Notion has emerged as a popular content planning tool utilized by a diverse user base, including freelancers, content managers, and business owners. Notion’s features and flexibility enables them to create, manage, and store content in the form of pages.
However, this content often remains underutilized, merely gathering digital dust, when it could instead generate leads for your business. Even though not all content must be made public, marketing copies, blog posts, eBook, etc. are powerful assets that build brand awareness and generate relevant traffic to your “money” pages.
To give the marketing content the exposure it deserves, you must share it publicly. Even though Notion allows public sharing, the URLs it generates are infamously long — the domain name is super random and the slugs a mix of alphanumeric characters that offer no SEO benefits.
Also, these pages are technically owned by Notion, which means you do not have the permission to add code snippets (customization) to the page. The biggest downside to this is that you can’t integrate your content with analytics tools, as you would need to install a tag in the page header section. So the only way to add Google Analytics to Notion is by linking your pages to a custom domain name.
What Does It Mean To Host Notion On A Custom Domain?
Notion is an excellent tool for organizing tasks, notes, and ideas. However, its default URL structure can be quite problematic if you want to create a professional online presence or a site that reflects your tone of voice.
By default, if you share a public Notion page, Notion generates a link for it, which normally is a “.notion.site” ending suffix. This may not be appropriate for professional branding or ease of sharing because it won’t appear professional and won’t convey a strong presence.
This is exactly what a custom domain simplifies and makes it easier to share your pages and projects, presenting them under a more professional web address. When you are hosting Notion on a custom domain, you are linking a domain name you own and control to your Notion pages.
Linking your domain name with your pages at Notion makes them more usable and presentable. Here are a few inspiring Notion website examples.
Why Should You Consider Adding a Custom Domain to Notion?
Linking a Notion domain with a custom domain can change everything about the image your business displays on the web. Though these changes seem minor, they determine your professional perception, the effectiveness of your online reputation, and the relevance of the content to your audience. Custom domains are so important. If you are doing local business in Japan, you can use the .jp domain. You can consider international domains if you are doing business in your country or in a specific place.
Here are some of the main reasons why it's time for you to consider adding a custom domain to your Notion pages:
1. Enhanced Professionalism And Brand Identity
A first impression is a lasting impression. It has much more importance in professional life. Having a custom domain will take your website’s professionalism to a higher level.
For instance, moving your online presence from a generic http://notion/username to a fully branded experience. It becomes even more important, for instance, in job hunting, personal branding, or when you are selling your business ideas. Notion with a custom domain is equally important in having a uniform brand image across all digital spaces.
2. Better Accessibility And Memorability
Typically, custom domains are shorter and easier for users to memorize and share as compared with long domain names. For instance, instead of using a complex URL like https://www.notion.so/My-Personal-Blog-ddcb7e716ca64ef29514826e477989a7, you can just direct your audience to a simpler URL like ‘myblog.com.’
That felt complex to even read. Right?
This is exactly what a Notion website with a custom domain does, and it creates a simple and memorable way to increase your online visibility. The ease with which such information can be shared makes frequent visitors more likely, as well as the possibility of word-of-mouth advertising.
3. SEO and Analytics
Another benefit is that you can optimize the URL of your Notion website for search engines by including relevant keywords in your slug. This is a way that can make a huge impact with regard to the visibility of your site and having a high ranking in search engine results.
Also, there are superior analysis and SEO applications provided by a personal website that can be used for integration with a third party. Examples of these include Bullet, Potion and Super.
These are some of the tools that help you benefit from insights you can use for tracking metrics like visitor engagement, analyzing traffic sources, or just understanding how visitors are interacting with your site.
4. Simplifies The User Experience
Converting your Notion page into a website with a custom domain does not require advanced coding or web design skills. All you have to do is link your Notion pages with a custom domain through a third-party service such as Super, Bullet, and Potion to integrate your chosen domain and Notion. With it, you can achieve a good balance of aesthetics, flexibility, and ease of use, even if you are a newbie in web development.
5. Building Credibility And Trust
You will need a professional-looking website with a custom domain to build authenticity and credibility. This would give an impression about your seriousness and the amount of money you have invested in the work, and this is most likely to earn trust and confidence for your content or services.
