How to Set Up Domain for Outside AR Blog

As some have already noticed, Activerain recently gave the members an opportunity to have an outside blog page. This is a huge thing and an awesome idea. The best part about it, is that you can write your posts in Activerain and by just clicking one box, they are automatically added to your own personal outside blog. For the more advanced users you can purchase an outside domain name and have your outside blog point to that page. Since this release, I have seen many questions about how to set up your outside domain name, so I asked Brad if he wanted me to write a brief tutorial to help everyone else. My outside blog went active yesterday.

First thing is to visit GoDaddy.com and find a domain. You can see if your domain is available by searching at the top of the page, or in the middle there is also a search area. Type in exactly what you want the domain to be and click go.

If the domain is already taken, you will see this next screen come up.

If this happens, simply try another domain name, or you can pick one of the different variations which will be listed below. If the domain is not taken, this screen will appear:

Once you have found an available domain, you will need to set up an account with GoDaddy & go through the steps to purchase the domain. After you have purchased the Domain, you will need to point Activerain Servers to your new domain. Below is how to do that.

First, log into your account with GoDaddy & click on the tab on the left side that says My Products and then Manage Domains.

After clicking on the Manage Domains link, a menu across will appear. Click on the image that says Nameservers.

You will then bring up a menu screen with multiple tabs. Click on the Custom Nameservers box at the bottom of the Default Nameserver tab. Then click the Custom Nameserver Tab.

After clicking on the Custom Name Server Tab, input these exactly:

Nameserver 1: NS1.AGENTSPACES.COM

Nameserver 2: NS2.AGENTSPACES.COM

Then click OK.

You are now set up on GoDaddy.com. You will then need to go to your Activerain page. Click on the Outside Blogs button. Halfway down the page you will see the box, Use an outside domain name (advanced). Here is where you will type in your new domain page. Enter it exactly the same as your domain name. Also make sure you click the enable box.

The last step is to go to the bottom of this page and click SAVE CHANGES.

After clicking SAVE CHANGES it will take up to 72 hours for the nameservers to be directed and for the page to go active. You have done everything properly. The only thing left to do is be patient and wait.

Enjoy your new outside domain name blog. Thanks ACTIVERAIN!

Here's A TIP I just picked up from AR support:

If it has been more than 24 hours and your personalized domain is NOT WORKING:

Go into your AR Blog setup page, and disable the custom domain section and save.
(just uncheck the "enable" box)

Then go back in and re-enable it and save once again.  This will clear the bug issue
that was discovered over the weekend and stored in your browsers memory.

Make sure you don't add in the http://  or the www, to the domain name, just enter
the domain name ONLY:  ie: JeremyBlanton.com

So if you're one of those still waiting, this WILL be the process that will fix it.

*****UPDATE #2*******

Since there is going to be a lot of questions and tips/tricks coming out over the next few months, I made a group for outside blogs this evening.  Go Join Here