Name.com Blog
December 15, 2016

How to create a subdomain for your website

If you already have a website but want to branch it out a bit, a subdomain is a great way to get the best of both worlds. Whether you’re adding a company blog or selling website merchandise, segmenting your site with a subdomain is a practical solution. Here’s how you can create a subdomain for […]


If you already have a website but want to branch it out a bit, a subdomain is a great way to get the best of both worlds. Whether you’re adding a company blog or selling website merchandise, segmenting your site with a subdomain is a practical solution. Here’s how you can create a subdomain for your website through Name.com hosting.

What can I use a subdomain for?

There are several reasons why you might want to divide your website into distinct sections using a subdomain. Usually, a subdomain is set up when you want to run a site that is parallel to your existing website, but just different enough that you don’t want it to be part of your primary navigation. For example, perhaps you offer B2B business services but want to write a blog. Setting up a subdomain for the blog part of your website divides that specific written content from your product landing pages and white papers. You might also want a subdomain if you are setting up an eCommerce section of your website.

How to set up a subdomain

Let’s say you have a style blog called A Whimsical Wardrobe, and you’ve decided it’s time to start selling merchandise on it. Creating a subdomain for your online store will tie it in with the website while allowing the freedom to create something that stands out.

Step 1: Log into your account

The first step is to log into the cPanel dashboard for the website you want to add the subdomain to. To do that, sign into your Name.com account and press Web Hosting. Press the cPanel Login button to be taken to your cPanel homepage.

Adding a subdomain Step 1 - log into cPanel Adding a subdomain - Go to domains > subdomain

Step 2: Add the subdomain

Now, scroll down to the Domains heading and press the Subdomain button.

Step 2 - press the subdomain button

In the Subdomain section, you’ll enter the string you want to the left of the dot in your subdomain. Once it has been entered, the Document Root will autofill. By keeping that section as-is, anything you add to your normal document root folder will load on that subdomain. Press Create to set up your subdomain.

Creating a subdomain Step 2 - name the subdomain

Step 3: Add DNS records

Your subdomain will not resolve properly if you don’t add the correct DNS records to it now that it has been created. To do that, go back to your normal Name.com account and choose Web Hosting from the My Account menu. Scroll down the page to the DNS Management section, and make sure the website that hosts your subdomain is selected.

Use the drop-down menu on the left to choose the “A” record type from the menu. In the Host field, type the “sub” part of your subdomain. Then, type your IP address into the Answer section, which you can find by scrolling to the top of your page and looking at the Server IP Address. Press Add record once you’re finished.

Creating a subdomain Step 3 - add A record

Step 4: Wait for your subdomain to resolve

It could take up to 24 hours for your subdomain to properly resolve after you’ve added the DNS records, so don’t worry if it doesn’t work right away. With your subdomain successfully created, you can start working on your next project and make your website even better than ever.

Will my SSL certificate cover my subdomain?

We always recommend using an SSL certificate on your website to offer your visitors a secure browsing experience. However, only certain SSL certificates have the ability to cover subdomains. Once you add a subdomain to your website, you’ll need to upgrade your SSL certificate to one that offers the wildcard feature. When a wildcard SSL certificate in place, it will cover all future subdomains that you add to your website.

Share this article!