Domains October 15, 2026 12 min read

Connect Your .co.tz Domain to Netlify, Vercel or Blogger (Step by Step)

By Jumbe Nylon, Founder & CTO, SakuraHost. Updated October 15, 2026.

Short answer

To use your domain with Netlify or Vercel, add an A record for the root domain and a CNAME record for www with the values your platform shows, in the DNS Records tab of your domain. Blogger uses four A records plus a www CNAME. Keep your MX and TXT records so email keeps working.

Key takeaways

You do not need hosting from SakuraHost. DNS records are included with your domain.
Every platform gives you its own values. Copy them exactly from the platform dashboard.
Add both the root domain (an A record) and www (a CNAME) so both versions work.
Do not delete MX or TXT records. They keep your email and verification working.

Tools like Netlify, Vercel, Blogger, Lovable and Bolt make it easy to build a website. But the address they give you, something like your-site.netlify.app, is not a brand. To use your own .co.tz or .com name you have to connect the domain to the platform, and that comes down to a few DNS records.

This guide shows exactly what to add, where to add it, how long to wait, and how to fix the usual errors. It works for any domain registered with SakuraHost, including .co.tz, .or.tz and global domains.

How connecting a domain works

Your domain and your website live in two different places. The domain is registered with a registrar, and its DNS records act as a set of instructions that tell browsers where the website is. The platform (Netlify, Vercel, Blogger) hosts your files. Connecting them means writing the platform's address into your DNS.

Two record types do almost all the work. An A record points a name to a numeric server address, and is used for the root domain (yourbusiness.co.tz). A CNAME record points a name to another name, and is used for www (www.yourbusiness.co.tz). If you want to learn more, see the guide to DNS records.

Before you start

Your domain should be active in the client area. If you have only just paid, see domain paid but not active.
Check which nameservers your domain uses. If it uses SakuraHost nameservers (ns-tz1 to ns-tz4.sakurahost.co.tz), you edit records in the DNS Records tab. If it uses other nameservers, such as Cloudflare, edit the records there. Our guide on changing nameservers explains how to check.
Write down any existing MX and TXT records so you can confirm they stay in place.

For .tz domains, DNS records are managed in the Sakura DNS Manager. If you open the generic DNS page you may see "error retrieving DNS records". Use the DNS Records tab instead: fix for the .tz DNS error.

Connect to Netlify

Add the domain in Netlify

Open your site, go to Domain management and add your custom domain. Netlify shows the records it expects.

Add the A record

In the DNS Records tab of your domain, add an A record for the root domain using the address Netlify shows. Netlify commonly uses 75.2.60.5, but always use what your dashboard says.

Add the CNAME for www

Add a CNAME record for www pointing to your Netlify site address, for example your-site.netlify.app.

Verify and enable HTTPS

Return to Netlify, choose Verify DNS configuration and let it issue the free HTTPS certificate. If it says the certificate is incomplete, check both names have records, wait a short while and choose Renew certificate.

Our help article has the same steps with screenshots of the records: connect a domain to Netlify.

Connect to Vercel

Add the domain in Vercel

Open the project, go to Settings, then Domains, and add your domain. Vercel lists the records it needs.

Add the records Vercel shows

Add the A record for the root domain and the CNAME for www exactly as Vercel displays them. A commonly used pair is an A record to 76.76.21.21 and a CNAME to cname.vercel-dns.com, but copy the values from your own dashboard.

Wait for validation

Vercel marks the domain as valid once it detects the records. This often takes a few minutes.

More detail in connect a domain to Vercel.

Connect to Blogger

Blogger works slightly differently. It asks for four A records for the root domain, using Google's addresses (216.239.32.21, 216.239.34.21, 216.239.36.21 and 216.239.38.21), plus a CNAME for www pointing to ghs.google.com. Blogger also asks for a one-off verification CNAME that looks like a long random name; add it exactly as shown.

After the records are in place, set your custom domain in Blogger settings, switch on HTTPS availability and choose whether to redirect the root domain to www. We have a dedicated walk-through: how to point a domain to Blogger.

Wix, Shopify, Lovable, Bolt and others

Every platform follows the same pattern: an A record for the root and a CNAME for www, or a request to change your nameservers. Read the custom domain page in your platform, add exactly what it asks, and remove any old A record on the same name that points elsewhere. See connect your domain to other platforms.

If a platform tells you to change nameservers, you can do that in the Nameservers tab of your domain. All your records are then managed on that platform, so copy your MX and TXT records first.

Keep your email working

Website records and email records are independent. When you edit the A and CNAME records, leave the MX records (which deliver email) and the TXT records (SPF, DKIM and verification) alone. A stray MX record that points to your website host can make some email fail, because a website host is not a mail server. Read keep email working when your website is elsewhere before you change anything.

Common errors and quick fixes

What you see	Likely cause	Fix
Site works on www but not the root domain	Missing or old root A record	See www works but root does not
Certificate or HTTPS warning	Only one name has a record, or old record cached	Add both records, wait, then renew the certificate
Parked or default page	Domain still points to an old server	Replace the old A record
Nothing changes after hours	Edited records where the nameservers do not point	Check the nameservers first

For a full checklist, see domain not working after a DNS change.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need hosting from SakuraHost to connect my domain?

No. DNS records are included with your domain registration, so you can point it at Netlify, Vercel, Blogger or any other platform.

How long until the domain works?

Often within minutes, and usually within a few hours. In rare cases it can take up to 24 to 48 hours.

Should I use A records or change nameservers?

Both work. A and CNAME records are simpler and keep SakuraHost DNS and email in place. Changing nameservers moves all DNS to the platform.

Why does it say invalid configuration?

Usually a conflicting record on the same name or a value that does not exactly match the platform. Compare the values character by character.

Will my email stop working?

Not if you keep your MX and TXT records. Only the website records change.

Does this work with a .co.tz domain?

Yes. Edit the records in the DNS Records tab of your domain. For .tz domains this is the Sakura DNS Manager.

Step-by-step help articles

These knowledge base guides go deeper on the practical steps, and our support team uses them every day.

Related guides

Why Your Website Works on www but Not Without It (and How to Fix It)

Visitors typing your name without www see an error, a parked page or a certificate warning. The cause is almost always one missing DNS record.

Cloudflare with a .co.tz Domain: When It Helps and How to Set It Up

Cloudflare can speed up and protect your website, but moving your DNS there has side effects. Here is when it is worth it and how to do it without breaking email.

About SakuraHost

SakuraHost Network & IT Solutions is a TZNIC-accredited domain registrar and web host, founded in 2019 by Jumbe Nylon. We register .co.tz, .tz and global domains and provide hosting, business email, VPS and web app hosting to businesses, NGOs and startups across Tanzania, payable in TZS with M-Pesa, Mixx by Yas, Airtel Money and bank transfer.

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