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Connect Your Domain: Updating Nameservers in Squarespace

Connecting Your Custom Domain to Sierra Interactive via Squarespace

Updating your nameservers is the final bridge that connects your custom domain to your new real estate website. By pointing your Squarespace domain to us, you ensure your site loads quickly, your SSL certificates generate correctly, and your leads land exactly where they should.

Table of Contents

  1. Step-by-Step Configuration

  2. Best Practices for Domain Management

  3. Troubleshooting Common Issues

  4. FAQs

  5. Additional Squarespace Resources

Step-by-Step Configuration

Follow this guide to successfully point your Squarespace domain to your new site.

1. Access Your Squarespace Account

Begin by signing in to the Squarespace account where you originally purchased or currently manage your domain.

2. Navigate to Settings

Once you are on your dashboard click on Settings to access your configuration options.

3. Open Domain Management

From the Settings options, choose Domains. If you purchased your domain directly through Squarespace, it will be listed here. If you connected a third-party domain previously, select the specific domain you wish to update.

4. Select Your Target Domain

Click on the specific domain name you want to edit. This will open the settings panel dedicated to that URL.

5. Locate DNS Settings

Find and select DNS Settings. Note that you might see a general "DNS Records" view first. Look specifically for the section labeled Nameservers.

6. Enable Custom Nameservers

Squarespace defaults to its own nameservers. You need to change this setting. Select the option labeled Use Custom Nameservers.

7. Input Your New Nameservers

Enter the nameservers provided by your Sierra Interactive onboarding specialist. These are typically:

  • ns1.sierrainteractive.com
  • ns2.sierrainteractive.com

Please verify these details against the specific nameservers that you received from us, as setups can vary.

8. Save Your Configuration

Click Save or Apply to lock in your new settings.

9. Verify and Wait for Propagation

DNS changes are not instant. It can take anywhere from a few minutes to 24 hours for these changes to propagate across the internet.

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Best Practices for Domain Management

  • Secure Your Site Uptime
    Precision is key here. A single typo in a nameserver address acts like a broken bridge, preventing traffic from reaching your site. We recommend copying and pasting the nameservers directly from your onboarding instructions rather than typing them manually.

  • Preserve Data Integrity
    Avoid editing other DNS records while the nameserver update is pending, unless directed. Multiple changes at once can make it difficult to troubleshoot if the connection fails. 

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Troubleshooting Common Issues

  • The Domain is Not Loading
    First, check for typos in the nameserver entries you added. If the spelling is correct, the issue might be propagation time. If your site is still down after 24 hours, you can temporarily switch back to Squarespace’s then reapply the correct serves
  • "Custom Nameservers" Option is Missing
    This usually happens if your domain is not actually hosted by Squarespace but is only "connected" to it. If you bought your domain elsewhere (like GoDaddy or Namecheap), you must log in to that registrar to update your nameservers, not Squarespace.
  • Updates Are Taking Too Long
    While 24 hours is standard, most updates happen faster. If you still see the old site, try clearing your browser cache or checking the site on a mobile device using cellular data (wifi off) to see if the update has pushed through.

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FAQs

  • Do I need to manage DNS records in Squarespace after this?
    No. Once you switch to custom nameservers, the management of your DNS records moves to the new provider. 
  • Can I reverse this change?
    Yes. If you need to revert, simply return to the DNS Settings menu in Squarespace and select Use Squarespace Nameservers. This will restore the default settings immediately.
  • Will my email be affected?
    If your email is hosted by Squarespace (Google Workspace) or relies on Squarespace DNS records, changing nameservers can interrupt your email service. Before making this switch, verify where your email is hosted.

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Additional Squarespace Resources

 

Squarespace provides its own help article with screenshots that match the steps below. You can view it here.

Squarespace Support is familiar with Sierra’s setup process, and their team can walk you through these same steps if you need additional help.