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Short answer: Add your domain in Settings → Domains, create the DNS records ShortPen shows you (usually a CNAME and a TXT), wait for DNS to propagate, then click Verify. When the status turns Active, you can publish links on your branded domain.

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What is a custom domain and why use it?

A custom domain lets you replace the default ShortPen domain with your brand (e.g., go.yourbrand.com or yourbrand.link). Benefits include:
  • Stronger brand trust
  • Higher click-through rates
  • Consistent branding across campaigns
  • Clearer ownership of analytics
Important notesDo not connect your primary website domain (e.g., yourbrand.com). Instead, connect a dedicated subdomain or completely different domain used only for links (e.g., go.yourbrand.com or yrbrnd.com).
Learn more: Why use a custom domain with ShortPen

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Prerequisites

  • Access to your DNS provider (e.g., Cloudflare, GoDaddy, Namecheap, Route 53)
  • The domain or subdomain you want to connect (most teams use a subdomain like go.yourbrand.com)
  • Organization role with permission to manage domains (Owner or Admin)

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Connect your domain or subdomain

1

Add your domain in ShortPen

Go to Settings → Domains and click Add Domain.
2

Create the DNS records at your registrar

ShortPen will now show you two pieces of information to add to your DNS provider: a CNAME record and a TXT record.
3

Wait for DNS propagation

Propagation is typically fast but may take up to a few hours depending on TTL and provider.
4

Verify in ShortPen

Return to the Domains page and click Verify. Once verified, ShortPen provisions HTTPS automatically.
Learn more: How to verify your domain in ShortPen
5

Assign the domain to links

When creating or editing a link, choose your new custom domain from the Domain dropdown. Existing links can be moved to the new domain if needed.
Go deeper: Follow the detailed instructions, registrar-specific notes, and troubleshooting in How to connect a custom domain to ShortPen.

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FAQ

Yes. You can add multiple domains and choose which one is the Default for new links.
No. The ShortPen Pixel is for event/conversion tracking, not for domain connection.
It depends on DNS propagation. Many changes apply within minutes, but we allow for up to 24 hours before troubleshooting.