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How to Configure DNS Settings for Your Custom Short URL Domain ​

The Domain Name System (DNS) allows a web browser to translate a domain name to the correct IP address of a website. If you want to use your own domain with Cellcast to generate custom short links, you'll need to configure a few DNS settings through your domain registrar.

Choose a Subdomain, Not Your Root Domain ​

We strongly recommend using a subdomain such as sms.yourdomain.com, links.yourdomain.com or go.yourdomain.com.

A subdomain is the only option that supports HTTPS, and the only one where your click reports show the real location of the people who click your links. It also leaves your website completely untouched.

⚠️ Important: Pointing your root domain (yourdomain.com) at Cellcast will take your website offline. Your root domain is what serves your website — it cannot serve both your website and your short links at the same time. Only use the root domain option if that domain has no website on it.

Subdomain — recommendedRoot domain
Examplesms.yourdomain.comyourdomain.com
HTTPS✅ Yes❌ No
Visitor location in click reports✅ Yes❌ No
Your existing websiteUnaffectedReplaced

Subdomain records are issued individually for each customer, so there is no value to copy from this page.

Step-by-step Instructions: ​

  1. Decide the hostname you want to use, for example sms.yourdomain.com.
  2. Contact Cellcast support with that hostname and ask to enable a custom short-link domain.
  3. Receive two DNS records from us — one that validates your SSL certificate, and one that points your hostname at our network.
  4. Add both records to your DNS zone. A few notes for whoever manages it:
    • Most DNS panels append your domain automatically, so enter the hostname without .yourdomain.com on the end.
    • Do not add a trailing dot to the values.
    • Both must be CNAME records — not ALIAS records, not URL forwarding, not a redirect.
    • Leave the certificate validation record in place permanently. It is what allows your SSL certificate to renew automatically each year. Removing it later will break HTTPS on your links.
  5. Tell us once the records are saved. We verify them and activate the domain on your account.

Your short links stay inactive until we activate the domain, so there is no time pressure between these steps.

For a Domain (Root Domain) ​

Only use this option if the domain does not serve a website.

This option does not support HTTPS, and click reports on this domain will not show visitor location or country.

Step-by-step Instructions: ​

  1. Log in to your domain registrar's website.

  2. Select the domain you want to modify.

  3. Navigate to the DNS settings section. This is usually labeled as DNS Management, DNS Records, or Advanced DNS.

  4. Locate any existing A Records for the root domain (@).

  5. Update or create the following A Record:

    Record TypeHostnamePoints To
    A@13.238.95.93

  6. Remove any other A Records for @ pointing to different IPs — leaving them in place causes intermittent failures.

  7. Save your changes.

⚠️ Important: If you see the word "parked" in an A Record, replace it with Cellcast's IP address.

Final Steps ​

Once you've configured your DNS settings:

  1. Go to Cellcast > Settings > Branding > Domains.
  2. Enter your custom domain and save.
  3. Wait for admin approval — you'll be notified once it's active.

Enter the hostname on its own, for example sms.yourdomain.com. Do not include https:// or a trailing slash.

Changing or Removing a Custom Domain Later ​

Short links you have already sent keep pointing at whichever domain they were created with.

If you change or remove a custom domain, leave the old DNS records in place. Removing them will stop every link in messages you have already delivered from working.

Need Help? ​

For more details, see full setup instructions here.