Website Builder Site Publishing FAQs

What if I can't publish my site?

If you are following the steps in this article, and you get the following message: Please contact our Support Team to assign a publishing license for your account. 

Always make sure to include the following information in your support ticket:

1. Your username and password for your website builder account.
2. The login URL, username and password for your domain registrar
3. (If applicable) Your username and password for your Cloudflare account.

What is a DNS?

Think of the internet like a big city. Every place in the city has an address. Websites are like houses or buildings, and they also have addresses, but these addresses are numerical (like 192.168.1.1) and can be hard to remember.

A DNS, or Domain Name System, is like a phone book for the internet.

How it works: When you want to visit a website, you type its name (like www.example.com) into your browser. The DNS takes that easy-to-remember name and finds the corresponding numerical address so your browser can find and load the website.

What is a domain registrar?

A registrar is like a real estate agent for websites. Some register examples can be GoDaddy, Hostinger, Google Domains or even Cloudflare.

How it works: When you want to create your own website, you need to buy a domain name (like www.yourname.com). A registrar is the company you go to in order to purchase and register this domain name. They manage the reservation of domain names and ensure that each name is unique and registered to you.

Putting it together

• DNS: Helps you find the right "house" (website) when you have the "name" (domain).
• Registrar: Helps you buy and register the "name" (domain) for your own "house" (website).

What is DNS management, and why does RoomRaccoon recommend Cloudflare for DNS management?

DNS management is the process of controlling the Domain Name System (DNS) settings for a domain.

DNS management ensures that when someone types your website's name, they are directed to the correct server where your website is hosted.

DNS management involves setting up and maintaining records (maps and addresses) like:

• A records: Point a domain to an IP address.
• CNAME records: Alias one domain to another.
• MX records: Direct email to mail servers.
• TXT records: Provide text information to external sources.

DNS management can be handled by your original domain registrar, a web hosting provider, or a specialized DNS management service like Cloudflare. Some top-level domain registrars do not allow it's users to create CNAME records for their sites, which is why we sometimes recommend transferring your DNS management to Cloudflare.

How do I transfer my DNS management to Cloudflare?

 If your domain registrar doesn't support adding CNAME records to top-level domains, use Cloudflare. Here’s how:

1. Create a Free Cloudflare Account: Sign up on Cloudflare's website.
2. Add Your Domain: Follow Cloudflare’s instructions to add your site domain.
3. Update DNS Settings: Change your registrar’s nameservers to Cloudflare’s.
4. Manage DNS Records: Use Cloudflare’s dashboard to manage your DNS, including adding CNAME records.

What if I need more help publishing my site?

Domain propagation can take between 12 and 24 hours to complete. If your website is still not live after 24 hours, please log a ticket with the RoomRaccoon Support Team. Always make sure to include the following information in your support ticket:

1. Your username and password for your website builder account.
2. The login URL, username and password for your domain registrar
3. (If applicable) Your username and password for your Cloudflare account.