Domains can feel like a complicated matter, especially in a platform as huge as GoHighLevel.
I’ve put together this easy-to-follow guide to help you understand where—and how—to add domains to the platform.
Key Takeaways:
- Google, GoDaddy, and Cloudflare domains have automatic configuration
- All other domain providers require manual configuration
- Create and use subdomains to connect separate sites and pages
Where Can You Add Domains in GoHighLevel?
There are quite a few things in GoHighLevel that require a domain name. Really, anything you want to place online will need one.
Let’s take a look at what these are:
Find it: Sub-Account > Sites > Websites or Funnels tab > select site or funnel > Settings
Of course, you can add a domain for any website or funnel you create in GoHighLevel.
Find it: Sub-Account > Sites > Blogs > New
You will also need a domain if you want to create a blog.
Find it: Sub-Account > Settings > Email Services OR Agency Account > Settings > Email Services
To send emails, you should create and use a dedicated domain.
This is because a dedicated domain gives your emails a better chance of being delivered and not ending up in people’s spam folders. It’s also better for brand credibility and trust since it looks more professional.
Find it: Sub-Account > Sites > Client Portal > Settings
Client portals can provide a centralized area for clients to manage affiliates, memberships, and communities.
You can add a custom domain to each sub-account’s client portal.
Find it: Agency Account > Settings > Company
A Whitelabel domain is required if you use GoHighLevel to sell SaaS products.
The platform recommends using a subdomain for this purpose (I explain what these are further down) and using “app” as the name of your subdomain.
Find it: Agency Account > Settings > Company
Adding an API domain in your Agency account will enable you to customize system-generated links for:
- Forms
- Surveys
- Calendar links
- Trigger links
- Shortlinks
This will improve the deliverability of the links and strengthen your brand’s image.
Find it: Sub Account > Settings > Business Profile
Adding a branded domain for each sub-account will also allow customized links for your client’s business profiles.
Find it: Sub-Account > Sites > WordPress > Add Domain
Finally, if you decide to use the WordPress hosting feature inside GoHighLevel or migrate an existing WordPress site over to the platform, you can add a custom domain for it.
Where to Get a Domain Name for GoHighLevel
You can purchase domain names from any third-party domain name registrar, such as GoDaddy, NameCheap, Wix, Hostinger, etc. They start at as little as $0.99, but the price usually goes up after the first year.
You Need a Separate Domain for Each of Your Sites (Or Use a Subdomain)
This one is important. You can’t use the same domain name for more than one website.
Each must have its own unique address that tells the server which site to bring up when a user requests it.
So, what happens if you want to connect a website, course, sales funnel, and blog together?
In this case, you use a “subdomain.” This is essentially a division of the primary domain name, which acts as an extension to the main site.
They are used to organize different website sections or connect separate sites (like a sales funnel) that are related to the main domain.
Here’s a quick example. The main domain name is supplygem.com.
A subdomain of this site could look like this: community.supplygem.com.
In this case, a community site has been connected to the main domain by using a subdomain.
I’ll show you how to use these later in the article.
How to Connect Your Domain to GoHighLevel in 7 Steps
You’ll be pleased to hear that setting up your domain in GoHighLevel is really easy. It’s even more so if you purchased your domain from GoDaddy, Cloudflare, or Google.
This is because GoHighLevel has an automated process for these domain providers.
If you purchased your domain from elsewhere, don’t worry. The process is still pretty painless.
Step 1: Log in to GoHighLevel and head to the relevant sub-account. Click on “Settings.”
Step 2: Click “Domains” and select “Add.”
Step 2: Add the name of your domain in the space provided and hit “Continue.”
Step 3: If your domain provider is Google, GoDaddy, or Cloudflare, a box like this will appear. Click on “Authorize Domain” to continue.
Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the process (it’s a couple of clicks). The DNS records will be automatically added to your domain, and the setup process will be complete.
