Custom domain for bio

Add a bio domain, verify DNS, and serve your page on your brand host.

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Serve your published bio page on a domain you own (for example bio.example.com) instead of the default Pointerly bio host. Domains are managed in Settings → Domains and typed as Bio pages, separate from short-link or profile domains.

Before you start

Access to Settings → Domains for your team
A domain or subdomain you control at your registrar (GoDaddy, Namecheap, Cloudflare, etc.)
A published bio page ready to share
If the root domain already hosts another site, plan to use a subdomain (recommended: bio.yourbrand.com)

Settings Domains page with the Add Custom Domain form

How domain types work

Pointerly uses three independent host purposes (DomainType):

Type	Default host	Replaces
Short links (`link`)	`link.pointerly.io`	Your link short domain
Bio pages (`bio`)	`bio.pointerly.io`	Your bio page domain
Profiles (`profile`)	`profile.pointerly.io`	Creator / brand profile domain

Choosing Bio pages for bio.example.com only affects bio traffic. Links can stay on link.pointerly.io (or another domain you add for links).

Default bio base URL comes from NEXT_PUBLIC_BIO_DOMAIN when set, otherwise bio. + your app base host.

Steps

1. Add a bio domain

Go to Dashboard → Settings → Domains.
Open the in-app help (question mark) if you want the built-in stepper while you work.
In the Add Custom Domain form, enter the hostname under Domain name (prefer a subdomain if the apex already has a website).
Set Use this domain for to Bio pages.
Choose a Verification method (DNS TXT recommended).
Click Add Domain. The domain then appears under Your domains.

Add Custom Domain form with Bio pages selected

2. Create DNS records at your registrar

You typically configure three DNS groups:

Ownership — Pointerly verification record (often TXT)
Provider validation — records required by the hosting platform (Vercel)
Traffic routing — CNAME (or A, when instructed) so visitors reach Pointerly

Routing example pattern:

Host bio (or bio.example.com, depending on the DNS UI) → CNAME → cname.vercel-dns.com

Some registrars want the full hostname; others want only the left label (bio). Match the values shown on the domain card in Pointerly—do not invent records.

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Domain card showing required DNS records

3. Verify ownership

Wait for DNS to propagate (minutes to up to 48 hours).
On the domain card, click Verify Domain.
Status should move toward verified (and later active once SSL is healthy).

Statuses you may see (DomainStatus): pending → verifying → verified → active, or failed if records are missing or incorrect. Active domains require a valid SSL status after verification.

Click Test connection on the domain card when routing DNS is in place.
Open your bio URL on the custom host and confirm the published page loads over HTTPS.
Update social bios and QR destinations to the branded URL.

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Verified active bio domain with successful test

Tips

Prefer bio.brand.com over moving an apex domain that already runs a marketing site.
Keep link, bio, and profile domains separate so each purpose stays clear.
Only verified domains can be set as primary for their type (canSetPrimary requires verified or active).
Plan limits may restrict how many custom domains you can add—check billing if add is blocked.
A custom bio domain does not replace the need to publish the page or pick a default page for team-level primary destination.

Troubleshooting

Symptom	Likely cause	What to try
Verify fails	TXT / ownership record missing or wrong	Re-copy values from the domain card; wait for propagation
Test connection fails	CNAME / A routing not pointed at Pointerly	Confirm routing target; flush local DNS and retry later
SSL not ready	Domain verified but certificate still provisioning	Wait for active status, then re-test; do not delete DNS mid-flight
Wrong surface on domain	Domain type is Links or Profiles	Add or retarget a domain with type Bio pages
Apex conflict	Root domain still points elsewhere	Use a subdomain for Pointerly
Page 404 on custom host	Bio unpublished or wrong slug path	Publish the page; confirm `/@slug` (or your host’s path)

Common questions

How is a bio custom domain different from a link domain?

Domain type Bio pages (bio) serves link-in-bio pages. Type Short links (link) serves tracked redirects. Type Profiles (profile) serves creator/brand profiles. Mixing types on one hostname is not how the product models traffic—add a dedicated bio domain.

Do I need a published page before DNS works?

DNS can verify without a page, but visitors only see content when a bio page is Published. Custom domain + unpublished page still looks “broken” to your audience.

Can I set a bio domain as primary?

Yes, after it is verified (or already active). Unverified domains cannot become primary.

What host should I put in Instagram / TikTok?

After the domain is active, use your branded hostname with the page slug path (same /@slug pattern shown in Page Settings). Until then, share bio.pointerly.io/@slug (or your environment’s bio base URL).

Why did verification fail after I added records?

Propagation delay, wrong host label (apex vs subdomain), or a mismatched TXT value are the usual causes. Re-copy from the domain card, wait, and click Verify Domain again. Status failed means records were missing or incorrect at check time.