What is DNS?

New to DNS? This 2-minute guide explains everything you need to know to set up your custom domain.

DNS is Like a Phone Book

When you type google.com into your browser, your computer doesn't actually know where Google is. It needs to look up the address first.

DNS (Domain Name System) is like a phone book for the internet. It translates human-friendly names (like google.com) into computer-friendly addresses (like 142.250.80.46).

Why Do You Need to Change DNS?

When you buy a domain, it doesn't know about ClickSpot. You need to add a "forwarding instruction" that says:

"When someone visits links.yourcompany.com, send them to ClickSpot's servers."

This instruction is called a DNS record. Once you add it, your custom domain will work with ClickSpot.

The Two Records You'll Add

To connect your domain to ClickSpot, you'll add two simple records:

1. CNAME Record (the forwarding instruction)

A CNAME (Canonical Name) record is like mail forwarding. It tells the internet: "This domain is handled by ClickSpot."

2. TXT Record (proof of ownership)

A TXT record is just a text note attached to your domain. ClickSpot uses it to verify that you actually own the domain.

What's a Subdomain?

You've probably seen subdomains before. In mail.google.com, the word mail is the subdomain.

For your short links, you'll typically use a subdomain like:

• links.yourcompany.com
• go.yourcompany.com
• l.yourcompany.com

This keeps your main website (yourcompany.com) unchanged while adding link capabilities.

How Long Does It Take?

After you add the DNS records:

• Most domains: Ready in 5-30 minutes
• Some domains: Can take up to 24-48 hours

This delay is called propagation — it's the time needed for the new instructions to spread across the internet.

Ready to Set Up Your Domain?

Now that you understand the basics, you're ready to configure your domain:

1. First:Find where your DNS settings are
2. Then:Add the DNS records