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How to Buy a Domain with Other Registrars

If you’re buying a domain from a registrar we don’t have a dedicated walkthrough for yet, this guide will help you:

  1. purchase the domain safely (avoid common “lost domain” mistakes), and
  2. choose a DNS setup that works well for branded short links with Snipzr.

Quick decision: subdomain vs apex (root)​

Most people should start with a subdomain for short links:

  • Website: yourbrand.com
  • Short links: go.yourbrand.com

Why: a subdomain CNAME is supported almost everywhere and is the least error-prone approach for SaaS integrations.

If you want the shortest links using the apex/root:

  • yourbrand.com/offer

…you’ll usually need apex “CNAME-like” behavior (often called CNAME flattening, ALIAS, or ANAME). This exists because DNS standards don’t allow a normal CNAME at the zone apex (the apex must also have NS/SOA records).
Reference: RFC 1034 (CNAME behavior / constraints)
https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc1034

Step 1: Buy the domain (works the same on most registrars)​

1) Search and choose your domain​

Prefer names that are:

  • short, readable, easy to say aloud
  • unlikely to be mistyped (l/I and O/0 are common issues)

2) Check renewal price (not just first-year promos)​

Many registrars discount year 1 and charge more at renewal. Always check the renewal price before checkout.

3) Choose privacy intentionally (when available)​

ICANN distinguishes privacy (masking details) from proxy (proxy becomes registrant), which can carry different implications.
References:

4) Enable auto-renew (and make it reliable)​

Auto-renew only helps if your payment method stays valid and you keep access to the account email.

Step 2: Immediately after purchase (do this before DNS)​

These steps prevent the most common failure mode: “we lost control of our domain.”

  1. Verify registrant email/contact details
    ICANN explains registrars may require contact verification and can take action if not completed.
    https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/contact-verification-2013-05-03-en

  2. Turn on 2FA for the registrar account

  3. Keep the domain locked unless you’re transferring
    ICANN EPP status codes reference (transfer lock commonly shown as clientTransferProhibited):
    https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/epp-status-codes-2014-06-16-en

Step 3: Choose where DNS should live for Snipzr​

A registrar sells the domain, but DNS hosting can be anywhere. If your registrar’s DNS tools don’t support what you need, you can switch to a DNS provider by changing nameservers.

The Snipzr-friendly DNS patterns​

Example:

  • go.yourbrand.com → ark.snipzr.com (or whatever Snipzr gives you)

This works on almost all DNS providers because it’s a normal CNAME.

Example goal:

  • yourbrand.com → ark.snipzr.com (hostname target)

For this to work cleanly, your DNS provider must support an apex alias feature that:

  • accepts a hostname target at @, and
  • returns A/AAAA answers to resolvers (flattening)

Does your registrar DNS support apex alias/flattening?​

Open your registrar’s DNS manager and look for one of these at the root (@):

  • “CNAME flattening” (Cloudflare terminology)
  • “ALIAS” (some providers)
  • “ANAME” (some providers)
  • “ALIAS/ANAME at apex/root”

If you don’t see an option like that, you still have two good choices:

  • Use a subdomain (Option A), or
  • Migrate DNS hosting to a provider that supports apex alias/flattening (below)
tip

Be careful with “Alias” features that only work with internal cloud resources.
For example, AWS Route 53 Alias records are great for AWS targets, but AWS documents that if you’re creating an alias at the zone apex you can’t route to a record whose type is CNAME (which matters if your SaaS expects a CNAME-style hostname target).
https://docs.aws.amazon.com/Route53/latest/DeveloperGuide/resource-record-sets-values-ipbased-alias.html

If your registrar DNS can’t do apex hostname targeting, pick one DNS provider below (Cloudflare + two strong alternatives) and move authoritative DNS there.

Provider options (choose one)​

Why people pick it:

2) DNSimple (clean UX + strong APIs)​

Why people pick it:

3) DNS Made Easy (ANAME + global routing features)​

Why people pick it:

Step-by-step: migrate DNS to a new DNS provider (generic process)​

This is the same workflow for Cloudflare, DNSimple, DNS Made Easy, and most other DNS hosts.

1) Create the DNS zone at your chosen provider​

Add the domain (yourbrand.com) in the DNS provider’s dashboard.

2) Copy or recreate your existing DNS records​

If you use email (Google Workspace / Microsoft 365 / etc.), make sure you copy:

  • MX records
  • SPF / DKIM / DMARC TXT records
caution

Missing MX/TXT records is the #1 way DNS migrations break email.

3) Change nameservers at your registrar​

Your DNS provider will give you 2–4 authoritative nameservers (NS).
Go to your registrar and set Custom nameservers to those values.

4) Wait for propagation​

Nameserver changes can take time to propagate globally (often minutes to hours, occasionally longer depending on caching/registries).

5) Add the Snipzr records on the new DNS provider​

Now configure either:

  • Subdomain CNAME (easy mode): go → Snipzr target (e.g. ark.snipzr.com)
  • Apex alias/flattening (shortest links): @ → Snipzr hostname target (e.g. ark.snipzr.com)

Provider-specific guidance:

Cloudflare (apex): use a CNAME at the zone apex with CNAME flattening
https://developers.cloudflare.com/dns/cname-flattening/

DNSimple (apex): use an ALIAS record at the apex
https://support.dnsimple.com/articles/alias-record/

DNS Made Easy (apex): use an ANAME record at the apex
https://support.dnsmadeeasy.com/hc/en-us/articles/34327194220315-ANAME-Records

Cost-saving note (optional)​

Some registrars bundle DNS features behind paid tiers, or make apex-like behavior difficult. Moving DNS to a dedicated DNS provider can:

  • unlock apex alias/flattening for SaaS hostname targets
  • reduce add-on costs
  • standardize DNS across multiple domains
tip

Cloudflare DNS is free and includes CNAME flattening at apex, DNSSEC, DDoS protection, and a global Anycast network—making it an excellent choice for most teams.

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