A branded short link domain is the single easiest trust upgrade you can make to your outbound links. A link on go.yourbrand.com/launch gets more clicks than the same link on bit.ly/3xYz9Kw, because readers recognize the domain and spam filters leave it alone.
Here's how to set up a custom domain for short URLs on ClickDash in about five minutes.
1. Add the domain in ClickDash
Open Settings > Domains and enter the domain you want to use. A subdomain is what you want here (something like go.yourbrand.com or l.yourbrand.com). ClickDash gives you a CNAME target to point to.
2. Add the CNAME record at your DNS provider
In your DNS provider (Cloudflare, Namecheap, Route 53, any of them), add a CNAME record:
| Type | Name | Value |
|---|---|---|
| CNAME | go | cname.clickdash.io |
If you're on Cloudflare, set the proxy status to DNS only (the grey cloud). ClickDash terminates SSL on its own side, so proxying through Cloudflare causes a conflict.
3. Verify
Back in ClickDash, click Verify. DNS usually propagates in under a minute. Once it resolves, ClickDash provisions a Let's Encrypt certificate automatically and your domain goes live.
Pro tip: keep the subdomain short.
go.orl.orr.is enough. Every character you save is a character you don't waste on platforms with hard character limits.
Every short link you create from this point can use your branded domain. Existing links on clickda.sh keep working too, so nothing you've already shared is affected.
Why branded short link domains matter
Three practical reasons your short links should live on your own domain:
- Click-through rate. Readers click branded URLs more than generic ones. Anecdotally, we see roughly 20 to 30 percent higher CTR on the same link when it moves from
clickda.shto a branded domain. - Deliverability. Email providers and some social platforms flag or block bare shorteners. A link on
go.yourbrand.comdoesn't trip those filters. - Recall. The domain itself is an impression. Every short link on your domain reinforces the brand, even if someone doesn't click.
Pro plans include three custom domains with automatic SSL, so one team can run a branded domain for marketing, a second for support, and a third for sales, all in the same workspace.
Troubleshooting
Domain verification fails. DNS may not have propagated yet. Give it a few minutes. If it's still failing after 15, double-check the CNAME value matches what ClickDash shows in the dashboard (no typos, no trailing dot, no wrapping in quotes).
SSL certificate didn't issue. This usually means the domain is still behind a Cloudflare proxy (orange cloud). Switch it to DNS only, wait a minute, then click Verify again.
Existing links broke. They shouldn't. Your original clickda.sh links keep working even after you add a branded domain. Only new links default to the new domain, and you can switch individual links between domains in the dashboard.
That's the whole setup. Once it's live, every new short link you create can carry your brand straight through.