What is a Teachable custom domain?

A Teachable custom domain is a unique web address that you purchase and own. It doesn't have "teachable.com" in the URL, which means it fully represents your brand and looks more polished to prospective students.

Setting up a custom domain on Teachable involves a few key steps.

First, you’ll need to purchase a domain from a domain registrar. Then, you’ll configure your domain's DNS settings to point to your Teachable school. Finally, you'll connect and verify the domain within your Teachable account.

Benefits of using a custom domain

Using a custom domain for your Teachable school offers several key benefits:

• Professional look - Your school appears more polished and credible.

• Brand recognition - Your domain often becomes part of your brand, making it easier for students to remember.

• Builds trust - A custom domain shows you're serious, which can help students feel more confident in your courses.

• Better SEO - Custom domains often rank higher in search engines, making it easier for students to find your school.

Understanding Teachable domain options

When setting up your Teachable school, you have three domain options: a Teachable subdomain, a custom subdomain, or a custom domain. Understanding the differences between these can help you choose the best option for your brand.

Teachable subdomain

Example: https://schoolname.teachable.com

A Teachable subdomain is a free web address provided by Teachable that includes "teachable.com" in the URL. You can choose what goes before the Teachable domain, provided nobody else is already using that subdomain. This option is fine if you're just starting out with your course.

This option is quick to set up and doesn’t cost anything.

Custom domain

Example: https://www.schoolname.com

A custom domain is a completely standalone web address without any reference to Teachable in the URL. This option is available for any paid plan and gives you full control and is the most professional-looking choice. When someone visits your custom URL, they'll see your Teachable school.

This option means buying your own domain then connecting it to your school.

Custom subdomain

Example: https://courses.schoolname.com

A custom subdomain uses a domain you already own but adds a specific prefix to it. If you have an existing website, it means you can use that domain for your school, with something like "courses" prepended to it. This option is only available on paid Teachable plans.

This option means buying/having your own domain then making a subdomain for it.

Steps to purchase a custom domain

Buying a custom domain is the first step to setting up a professional online presence for your school. You need to own the domain before you can connect it to your school.

1. Choose a registrar - A domain registrar is a company that sells domain names. Popular options include GoDaddy, Namecheap, and Google Domains.

2. Search for availability - Use the registrar's search tool to see if your chosen domain name is available. You'll pay more for certain highly-desired domains.

3. Select your domain - Choose the domain that best fits your brand and budget.

4. Add to cart - Once you've found the right domain, add it to your cart.

5. Complete purchase - Fill in your details and pay for the domain.

6. Set up domain privacy (optional) - Consider enabling domain privacy to keep your personal information private. Most registrars will suggest this during checkout.

Connecting your domain to Teachable

Once you’ve purchased your custom domain, you’ll need to connect it to your Teachable school. This process involves setting up your domain’s DNS settings and linking it to your school through your Teachable dashboard.

Step 1: Configure the DNS settings

To connect your domain to Teachable, you’ll need to set up CNAME records in your domain registrar’s DNS settings.

1. Find your current Teachable subdomain - You'll need to know the current domain name for your school (ending in .teachable.com).

   1. Open your Teachable dashboard.

   2. Go to Site > Domains.

   3. Make a note of the current primary domain.

2. Open your DNS manager - Log in to your domain registrar and navigate to the DNS management section. It's sometimes called a "zone editor".

3. Delete existing CNAME records - If your domain already has some CNAME records, delete them. If you already had CNAME records because there's a website on this domain already, stop! Connecting this domain to your Teachable school will stop your current website from working. You should only be connecting your Teachable school to a domain that doesn't already have an website attached.

4. Create new CNAME records:

   • First record: Create a CNAME record with the name www and point it to your current primary domain (from the first step).

   • Second record: Create another CNAME record with the name @ (which stands for the root domain) and point it to the same Teachable URL (your current primary domain from the first step).

5. Save changes - Make sure to save all changes in your DNS editor.

Step 2: Connect your domain to Teachable

Now that your DNS settings are configured, it's time to link your domain to your Teachable school.

1. Open your Teachable dashboard.

2. Go to Site > Domains.

3. Click Add Domain.

4. Enter your custom domain (e.g. purchaseddomain.com).

5. Confirm by clicking Add Domain.

6. Click Add Domain again.

7. Enter your domain with "www" prepended (e.g. www.purchaseddomain.com).

8. Confirm by clicking Add Domain.

Step 3: Wait for domain verification

After connecting your domain, you’ll need to wait for it to be verified.

1. Wait for DNS propagation - It might take up to 48 hours for the DNS changes to fully take effect. But usually your domain will be verified with an hour.

2. Check verification - Refresh the page to check whether your domain goes from "Pending" to "Verified". If it's been more than hour, you can also try deleting the domain and re-adding it. Often, this will confirm it's been verified.

Step 4: Check whether your domain works

Once your domain has been verified in Teachable, it will work for visitors. You can check it by visiting the domain yourself. Just type it into your address bar and check that it takes you to your Teachable school.

Step 5: Set your primary domain and redirects

Your new Teachable custom domain works, but so do all of your old domains – including your Teachable subdomains. If you'd prefer people to be redirected if they visit one of your old pages, you can have them redirect automatically.

1. Open your Teachable dashboard.

2. Go to Site > Domains.

3. Click the three dots next to your custom domain.

4. Click Make Primary.

5. Click the three dots next to your old Teachable subdomain.

6. Click Redirect.

Now, when someone visits your old Teachable domain, they'll automatically be taken to the equivalent page on your new custom domain.

Best practices for choosing a domain

Selecting the right Teachable custom domain is important for your brand and online presence. Here are some tips to help you make the best choice if you're unsure.

• Make it memorable - Pick a name that’s easy to remember and simple to spell. You want something that sticks in people’s minds.

• Stay on-brand - Your domain should match your brand’s voice and style and be relevant to what you’re offering.

• Keep it short and sweet - Shorter domains are easier to type and less likely to be mistyped. Aim for something concise and clear.

• Skip hyphens and numbers - These can confuse people and make your domain harder to share. Stick with simple, clean names.

• Go for .com if you can - .com is the go-to and most trusted. If it’s not available, consider alternatives like .net or something industry-specific. If you’re focusing on a specific country, a local extension like .co.uk or .ca might be a good idea.

• Check for trademarks - Before you settle on a name, make sure it’s not infringing on any trademarks. It saves you from potential legal headaches.

• See what’s available on social media - Consistency is key. Check if your domain name is also available as a username on major social media platforms.

• Think about the future - Choose a name that can grow with your business. You don’t want to outgrow your Teachable custom domain name in a few years.

• Say it out loud - Test how it sounds when you say it out loud. If it’s tricky to pronounce or easy to misunderstand, it might not be the best choice.

Follow these tips and you should be all good!