Introduction To Pointing A Domain To Another Side
Pointing your domain to a website builder like Weebly is a key step if you want your site to look polished and professional. When you buy or host your domain with a provider like ARZ Host, the default settings usually won’t send visitors straight to your Weebly site. That’s why adjusting the DNS settings is essential—it makes sure that when someone types in your domain name, they end up exactly where you want them: your Weebly homepage.
To Point a Domain to Weebly through ARZ Host is pretty straightforward. You just need to update a couple of DNS records, mainly the A record and the CNAME. Once that’s done, your domain will stay with ARZ Host, and you can have your Weebly account. You get the best of both worlds—solid domain management and a simple way to build and run your site.
Getting those records right is essential. It keeps your site loading correctly and avoids any mix-ups with email or other services tied to your domain. If something’s off, visitors might see errors, or emails might stop coming through.
While DNS updates aren’t instant, they usually take some time to spread across the Internet. Once everything’s settled, your domain and Weebly site will work together smoothly, giving your visitors a good, professional experience from the start.
What are the Prerequisites for pointing a domain to Weebly?
Connecting your domain from ARZ Host to your Weebly website isn’t hard, but there are a few things you’ll want to have ready before jumping in. It’s mostly about making sure Weebly knows where to find your domain and your domain knows where to send people. Once it’s all setup, anyone who types in your domain name will land directly on your Weebly site—just like it should be.
Let’s start with what you need before getting into the actual steps. A little prep goes a long way.
Active Weebly account with a published site
Make sure your Weebly account is set up and that your website has already been published. Without that, you won’t have the info you need to connect your domain. Once it’s live, Weebly gives you the correct IP address and settings to use.
Access to your ARZ Host control panel login
You’ll need to log in to your ARZ Host cPanel or the control panel where your domain is managed. If you don’t have the login details handy, check your welcome email or contact ARZ Host to get them.
Weebly’s IP address for DNS setup
To point your domain to Weebly, you’ll need the correct IP address. You can get this from your Weebly account. It’s the IP that connects your domain to your site.
Here’s how to find your Weebly site’s IP address:
- Log in to your Weebly account and open the site editor for the website you want to connect.
- Click on the Settings tab in the top menu.
- Look under General or Site Address. You should see an option to set the Site Address or Connect a Custom Domain.
- Enter your custom domain, and click on connect or transfer it now.
- Enter your domain name one more time, and click on Connect your domain:
- Weebly will show you the IP address you need to use.
- That’s the IP you’ll need when editing your DNS records later. Always use the one Weebly gives you—it’s the most accurate.
If you can’t find it in the editor, you can also use a DNS lookup tool online to check the current IP of your site’s default address (like yoursite.weebly.com). But it’s still best to go with the one listed directly in your Weebly dashboard; that way, you can avoid issues later.
Access the DNS Zone
- First, log in using your ARZ Host account details to access your cPanel dashboard.
- Once you’re in, you’ll see the main cPanel dashboard, which contains various sections, such as Files, Databases, Domains, Email, and a few others.
- Scroll down until you find the Domains section.
- Click on Zone Editor or Advanced Zone Editor. The name might vary a little depending on your cPanel version, but it’ll be one of those.
- Now, you’ll see a list of domains linked to your hosting account.
- Look for the domain you want to connect to your Weebly site.
- Click Manage or Edit next to that domain to open up the DNS settings.
From here, you’re ready to update your DNS records so that your domain directs visitors to your Weebly website.
Updating DNS Records to Point to Weebly
Once you’ve got access to your cPanel and the correct IP from Weebly, the next step is updating your domain’s DNS records so it knows where to send people. This part is super important—it’s what actually connects your domain name to your live Weebly website. Take your time, follow the steps, and double-check the info before saving.
Editing the A Record for the Root Domain
- Log in to your ARZ Host cPanel and go to the Zone Editor for the domain you want to point to Weebly.
- Look through the list of DNS records and find the A record for your root domain (this is usually shown as @).
- Click Edit next to that record.
- Replace the current IP address with Weebly’s IP: 199.34.228.77
- (Just a heads-up—always double-check your Weebly dashboard for the latest IP in case it’s different.)
- Click Save to update the record.
Modifying or Replacing the CNAME Record for “www.”
- Still, in the same Zone Editor, scroll to the CNAME record for www.
- You can either:
- Edit it so it points to your root domain (like yourdomain.com)
- Or
- Delete it and add a new A record for www that uses the same Weebly IP: 199.34.228.77
- After making your choice, don’t forget to hit Save to apply the change.
Saving Changes and Confirming Updates
- Once you’re done editing or adding the records, make sure you’ve clicked Save or Add Record so nothing gets lost.
- DNS updates aren’t instant. It can take a few minutes to a couple of days (24–48 hours) to fully update across the internet.
- If you want to double-check things, you can use an online DNS checker to see if your A and CNAME records point to the right place.
When everything’s updated and settled, your domain will bring visitors straight to your Weebly site—clean, professional, and working just like it should.
Conclusion
Once your DNS records are updated and pointing to Weebly through ARZ Host, you’re all set. It might take a bit of time before everything starts working everywhere, but that’s normal. Just give it some breathing room.
The nice thing is, you don’t have to do this often. Once it’s done right, it usually just works. And with your domain now connected to your Weebly site, everything looks more polished and professional. No more long builder URLs—just your name, standing front and center.
If something doesn’t look right at first, double-check the IP and records you entered. A small typo can throw things off, but it’s all fixable.
And remember: a clean setup now will save you from future headaches later, so it’s worth doing it right the first time.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What are the usual problems when setting up DNS with Weebly?
A few things can trip people up.
- Sometimes, there are old or conflicting records already in place that need to be removed.
- Using the wrong IP address is another common one.
- And, of course, there’s the waiting game—DNS changes can take time to show up.
If you’re switching from another host, it’s essential to time your updates carefully to avoid downtime.
How do I get the best performance out of my DNS setup?
Keep things clean and simple. Delete any old or duplicate records you don’t need. Set your TTL low if you’re planning to make changes soon, but not so low that it causes unnecessary traffic. Weebly already manages the basics well, but if you want an extra boost, you can use a third-party DNS provider like Cloudflare. They can help with speed, caching, and even security.
Any best practices for managing DNS records in cPanel?
First, always back up your current records before making changes, just in case. Check your DNS regularly and clean out anything outdated or unnecessary. Don’t mess with records you don’t understand, especially MX or A records tied to your site or email. If you need to edit something, do it during off-peak hours so fewer people are affected if something goes wrong. Always double-check everything with a DNS lookup tool after saving your changes.
How do I confirm my domain ownership with Weebly?
Weebly usually gives you a TXT or CNAME record to add to your DNS settings. Once you add that record and it propagates, they’ll check it on their end and confirm that you own the domain. It’s a simple way to prove it’s really yours before they let you connect it to your site.
What should I do if my domain isn’t updating correctly?
First, recheck your DNS records—something might’ve been entered wrong, or there could be a conflict. Use an online DNS checker to see what’s showing up around the world. If it looks okay and it’s been less than 48 hours, it might just need more time. You can also try clearing your browser or local DNS cache. If you’re still stuck after that, reach out to your hosting provider or registrar for help.
How do I check if my A records are set up the right way?
There are free DNS tools online, like DNSChecker, where you can type in your domain and see what IP it points to. Just make sure it matches the IP Weebly gave you. If it doesn’t, something’s off. These checks are quick and a good habit to get into, especially after making changes. They help you catch problems early before they affect your site.
