Skip to main content
ClubHelix
Browse the guide

Website management

Domains

Connect your own custom domain and verify it for search engines.

Connect a web address you already own (like www.yourclub.com) so members reach your ClubHelix site at your own brand instead of the default address. You'll find this under Domains in the admin sidebar, in the website-management group. SSL certificates are issued automatically once your DNS verifies, so visitors always get the secure padlock.

Who can use this

Only admins can add, verify or remove a custom domain. Moderators can open the page, but the buttons won't work for them — the actions are restricted to admins. You also need access to your domain provider's DNS settings to add the records ClubHelix asks for.

What's on the page

The page is split into three cards:

  • Add a domain — a single Hostname field and an Add domain button.
  • Configured domains — a list of every domain you've added, each with its status, the exact DNS records to create, and Re-check / Remove buttons.
  • How to set the records at your domain provider — step-by-step guides for Squarespace, GoDaddy, Cloudflare, Namecheap and others.

Step by step

Add your domain

  1. In the Add a domain card, type the exact hostname members will use, for example www.yourclub.com.
  2. Click Add domain.
  3. If you add the apex (yourclub.com), ClubHelix automatically stages www.yourclub.com too (and vice versa). Whichever one you typed becomes canonical; the other one redirects to it.

Point your DNS records

  1. Find your new domain in the Configured domains list. It will show a pending verification badge.
  2. Each domain shows a table of DNS records — a TXT verification record and either an A record (for an apex) or a CNAME record (for a subdomain). Use the Copy button next to each value.
  3. Open the How to set the records at your domain provider card and pick your provider for exact instructions on where to paste them.
  4. Add the records in your provider's DNS settings, then save.

Verify the domain

  1. Back on the Domains page, click Re-check next to your domain.
  2. While it checks, the button shows Checking…. If the record isn't visible yet, you'll see an amber message — DNS changes can take a few minutes to a few hours, so wait and try again.
  3. Once it succeeds, the badge turns to verified, SSL is provisioned automatically, and your site is reachable at your domain within a few minutes.

Remove a domain

  1. Click Remove next to the domain.
  2. Confirm the prompt. Visitors will stop reaching your site at that hostname.

Field reference

Field / columnWhat it means
HostnameThe web address you're connecting (e.g. www.yourclub.com).
pending verificationDNS hasn't been confirmed yet — add the records and click Re-check.
verifiedDNS confirmed; SSL is issued and the domain is live.
canonicalThe main address; the other companion redirects (301) to it.
redirectA companion address that forwards to the canonical one.
Type / Name / Value / TTLThe DNS records to create at your provider; TTL can be left on Auto.

Tips & FAQ

  • It's not verifying. Check the record name and value match the table exactly — an extra space or a record in the wrong DNS zone are the usual culprits. Propagation is normally 15 minutes to 2 hours.
  • Using Cloudflare? Set the routing records to DNS only (grey cloud), not proxied, or SSL won't provision. The on-page guide covers this.
  • Apex vs www. Some registrars can't put a CNAME on an apex — use the A record shown, or an ALIAS/ANAME if your provider supports one.
  • Verify it yourself first. The "Verifying the records yourself" section links to dnschecker.org and shows the dig commands to confirm your records are live before clicking Re-check.

Once your domain is live, set up the rest of your site under Branding, Theme and Navigation. For an overview of all admin tools, see the Admin overview.