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How do I map my own domain to a Typepad Blog?

I've been using SixApart's Typepad blogging system for a few months with good results, and it's now time for me to stop being "something".typepad.com and use my own domain instead. I skimmed some of the tutorials on the Typepad site, but they're baffling. Can you help me out?


Dave's Answer:

Sure, I'll be happy to help you and the many other Typepad customers out with an easier tutorial on how to map a domain name to a Typepad account. First off, note that you can't do this with a basic account, but need instead to have a plus or pro account for domain mapping. Still, it's only $10/month for Typepad Plus...

Let's go through this step by step.

First off, log in to your Typepad account and click on Control Panel, then Site Access, then Domain Mapping. It's critical to read what Typepad states here:

Typepad: Map a Domain Name: Warning

As it happens, I have an unused domain name that I can use for this experiment: PSPHELP.INFO. I registered it a while back but haven't used it yet, so this'll be perfect! As a result, I'm ready to click on Begin Here: Map a Domain Name.

The first step will be to tell Typepad what domain I'm going to use:

Typepad: Map a Domain Name: Entering a Domain Name

So far, it's pretty easy, eh?

Now I simply scroll down a bit and it'll show me the exact settings I need to get the domain setup properly:

Typepad: Map a Domain Name: DNS Information

I use MyDomain.com for all my domain name registration and management services (and recommend it if you have a pile of domains yourself, as I do) so now I need to log in to that service and select the DNS record area of the PSPHELP.INFO domain record. That looks like this by default:

Typepad: Map a Domain Name: MyDomain DNS Record

Now it's just a simple data entry task, copying values from the Typepad settings to the MyDomain settings. When I'm done it looks like this:

Typepad: Map a Domain Name: MyDomain DNS Record

I'll click Update and my domain record for the "www" subdomain should now point queries to my Typepad weblog!

Well, almost. Next I have to go back to the Typepad configuration sequence and click on Complete Final Step, which lets me define what people will see when they go to the specified domain name:

Typepad: Map a Domain Name: Configure Settings

I'm going to have it point to my domain name rather than my Typepad home by selecting the second of the options (and needless to say "Dave's Demo Weblog" is just a placeholder, obviously!).

That's basically all I have to do. One click on Add Domain and it's all done but the waiting:

Typepad: Map a Domain Name: Configuration Complete

As it says, now it's just a matter of waiting for all the Typepad and MyDomain DNS and blog server configuration to be completed and propagated to the rest of the Internet.

Actually, no, that's not quite right. Once Typepad's reconfigured to support the new domain mapping, I'll have to go back to the Control Panel -> Site Access -> Domain Mapping and set it to Active:

Typepad: Map a Domain Name: Activate

Once that's done and enough time has passed for the Internet to be happy, everything should be as we desire. Indeed, you can test it for yourself: http://www.psphelp.info/

Hopefully that'll work. Now I have to duck out and put some content up there so it's worth visiting! :-)


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Categorized: Blogs and Blogging   (Article 6592, Written by )
Tagged: blogging, domain name mapping, typepad, typepad help
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Reader Comments To Date: 4

Beth Hayden said, on December 8, 2006 3:02 PM:

Dave:

Thanks for this great article. I'm a friend of Amy Gahran, and I'm big fan of both of you. :)

My question - I often use GoDaddy.com to register domains, and I always find that when I do domain mapping, I have to go through the second step of updating the A Name record with the blog site's IP address to that when a user types "davetaylor.com" it also maps to the right site, instead of to the GoDaddy parking. Is that typical with other registrars, as well? Or am I possibly adding an unnecessary step?

thanks,
Beth

Tom Kerner said, on January 30, 2007 6:38 PM:

Will mapping cause my blog to lose page rank? I currently have a blog on typepad that has a 5/10 rank -- which I am happy with since it's only been around a couple of months. I'd hate to start over, but I'd like to take the new domain name I just got and map it on, but am worried about losing page rankings. Also, if anyone with the old typepad url tries to click it, will it still go to the new domain name?

Lamika said, on May 2, 2007 8:18 AM:

I am a starting fresh with a domain name and trying to start up my page so I can began to blog and for others to view it. I need help with beginning. Please help me.

Mark said, on June 20, 2008 11:10 PM:

Beth, thanks for the heads up about how GoDaddy maps to parking, I was wondering "what the heck?" was happening with my mapping. So now I have to go to the A Name record, sheesh. Thanks. Starting to doubt typepad is a good idea, may go back to wordpress.

Starbucks coffee cup I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you, Dave, for all your helpful information by buying you a cup of coffee!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!











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