So you’ve taken the first step in setting up your small business on an ecommerce platform like Etsy, Square, or RedBubble. Hooray! But now you have a new dilemma: the domain.
The domain is that little doohicky that typically ends in “.com” at the top of your browser. It is a unique address that points users to your website. Redirecting customers to your website is like telling your out-of-state in-laws how to navigate to your home address using a GPS. The longer and more complicated it is, the harder it will be for customers to find your online shop.
Chances are, if you’re using a “free” platform like Etsy, Square, or RedBubble, the domain for your online shop is something along the lines of “[ecommerceplatform].com/shop/[yourshopname]” or “[yourshop].square.site.”
Not only are those domains kind of a mouthful, but they’re pretty lengthy to paste into your social media bio or squeeze onto a business card.
Fortunately, there’s a pretty cheap and easy way to get around this — it’s called domain forwarding.
What is Domain Forwarding?
Domain forwarding is essentially just a fancy-schmancy way of saying “URL redirect.” Basically, you can purchase a domain name, then change its settings to redirect users to another address.
For example, let’s say I have an online shop on Etsy, and my current domain is “etsy.com/shop/myrllycoolshop43.” I can purchase the domain “myrllycoolshop43.com” and set it so that anyone who visits “myrllycoolshop43.com” is automatically redirected to “etsy.com/shop/myrllycoolshop43.”
How to Set Up Domain Forwarding
Setting up domain forwarding will vary depending on where you purchased the domain. If you’re not sure where to purchase a domain, shop it out! You can compare prices from platforms like GoDaddy, NameCheap, Google Domains, etc…
Most domains cost about $12/year, though the price may vary depending on the “demand” for the domain. First names and other common words are considered higher-demand domains, so they’ll cost you a pretty penny (or they’ll be unavailable).
For the sake of this article, we’re going to show you how to set up domain forwarding through a Google Domain because it is incredibly easy and straightforward!
Setting Up Domain Forwarding via Google Domains
- Step 1: Purchase your domain.
- Step 2: Go to “My Domains” and click “Manage”
- Step 3: Go to “Website”
- Step 4: Select “Forward to an existing address”
- Step 5: Under “Forward to,” paste the address you would like the domain to redirect to
Then save changes, and you’re done! Domain changes can take up to 72 hours to appear, though in most cases, it only takes about 30 minutes to an hour.
Conclusion
Domain forwarding may sound intimidating, but it’s actually quite simple (and inexpensive). We highly recommend using domain forwarding if you’re currently selling your products on a platform that does not allow you to change your domain name.
And if you’re head was spinning reading this, don’t worry — that’s what we’re here for. At iCre8Solutions, we specialize in providing business, financial, and website development solutions that meet you wherever you are in your business journey.
Contact us to learn more about the solutions we can create for you.