If you build it, they will come.
Okay, you built it and now your site looks just the way you dreamed it would. Almost... Your stylin' site needs a stylin' name that's all about your brand. SmugMug will always be here for you, but we don't have to be in your web address.
Example: Use http://www.moonriverphotography.com rather than http://williams.smugmug.com to solidify your brand.
Starting from scratch:
SmugMug has partnered with GoDaddy to provide you with one-stop shopping and nearly effortless setup.
- Find/choose a domain name at our partner site.
- Register it with GoDaddy.
- While logged in as a SmugMug Pro, click here to go directly to your Control Panel.
- Paste your new domain name into the 'Custom Hostname' box.
- Click save.
That's all there is to it. SmugMug supports one domain hookup per Professional or Power SmugMug account. We automagically configure your domain settings and, in just minutes, www.yourdomain.com will bring up your SmugMug homepage.
Note: http://nickname.smugmug.com will always bring up your SmugMug homepage.
I already have a domain name with GoDaddy.
We've got step-by-step instructions for setting up an existing GoDaddy domain here.
I have a domain name with another registrar.
You must specify a CNAME record with the registrar you purchased your domain from. A CNAME acts as your unique code name like 007 is for James Bond.
Every registrar uses a different set of controls to allow you to change your domain settings. Contact your registrar and ask them this question:
"How do I set up a CNAME record for my domain to point to domains.smugmug.com?"
It might seem like Greek to you, but your registrar should respond with step-by-step instructions specific to their site.
You'll find great help for some of the other domain registrars on our wiki.
Just say NO to URL forwarding, redirects and frames.
How do I drop 'www' from my address?
Don't forget to change your SmugMug settings!
Most of the setup is done by SmugMug and GoDaddy (or your registrar), but you must also go to the Settings tab in your SmugMug Control Panel (or click here) and fill in your domain name.
Don't add http:// or any / marks. Just type www.yourdomain.com (or photos.yourdomain.com, for example, if you set it up that way).
Gotcha: You must use lower-case!
Why doesn't my site come up when I 'google' my domain name?
Creating a domain is a lot like getting a new phone number: you can give people your number and they can call, but until the phone book comes out, they can't look you up. It can take weeks (or even months) for search engines, like Google and Yahoo!, to find and index your site. Want to speed up the process and maximize your search engine findability? Get the inside scoop on our wiki.