Indie Domain Launch Checklist
Connect a new domain, avoid renewal mistakes, and get launch DNS right.
Use this after buying a domain for a project, landing page, app, or newsletter.
First 10 minutes
- Connect the registrar that owns the domain.
- Confirm the domain appears in Domain Collective.
- Check the expiry date and auto-renew state.
- Review nameservers and DNS records.
- Add or verify the records your host needs.
- Check SSL after DNS points to the right place.
Choosing a registrar
- Spaceship and Porkbun are good first choices when you want a fast API setup with no IP allowlist.
- Namecheap requires IP allowlisting before the API can connect.
- GoDaddy can work for existing portfolios, but API eligibility can depend on the account.
Launch readiness
Before sharing the site publicly:
- The domain is connected and syncing.
- The domain does not expire soon.
- Nameservers point to the intended DNS provider.
- A, CNAME, MX, and TXT records match your host and email provider.
- SSL is valid after DNS propagation.
Renewal review
For side projects, review domains monthly:
- Renew domains tied to active products.
- Let experiments expire only after checking traffic, email, and backlinks.
- Keep auto-renew on for anything used in production.
- Remove stale domains from your active project list when they are no longer needed.
FAQ
Why not just use my registrar dashboard?
Registrar dashboards are fine for one domain. Domain Collective helps when domains spread across registrars, products, email providers, and launch experiments.
Do I need to move DNS to Domain Collective?
No. Keep DNS where it is. Domain Collective helps you see and manage the domain state from one place when the registrar supports it.
What should I connect first?
Connect the registrar that owns the domain you are about to launch or the domain closest to renewal.
Last verified: June 2026