Customize! All About Custom Domains

  If you have a PRO paper you can replace the default "paper.li" domain name for your paper with a custom domain!  

What is a custom domain (or subdomain)?

A custom domain name allows you to replace our default, system-generated URL with a custom name you chose yourself. 

What benefits are there to having a custom domain?

Having a custom domain is just one additional way to extend your branding and have a domain name that is more "user friendly".  In addition, once you have set up your custom domain, you can add the following to your paper:

• Optional header & footer: don't like to dabble with code? Then you can simply hide the standard Paper.li header and footer with a click of the mouse.

• Favicon: extend your branding with a logo at the top of your browser tab

• Improve your visibility in search results:  Verify your site with Google Console to help you monitor and maintain your paper's presence in Google Search results.

What are the drawbacks?

• For some, the idea of setting up a custom domain might seem complicated, but it's not. We're here to help you.  You decide on which registrar you wish and the custom domain name to use and we can help you from there.

• The "remember me" option found under your Account settings menu will no longer be functional.  

How do I set up a custom domain or subdomain?

Before you make any changes on Paper.li, you will need to register your own domain name with a registrar.  

If you already have a domain name that is being used, you may want to create a subdomain name (in the format, for example, news.yourdomainname.com) and use that subdomain to the paper.  

1. Configure your domain or subdomain

You'll need to configure your domain or subdomain and your registrar will have instructions on how to do this. Depending on what you chose, you'll do one of the the following:

• Three levels - subdomain format - If your domain looks something like news.mywebsite.com (example), you should create a new CNAME record.  When you create a CNAME record, you will be asked for a URL.  Enter "paper.li"   

• Two levels - If your domain looks something like mywebsite.com (example), you should create a new A-record.  You will be asked for an IP address.  Enter our IP address 37.187.86.201.

2.  From your Paper Settings, choose the General Tab, and then turn the Custom Domain toggle to ON.

3.  Enter your new domain (e.g. mydomain.com) or subdomain (e.g. movies.mdomain.com).

5.  If you have already activated an automatic promo-post or tweet with your old URL, you must re-set the default text in your tweet or post in order for your new custom URL to be included in the next auto promote.

To do so, go to your Paper Settings, then Social Media and turn the main activation switch(es) OFF and then back ON to reset your default tweet with the correct URL.  

FAQ

How can I force my paper to use https?

See this article.

Will a domain re-direct work?

No, it won't!

What happens when someone visits my former paper.li URL?

They will automatically be redirected to your new custom domain.

I want to embed my paper onto my site.  Is the resulting URL a custom domain?

If you embed your paper onto a subdirectory of an already existing website, the URL that holds your embed is not considered a custom domain for your paper.  In the source code for the page, only the code for the embed is found and not any information about the paper.  This means that Social media services are not able to "read" any information from your paper as it's hidden one level down in the embed.  When you share the URL of your embed, any information shown comes from your own website and not from our embed.

How will my paper be found on Google Search and others?

Your paper will be indexed in searches as soon as the engines crawl the new custom domain. Be sure you link your Paper.li sub-domain from the homepage of your Website to get the most out of your curated content.  Verify your site with Google Console to help you monitor and maintain your paper's presence in Google Search results.  

What if I’m having trouble setting up a custom domain or subdomain?

If you are having trouble setting up your domain, send us a snapshot of the DNS Manager interface (from your registrar's setting page) so that we can see what the fields look like and your new Pro paper domain name. 

Paper.li News Page App (on a WIX site)