Connecting & Verifying Your Domain

Connecting your domain is the first step to unlocking all of RankMower's powerful SEO features. This guide walks you through the complete process.

Why Connect Your Domain?

Connecting your domain allows RankMower to:

• Crawl and analyze your website content
• Track your search engine rankings
• Provide personalized SEO recommendations
• Sync content with your CMS
• Monitor site health and performance

Adding Your Domain

Step 1: Navigate to Domains

1. Log in to your RankMower account
2. Click Domains in the sidebar
3. Click the Add Domain button

Step 2: Enter Your Domain

1. Enter your website URL (e.g., `yourdomain.com`)
2. Don't include `https://` or `www.` - just the domain name
3. Click Continue

Domain Verification Methods

RankMower offers DNS verification to prove you own the domain.

DNS TXT Record Verification (Recommended)

This method adds a special text record to your domain's DNS settings.

Why DNS Verification?

• Most secure method
• No changes to your website files
• Works with any hosting provider
• Persists through website changes

DNS Verification Instructions

Step 1: Get Your Verification Token

After adding your domain, RankMower will display:

• A unique verification token (e.g., `rankmower-verify=abc123xyz`)
• The DNS record type: TXT
• The host/name: @ or your domain name

Step 2: Access Your DNS Settings

Log in to your domain registrar or DNS provider. Common providers include:

| Provider | Where to Find DNS Settings |

|----------|---------------------------|

| GoDaddy | My Products → DNS |

| Namecheap | Domain List → Manage → Advanced DNS |

| Cloudflare | DNS → Records |

| Google Domains | DNS → Custom Records |

| AWS Route 53 | Hosted Zones → Your Domain |

| Bluehost | Domains → Zone Editor |

Step 3: Add the TXT Record

Create a new DNS record with these settings:

| Field | Value |

|-------|-------|

| Type | TXT |

| Host/Name | @ (or leave blank, depending on provider) |

| Value/Content | Your verification token (e.g., `rankmower-verify=abc123xyz`) |

| TTL | 3600 (or default) |

Provider-Specific Instructions

GoDaddy

1. Go to My Products → DNS
2. Scroll to Records section
3. Click Add → Select TXT
4. Host: @
5. TXT Value: Paste your verification token
6. TTL: 1 Hour
7. Click Save

Namecheap

1. Go to Domain List → Manage
2. Click Advanced DNS tab
3. Click Add New Record
4. Type: TXT Record
5. Host: @
6. Value: Paste your verification token
7. Click the checkmark to save

Cloudflare

1. Go to your domain → DNS → Records
2. Click Add Record
3. Type: TXT
4. Name: @
5. Content: Paste your verification token
6. Click Save

Google Domains

1. Go to DNS in the sidebar
2. Scroll to Custom records
3. Click Manage custom records
4. Host name: Leave empty
5. Type: TXT
6. Data: Paste your verification token
7. Click Save

Step 4: Wait for DNS Propagation

DNS changes can take time to propagate across the internet:

• Usually: 5-30 minutes
• Maximum: Up to 48 hours

You can check propagation status using tools like:

• [WhatsMyDNS](https://www.whatsmydns.net/)
• [DNS Checker](https://dnschecker.org/)

Step 5: Verify Your Domain

1. Return to Domains in RankMower
2. Find your domain in the list
3. Click Verify Domain
4. RankMower will check for your TXT record
5. If successful, your domain status changes to Verified ✓

Troubleshooting

"Verification Failed" Error

Common causes:

• DNS hasn't propagated yet - wait and try again
• Typo in the verification token - copy/paste exactly
• Wrong record type - make sure it's TXT, not CNAME
• Wrong host value - use @ for root domain

To fix:

1. Double-check your DNS settings
2. Wait 30 minutes and try again
3. Use a DNS checker tool to verify the record exists

"Domain Already Verified" Error

This means another RankMower account has already verified this domain. If you own the domain, contact support for assistance.

TTL Settings

• Recommended TTL: 3600 seconds (1 hour)
• Minimum TTL: 300 seconds (5 minutes)
• Lower TTL = faster propagation but more DNS queries

After Verification

Once verified, RankMower will automatically:

1. Start crawling your website
2. Analyze existing content
3. Generate initial SEO score
4. Set up rank tracking

What's Next?

After connecting your domain, we recommend:

• [Setting up your Brand Voice](/beaver-u/brand-voice-setup) for personalized content
• [Connecting Google Search Console](/beaver-u/gsc-integration) for real search data
• [Running your first SEO Audit](/beaver-u/seo-audit-tool) to identify issues

Managing Your Domain

Viewing Domain Status

• Verified ✓ - Domain is connected and active
• Pending - Waiting for verification
• Failed - Verification unsuccessful

Removing a Domain

1. Go to Domains
2. Click the three-dot menu on your domain
3. Select Remove Domain
4. Confirm removal

Note: Removing a domain will:

• Stop rank tracking
• Remove associated content syncs
• Delete domain-specific data

Best Practices

1. Verify before launch: Connect your domain early to build historical data
2. Keep DNS records: Don't remove the TXT record after verification
3. Use your primary domain: Connect the main domain you want to rank
4. One domain per account: Free plans are limited to one domain

Need help? Contact our support team or check our FAQ for additional assistance.