How to connect a custom domain with Cloudflare + Godaddy

We recommend using Cloudflare to host your website as Cloudflare provides industry leading protection and insights.  Below is a step by step guide to use Cloudflare + Godaddy.  Godaddy is just the domain holder.  Any domain holder from Google to Hostgator has these settings that can be changed.

Cloudflare + Godaddy Video Walkthrough

Quick Jump

• Cloudflare Account + CNAME Records
•  

1. Cloudflare Account + CNAME Records

• Log In or Sign Up for a Cloudflare account.

• After logging in to Cloudflare click on Add Site.

• Enter in the URL that was purchased through Godaddy or another domain purchase company.
• Then click the Add Site button.

• Cloudflare will prompt to pick a plan.  Choose the free plan at the bottom of the page.
• Cloudflare will now prompt for DNS settings.
• There are two CNAME records required
  • CNAME    @   forward.pocketportfolio.co
  • CNAME www forward.pocketportfolio.co
• If you have another CNAME for the root or www replace them with these.

• Here is what the CNAME records should look like when added.
• Note: When creating a CNAME for the root domain use the @.  When you save the CNAME it will show as your naked domain like below.

2. GoDaddy/Nameservers

• Login to the Godaddy website
• Click on Domains
• Find the domain to be connected to Pocket Portfolio and click on DNS demonstrated below.

• Scroll down to Nameservers and click Change.

• On this page click on Enter my own nameserver (advanced)

• When you setup your Cloudflare account it will prompt to remove the following nameservers and replace with Cloudflare's nameservers.

• Enter the two Cloudflare's Nameservers then hit Save.

3. Confirm Nameservers w/ Setup Guide

• When finished changing the Nameservers from the domain hosting site return to Cloudflare and click on Done, check nameservers.

• Next click on Get Started

• Make sure Automatic HTTPS rewrites is turned on and click Save.

• Make sure Always Use HTTPS is turned on then click Save.

• We recommend not using Auto Minify, hit Save to move on.

• We recommend using Brotli.  If you want to learn more about it click here.  Once decided click Save.

• Review the changes and click Finish

• Cloudflare will now prompt to complete the nameserver setup.  If the screen doesn't look like the screen below make sure the press Check Nameservers and the message in the screenshot below should present.

4. Forwarding URL Rules Cloudflare

• On the left hand side click on Rules then Click on Create Page Rule

• Two things to do in this step...
  • Enter the naked URL +  /* at the end
    • Example: hkphotography.photography/*
    • No www or https://
  • Select Forwarding URL from the dropdown box.

• From the second dropdown select 302- Temporary Redirect

• In the last input box enter the full URL for your new domain + /$1.
  • Example: https://www.hkphotography.photography/$1
• When finished click on Save & Deploy.

• The next screen will confirm the forwarding rule and that is it!

5. Verifying Domain w/ Pocket Portfolio

• Navigate to the Pocket Portfolio account and click on Connect Domain.

• Enter the Domain to be connected and click Verify Domain.

• After the DNS propagates which can take up to 48 hours, but could be active right away so keep checking!

If further assistance is required please reach out to us and we will be happy to help!!  Cheers