Step 4: If you purchased your domain from a different provider, you’ll get a pop-up that looks like this. You now have to add two records (A and CNAME) to your domain name’s DNS settings.
Leave this screen as it is (don’t click on “Verify Records”) and open a new browser tab. Log into your domain account and head to the control panel.
Step 5: The control panel varies depending on your domain provider. (I’m using NameCheap, so the screenshots I’ve used are from this provider.)
You’re looking for “Advanced DNS,” DNS Settings,” or something similar. Once you find this area, make sure the host records are displayed.
Step 6: Now, you need to click to add a new host record.
Enter the records exactly as they are shown on GoHighLevel and click to save them.
Step 7: Once you have added the records in your domain provider, go back to GoHighLevel and click “Verify Records.”
The process can take a few minutes. Once the setup has been completed, your domain name will be listed in the “Domains” tab and can be used with a website, funnel, etc.
How to Set up a Subdomain in GoHighLevel in 7 Steps
Step 1: To use a subdomain, you first have to create one.
To do this, you must log in to your domain provider’s control panel. The process differs slightly depending on your provider, so check out the instructions for yours to learn how to do it.
Remember, the subdomain name will come before your main domain name. So, if you’re creating a blog, add “blog” as the subdomain name. Example:
- Main domain: mysite.com
- Subdomain: blog.mysite.com
Step 2: Now head to the “Domains” tab of your GoHighLevel sub-account and click to add a new domain.
Enter the subdomain name in the space provided and click “Continue.”
Step 3: You will be given a new DNS record to add to your domain settings. Copy the required value and go to your domain provider’s DNS settings.
Step 4: Add the new record and click to save it.
Step 5: Go back to GoHighLevel and click “Verify Records.”
Step 6: Finally, you will be asked to link your subdomain with an existing GoHighLevel funnel, site, etc. Pick the desired one from the dropdown and click “Link Domain.”
Step 7: You can change which page the subdomain links to. In the “Domains” tab, click the three dots next to the subdomain name and select “Edit.”
You’ll get a dropdown list of all the pages you have created in GoHighLevel so far. Pick the one you want and hit “Save.”
Why Didn’t My GoHighLevel Domain Setup Work?
Propagation Incomplete
After configuring the DNS settings to connect your domain to GoHighLevel, it can take 24 to 48 hours for the settings to propagate. This basically means that the setup process takes this long to complete.
To understand whether or not this is the problem, you can use https://dnschecker.org/ to find out.
Add your domain name and click “Search.” If you get green checkmarks, your domain is fully propagated. If you see any red crosses, the process isn’t yet complete. Hang tight a little longer, and check back a bit later.
Duplicate A Records
Another common reason why the setup doesn’t work is if you’ve added duplicate A records to your DNS settings. These duplicates lead to server conflicts and that dreaded “404 Error” page.
To check, log into the control panel of your domain provider and check your host records. If you see more than one A record with the hostname listed as “@,” you must delete the extra ones.
The correct A record for GoHighLevel is the one named 162.159.140.166.
Incorrect DNS Settings
Double-check that you correctly added the records to your DNS settings. A mistyped name will prevent the setup process from working.
When adding the records, I always recommend using the “copy” button and then pasting it into your DNS settings. That way, you’ll know it’s correct.
Domain Provider Issues
The problems may stem from your domain provider. Although rare, one of their servers may be down and causing connection issues, or it could be a question of a security flag.
For example, when I set up my new domain name with GoHighLevel, I found that it was somehow flagged as a spam account and therefore suspended. I then had to go through the process of having it unsuspended, and after, it was all fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Buy Domain Names from GoHighLevel?
No, you cannot buy domain names from GoHighLevel as it is not a domain registrar. You must purchase domain names from providers like NameCheap, GoDaddy, Google Domains, etc.
Can I Create Websites in GoHighLevel if I Don’t Have a Custom Domain?
Yes, you can create a website in GoHighLevel without a custom domain. However, your website will not be accessible online until you purchase and connect a domain.