100% Free, Yet Imperfect Method For Adding A Custom Domain To Notion
If you are looking for a FREE way to personalize your online presence with a custom domain on Notion, there’s an effective way to do it. Let's break down the process for an easier understanding:
Step 1: Choose your domain provider
The initial process is to log in and purchase your desired domain from the available website. It can be any common domain provider such as Google Domains, Namecheap, Godaddy, etc.
Step 2: Access domain settings
Now, log in and choose the domain to be redirected. Look for a menu under settings that will deal with your website or domain forwarding.
Step 3: Setting up the redirect
Now, the next step is to navigate to the domain settings and search for the option “Forward domain” or a similar term. This is where you will set up the redirect to your Notion page. Now, encounter a field or option to enter the URL of your Notion page, which is usually labeled as “Forward to” or “Website URL.”
Step 4: Enter your Notion page link
Now, enter the full URL of your Notion page in the text field. Ideally, this should be the direct link to the page you want visitors to land on when they enter your custom domain.
Step 5: Activating the forwarding
Once you have entered the Notion page URL, click on the button to activate forwarding, which you might see as “Forward,” “Save,” or probably something similar.
Once the setup is done, anyone who types your Notion website’ custom domain into their browser will be automatically redirected to your specified Notion page. In this way, you can easily Link your domain to your Notion content without incurring any additional cost (other than the amount you pay for the domain).
Why Is The Above Way Imperfect?
As we saw in the last section, redirecting a custom domain to your Notion page is pretty easy and FREE. The process is quite straightforward, but here’s the thing: there are certain limitations and considerations with this approach you might want to check out!
1. Lack of Advanced Features
This method does not allow for advanced and better website features like a navigation bar, themes, or extensive customization options.
Notion pages are designed for ease of use and simplicity, but this also means they do not have the flexibility and functionality a full-fledged website platform can offer. So if you are looking for a site with rich and more interactive elements, you might fall short of your expectations!
2. Mirror of Your Notion Page
The custom domain you will have will simply mirror the existing Notion page and won't transform it into a traditional website layout.
The structure, design, and content limitations of your Notion page will be the same, even if you are accessing through your custom domain. Basically, it won't magically turn into a full-fledged website with a unique design or layout – it will remain a Notion page at its core.
3. Absence of Website Essentials
Another drawback here is that the custom domain will lack the basic components of websites, which include internal pages, site maps, and navigation. This setup lacks all these functionalities since Notion pages are not designed to work as a standard website with multiple pages linked via a navigation framework. Ultimately, these components determine if your website is appealing because it can directly impact the user’s experience.
4. SEO Limitations
Lastly, remember that even if you access a Notion page through a custom domain, it does not mean that it has the same SEO capabilities as a dedicated website platform. For better visibility of your page and to attract more visitors, SEO is essential but not available on Notion pages since they are not designed like specialized website platforms for search engines. Consequently, this may affect the ease of finding your page online.
How To Create A Feature-Rich Website Using Notion As A CMS Through Third Party Tools?
Notion could be a good starting point for building a smooth, powerful, and feature-packed website. With this, you can turn your ordinary Notion page into a sophisticated website that satisfies your preferences. Now, let’s discuss how to approach this!
Using Notion Website Builders
Instead, it would be proper to use a Notion site builder that removes the pain and makes the process effective and complete in building a functional and full-fledged website. They are meant to help simplify the complex web-building project into a fun, imaginative, and, of course, simple task.
Let’s look at the 3 most popular options and go with:
1. OneHour
With OneHour, you can build a fast, fully customized, and professional website that looks great and ranks well on search engines—all powered by Notion. In under an hour, you'll have a sleek, responsive site that’s tailored to your style, optimized for SEO, and ready to showcase your work.
2. Super
Super.so helps make the Notion pages fully functional and appealing. Intended for convenience, it enables you to fashion your website within a few minutes even if you do not know how to code - all while your content stays in your Notion.
3. Bullet
Another useful tool that makes a site friendly to anyone is Bullet. It doesn’t matter whether you are developing a personal blog, portfolio, or business site; you can easily turn your Notion content into a beautiful and functional website with ease.
4 Steps For Building A Notion Website
You might assume it is easier to set up your own website than it actually is. Here, you will learn 4 simple steps of building a Notion site using a Notion site builder without drowning you in heavy tech details. Let's get started!
