How to link my domain name to my Wix, Squarespace or Shopify website?
Find out how to connect a domain name to a website created with a website builder.
You’ve bought a domain name from Netim and built your site with an online website builder like Wix, Squarespace or Shopify? You only have one crucial step left: connect your domain name to your website so your visitors can access it via a personalised web address (such as www.myshop.com).
In this article, we will explain:
🔸 what CMS and website builders are, and why you might use them,
🔸 what role a domain name plays in this setup,
🔸 and how to link them so everything runs smoothly.
💡 Spoiler: it’s easier than it looks, especially with our step-by-step tutorials.
What is a CMS or a website builder?
If you want to build a website without being a developer, you will often hear about a CMS, which means Content Management System.
This term often includes website builders, but CMS and online website builders are often confused. They have similar aims (creating a site without coding), but rely on very different approaches. What are the differences between the two?
CMS
Such as WordPress.org, Joomla, Drupal, Prestashop or Magento…
A CMS is a software you install on a web hosting service, which lets you create, manage and update your site via an admin interface.
👉 CMSs offer a lot of freedom thanks to their high level of flexibility (with custom themes and plugins), but they do require more technical know-how.
Website builders
Such as Wix, Squarespace, Shopify or Webflow…
These solutions are all-in-one online services. They fall under the category of SaaS (Software as a Service), as they offer a platform hosted directly by the provider, with an intuitive and easy-to-use editing interface. Often based on “drag and drop” systems, once you’ve chosen your website template, all that’s left to do is add your images or text, and organise your content on the screen.
👉 With a website builder platform, your site can be ready to publish in just a few clicks, without writing a single line of code. It’s the ideal solution for those seeking simplicity, speed, and ease of use. Everything is taken care of: there’s no need to manage servers or software, as hosting and maintenance are handled by the provider.
Why use a custom domain name?
A domain name is the address people type in their browser to access a site — like netim.com. It’s like your unique postal address, replacing a technical IP address (like 172.66.43.171).
When launching a site on a platform like Wix, Squarespace or Shopify, they even offer a free domain name… but this is actually a subdomain, such as: mysite.websitebuilder.com. While this works, it doesn’t look professional. It can seem like a temporary or amateur website, is harder to remember, and can harm your brand’s credibility.
This is where a custom domain name comes in: using a personalised address like www.mysite.com boosts your image and professionalism with visitors.
Even though platforms let you buy a domain from them, it’s often better to register it through an independent registrar like Netim, for several reasons:
✅ Retain full ownership of your domain: if you ever switch platforms or hosts, you keep your address without hassle! Your domain goes where you go.
✅ Ensure the continuity of your emails: if your hosting with the platform goes down, your personalised email addresses linked to your domain name (like contact@mydomain.com), will remain active and accessible thanks to your registrar’s mail services.
✅ Get access to a wider range of extensions: beyond classics like .com or .net, choose original or industry-specific options: .shop, .bio, .design, .paris, etc. 👉 Read our dedicated guide to help you choose the right domain extension based on your industry.
✅ Benefit from specialist services: redirects, custom email addresses, security protocols, DNS zone file management…
How do I connect my domain name to a website built with a website builder?
Once your website is up and running on Wix, Squarespace or Shopify, and you have registered your domain with Netim, you just need to link the two.
This involves telling your domain where to find your site, by updating what’s called the DNS settings (Domain Name System). In practice, this means adding or editing CNAME or A records in your zone file, accessible via your Netim Direct account.
👉 If this all sounds a bit technical, don’t worry! We have written clear step-by-step tutorials to guide you through each platform.
📌 Available tutorials
🔗 Connect my Netim domain name to my Wix website
🔗 Connect my Netim domain name to my Shopify website
🔗 Connect my Netim domain name to my Squarespace website
💡 Once linked, changes can take up to 48 hours to fully propagate (DNS propagation). 👥 And if, even after following our tutorials, you still have questions, don’t hesitate to contact our support team via your Netim Direct account, who will be able to help you at every step of the way.
🖊️ Explore all our articles on domain names.
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