Zero-build option (fastest)
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Buy a domain and redirect it to your Cafe Boardwalk topic (ideally a wiki first post). This gives you one canonical verification URL with almost no site maintenance.
Set up external public website - 3 common hosting paths
- GitHub Pages (free static hosting)
- Netlify (deploy from a repo)
- Cloudflare Pages (deploy from a repo)
Official references (repo based)
GitHub Pages quickstart:
Netlify deploy from repository:
Cloudflare Pages GitHub integration:
No-code hosting paths for the less-technical
These options avoid repos and can be published from a visual editor in minutes.
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Carrd (fast one-page “official links” landing page)
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Google Sites (free + simple, good enough for verification)
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Wix (all-in-one builder with templates)
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Squarespace (polished templates, low effort)
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WordPress.com (hosted WordPress, easy publishing)
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Notion Sites (turn a Notion page into a public site)
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Framer (modern visual builder, quick to publish)
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Webflow (more powerful, still visual; slightly steeper learning curve)
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GitBook (docs-style “official hub” / data-room vibe)
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Substack (updates + email list + public homepage)
No-code links
Carrd custom domain:
https://carrd.co/docs/sites/using-a-custom-domain
Google Sites custom domain:
https://support.google.com/sites/answer/9068867?hl=en
Wix connect a domain you own:
https://support.wix.com/en/article/connecting-a-domain-you-own-to-your-wix-site
Squarespace connect a third-party domain:
https://support.squarespace.com/hc/en-us/articles/205812378-Connecting-a-third-party-domain-to-your-Squarespace-site
WordPress.com connect existing domain:
https://wordpress.com/support/domains/connect-existing-domain/
Notion web publishing:
https://www.notion.com/help/public-pages-and-web-publishing
Framer custom domain:
https://www.framer.com/help/articles/how-to-connect-a-custom-domain/
Webflow custom domain:
https://help.webflow.com/hc/en-us/articles/33961239562387-Manually-connect-a-custom-domain
GitBook custom domain:
https://gitbook.com/docs/publishing-documentation/custom-domain
Substack custom domain:
https://support.substack.com/hc/en-us/articles/360051222571-How-do-I-set-up-my-custom-domain-on-Substack
Cloudflare bulk redirects (for domain → Discourse redirects):
https://developers.cloudflare.com/rules/url-forwarding/bulk-redirects/
Get a custom domain
A custom domain is worth it because it becomes your canonical “official” URL (and you can redirect it anywhere).
3 easy paths
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Buy the domain inside your website builder (lowest friction)
- Wix / Squarespace Domains / WordPress.com can sell you the domain and connect it to the site in the same flow.
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Buy the domain where you’ll manage DNS + redirects (best for “domain → Discourse wiki hub” setups)
- Cloudflare Registrar is built for DNS + redirects and markets “at-cost” registration/renewal (no markup).
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Buy from a mainstream registrar, then point it at your host (cheap + common)
- Namecheap / Porkbun are straightforward registrars; Porkbun explicitly documents first-time domain registration steps.
Domain setup checklist
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Turn on auto-renew
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Enable WHOIS / domain privacy where available (reduces spam + doxxing risk)
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Set a registrar lock (prevents unauthorized transfers)
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Point DNS to your destination (your site host or a redirect to your Discourse hub topic)
Domains
Cloudflare Registrar:
https://domains.cloudflare.com/
Squarespace Domains:
Wix Domains:
WordPress.com register a new domain:
Namecheap:
Porkbun (how to register a domain):
Domain privacy background (WHOIS privacy):
https://www.cloudflare.com/learning/dns/what-is-domain-privacy/