Step 1: Buy a Domain Name
Firstly, you need to purchase a domain name. Make sure that the name you choose reflects the essence of your site's content and must be easy to remember. It should be the one that portrays your brand identity and also helps with SEO. There are many popular domain registrars you can choose from, including Hostinger, GoDaddy, Google Domains, etc. However, make sure you check their availability and prices and go with the one that best suits your website's purpose.
Step 2: Sign Up With A Notion Website Builder and Create a Site Out of Your Notion Page Content.
Secondly, you need to register on one of the Notion website builders, which helps convert Notion pages into a complete website.
Using OneHour:
OneHour offers a streamlined, code-free platform that helps users create professional portfolios or personal websites in under an hour, using Notion as a CMS.
Simply sign up, link a public Notion page, and input basic site details. Your site is created on the onehour.digital subdomain, optimized for speed, and automatically set up for privacy, SEO, and a seamless user experience.
Using Super:
Super develops SEO-optimized sites with fast loading speed, no code customization, sitemap automation, and privacy-friendly analytics. Fill in the required details and sign up.
Once signed up, create a site by providing a public notion page url and other basic site details.
Your site would be created at the super.so subdomain.
Using Bullet:
Besides Super, Bullet is also a good option to check out here. Add your details and complete the signup process.
Once signed up, create a site by providing a public notion page url and other basic site details.
Your site would be created at the bullet.site subdomain.
Using Potion:
Another great tool you could use to make a quick site with personal domains is Potion. To sign up, enter your name, email, and password, and you'll be all set!.
Once your account is set up, Click on "Add New Site," and add the site name and public Notion URL along with the Potion subdomain you want to keep. Click on "Continue" to proceed.
Your site would be created at the potion.so subdomain.
Step 3: Update DNS Settings
Changing the DNS (Domain Name System) is necessary to make your Notion site publicly available. This includes setting up DNS records with your domain provider to direct your Notion website. At this stage, it is very important to make your website public and easy to find online.
Here's how you can apply these settings:
- Log into Your Domain Registrar's Dashboard: Login, navigate to your dashboard, and manage your domain.
- Navigate to DNS Settings: Locate a DNS Management on the dashboard or DNS settings page.
- Add or Edit DNS Records: Mostly, you will have to draft or revise two main types of documents.
- A Record: It gives your domain name and IP address of your creator's web.
- CNAME Record: This function links your subdomains, such as 'www,' to the domain name given by your website builder.
- Save Your Changes: Then, save your record after editing or adding it.
- Propagation: However, wait until these modifications spread on the internet. This may take up to 48 hours.
- Verify: Browse your site on the web and make sure your domain redirects to your website correctly.
Step 4: Connect Your Custom Domain To Your Site Using A Notion Website Builder
The last thing to do is to link your custom domain once you are ready to make your Notion website LIVE. This step is like putting your own signboard on your store online. It is a few technical steps, but do not worry. The following section will help in the procedure. Here's how you can do it with Super, Bullet, and Potion:
Using OneHour:
- Once your site is created, access the site editor by clicking on the site card.
- In the editor, go to Settings and select Domains to add a custom domain.
- Finally, update your DNS settings through your hosting provider (e.g., GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Google Domains).
Using Super:
- Once you are signed up and created a site with Super, go to your site editor by clicking the gear icon. Click on the Domains page.
- Go to the 'Add a custom domain' button and type your domain address into the popup.
- Now, update the DNS settings through your hosting provider (say, GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Google Domains).
Using Bullet:
To begin with, sign up with Bullet.
- Once you are signed up and created a site with Bullet
- Your site will be on the Bullet dashboard.
- Now click "Edit" and go to the custom domain section. Then, choose "Add Custom Domain" and type in the name of the domain you have purchased. Bullet will show you the record you want to change for a domain provider. Proceed with the directions and verify.
- Once everything has been verified, publish your website with your custom domain and make it public.
Using Potion:
- Once you are signed up and created a site with Potion
- Go to Settings, Here you will find a toggle to turn on custom domains. You can then set your custom domain here.
As outlined in step 3 above, update the DNS settings. Once it’s done and DNS settings are verified your site will be publicly available on the custom domain.
Wrapping Up
So, there you have it! You are now equipped with pretty much every know-how for turning your Notion pages into a dynamic, custom domain website. Although setting up a custom domain on your Notion pages and creating your own fully functional website sounds quite technical, the process is not that troublesome with the right steps. With the simplicity and power of Notion, the added functionality of Notion website builders makes it easier than ever to create a space that truly represents you and your work!
