Getting Started with Your Domain

Registering your first domain

Head to the domain search and type in the name you want. We'll check availability across 500+ extensions instantly.

Once you find an available domain, click Add to Cart, then proceed to checkout. You'll need to provide your contact details and payment information. Registration is typically instant — your domain will be active within minutes.

Connecting to your website

After registration, you need to point your domain to your website. This is done by updating your nameservers — the system that tells the internet where your website lives.

Your hosting provider will give you nameserver addresses. They usually look like this:

Enter these in your domain management panel under Nameservers. Changes typically propagate within 24-48 hours, though it's often much faster.

What is a DNS record?

DNS (Domain Name System) records are instructions that tell the internet how to handle requests for your domain. Think of them as a directory — they map your domain name to specific servers and services.

The most common DNS record types are:

• A Record — Points your domain to an IP address (e.g. your web server)
• CNAME Record — Creates an alias pointing to another domain name
• MX Record — Routes email to your mail server
• TXT Record — Stores text data, used for verification and email security (SPF, DKIM)
• NS Record — Specifies which nameservers are authoritative for your domain

What is a CNAME record?

A CNAME (Canonical Name) record creates an alias from one domain name to another. Instead of pointing to an IP address, it points to another domain name.

For example, you might want blog.yourdomain.com to point to your blog hosting service. Rather than tracking their IP address (which might change), you create a CNAME that points to their domain.

Common uses for CNAME records:

• Pointing subdomains to external services (e.g. Shopify, Webflow, Vercel)
• Setting up www to point to your root domain
• Verifying domain ownership for third-party services

Adding a CNAME record

To add a CNAME record in your Dab Hand Domains dashboard:

1. Go to your domain management panel
2. Navigate to DNS Records
3. Click Add Record and select CNAME
4. Enter the details:

The Name field is the subdomain you want to create (e.g. blog creates blog.yourdomain.com). The Target is the domain you're pointing to.

What are A records?

An A record (Address record) maps a domain name directly to an IPv4 address. This is the most fundamental DNS record type — it tells browsers which server to contact when someone types your domain.

The @ symbol represents your root domain (e.g. yourdomain.com). You can also create A records for subdomains by entering the subdomain name instead.

Setting up email (MX records)

MX (Mail Exchange) records tell the internet where to deliver email for your domain. If you want to receive email at hello@yourdomain.com, you need MX records pointing to your email provider.

For Google Workspace, add these MX records:

The priority number determines the order in which mail servers are tried. Lower numbers are tried first. Your email provider will give you the exact records to add.

Enabling WHOIS privacy

When you register a domain, your contact information (name, address, email, phone) is publicly visible in the WHOIS database. Anyone can look it up.

WHOIS privacy replaces your personal details with proxy information, protecting you from spam, solicitation, and identity theft. We include WHOIS privacy free with every domain registration.

To enable it, go to your domain management panel and toggle WHOIS Privacy to on. It takes effect immediately.