How to Connect an Existing Domain Name to Your Zibster Website
Overview
If you already own a domain name through another company, you can connect it to your Zibster website when you are ready to launch. This allows your existing domain, such as yourdomain.com, to display your Zibster website.
This guide explains how to submit a domain setup request, provide information about any domain-based email you use, and receive the custom name servers needed to connect your domain to Zibster.
If you need to purchase a new domain instead, see How to Purchase & Register a New Domain with Zibster
Important Note Before You Begin
We recommend completing your website layout and design before starting the domain setup process.
During setup, your temporary preview link may stop working, and your Website Builder may be temporarily unavailable for 24–48 hours while your domain updates and its SSL certificate activates.
All of your website content and design work remains saved during this time. Once setup is complete, access to your Website Builder and website content will be restored.
If you are not ready to launch, Zibster Support can place your website back on a temporary domain so you can continue using the preview link.
STEP ONE
Log in to your Zibster account and click DOMAINS in the left-side menu.
This opens the domain management area of your account.
STEP TWO
Locate the section titled USE YOUR EXISTING DOMAIN and click Request a Domain Setup.
This begins the process of connecting a domain that you already own through another company.
STEP THREE
Enter the domain name you want to connect to your Zibster website.
Enter only the domain name, such as yourdomain.com. Do not include https://, www, or any page address.
Review the domain carefully for spelling errors, missing characters, or extra spaces.
You will also be asked whether you currently use domain-based email, such as yourname@yourdomain.com.
Click Continue after entering your domain name and selecting the appropriate email option.
STEP FOUR
Answer the question about domain-based email.
If you select Yes, choose your current email provider.
Available options may include:
- Google Workspace
- GoDaddy
- Office 365
- Rackspace
- Network Solutions
- Other
If you choose Other, enter the name of your current email provider.
You will also be asked to provide an alternate email address. Zibster can use this address to contact you if your domain-based email is temporarily affected during setup.
Providing accurate email information allows the Zibster domain team to add the necessary email records before your domain begins pointing to Zibster.
Do not update your domain’s name servers until Zibster confirms that your email records are ready. Updating your name servers too early may temporarily interrupt your email service.
After the correct email records are added and the domain update is complete, your email will continue working through your existing email provider.
STEP FIVE
If you do not currently use domain-based email, select No.
If you would like to create a professional email address using your domain, Zibster Mailbox allows you to create an address such as yourname@yourdomain.com.
For more information, see How Do I Add a Mailbox?
FINAL STEP
Submit your domain setup request.
After the request is submitted, you will see a confirmation message. The Zibster domain team will review the domain and email information you provided.
A Zibster web consultant will contact you within 24 business hours with your four custom name servers and instructions for updating them through your domain registrar.
Once you receive the name servers, log in to your domain registrar account and replace the current name servers with the four custom name servers provided by Zibster.
After the name servers are updated and the domain finishes propagating, your Zibster website will display on your domain.
What Happens After You Submit Your Request
After Zibster receives your domain setup request, the domain team reviews the information you submitted.
If you use domain-based email, the team will prepare the necessary email records before instructing you to update your name servers.
You will then receive four custom Zibster name servers and instructions for entering them through your domain registrar.
Your domain registrar is the company where your domain was purchased or is currently managed. Your domain registration will remain with that company. Connecting your domain to Zibster does not transfer the domain registration to Zibster.
Once the name servers are updated, your domain will begin pointing to your Zibster website.
Domain Propagation Timeframe
After your name servers are updated, it may take 24–48 hours for the change to fully update worldwide. This process is called domain propagation.
During propagation, you or your visitors may temporarily notice:
- Your website does not load.
- Your previous website still appears.
- Your Zibster website appears for some visitors but not others.
- Domain-based email experiences a temporary interruption.
These behaviors are normal while internet providers update their stored domain information.
Once propagation is complete, your domain will consistently display your Zibster website.
Domain-Based Email Information
If you use an email address such as yourname@yourdomain.com, Zibster will ask for your current email provider during the domain setup request.
This information helps the domain team add the correct email records before your domain starts pointing to Zibster. These records allow your email to remain connected to your current email provider.
To reduce the possibility of email downtime, do not update your name servers until Zibster confirms that your email records are ready.
If your email is temporarily interrupted during propagation, it should begin working normally again after the domain and email records finish updating.
Want to Set Up or Switch Your Email?
The following guides can help you create a domain-based email address or move your email service to Zibster Mailbox:
What’s Next?
After you receive your four custom Zibster name servers, see How to Update Your Name Servers with Your Domain Registrar for instructions on completing the connection.
