 301 Redirect (Redirects the user to Trimlink)

location ~ ^/go/(.*)$ {
    return 301 [https://trimlink.ai/$1](https://trimlink.ai/$1);
}

For Apache Servers

If your website is hosted on Apache, you must add the rewrite code directly to your .htaccess file. Choose one of the methods below:

Method A: Proxy Pass (Keeps the user on your domain)

RewriteEngine On
RewriteRule ^go/(.*)$ [https://trimlink.ai/$1](https://trimlink.ai/$1) [P,L]

Method B: 301 Redirect (Redirects the user to Trimlink)

RewriteEngine On
RewriteRule ^go/(.*)$ [https://trimlink.ai/$1](https://trimlink.ai/$1) [R=301,L]

Advanced: Domain Security Setup

This step is optional and intended for administrators using Root Domains.

If you are using a dedicated root domain strictly for short links (e.g., brandlinks.com) and never plan to send emails from it, it is highly recommended to set up SPF and DMARC records. This prevents hackers from using your link domain to send fake emails to your customers.

To harden your domain security, add these two TXT records to your DNS settings:

1. Add an SPF Record

This tells email servers that no one is allowed to send email from this domain.

  • Type: TXT
  • Name / Host: @
  • Value: v=spf1 -all

2. Add a DMARC Record

This tells email servers to automatically reject any fake emails trying to pretend to be you.

Frequently Asked Questions

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