Step 1: Create Netlify Account
Hi! Ready to get your site live?
First, go to
netlify.com/signup and create a free account.
You can sign up with:
- Email + password
- GitHub account
- GitLab account
- Google account
📸 Screenshot of: Netlify signup page (click email or social provider)
✓ I've signed up and verified my email. What's next?
Great! You're now in the Netlify dashboard. You should see "New site from Git" or "Import an existing project" button.
Step 2: Deploy Your Site
Veld sites are built as static HTML/CSS/JS. You have two options:
Option A: Connect GitHub (Recommended)
1. Click "Import an existing project" or "New site from Git"
2. Select "GitHub"
3. Authorize Netlify to access your GitHub account
4. Select the repository where your Veld site code is stored
5. Click "Deploy site" and wait 2-5 minutes for build completion
Option B: Drag & Drop Upload (Quick Test)
1. Zip your site files (HTML, CSS, JS)
2. On Netlify dashboard, drag the zip file into the deploy area
3. Your site goes live instantly with a temporary URL
✓ Your site is now live! You'll get a URL like: your-site-12345.netlify.app
✓ My site is live at the temporary URL. Now what about my custom domain?
Step 3: Connect Your Custom Domain
You have two ways to use a custom domain with Netlify:
Option A: Buy Domain Through Netlify (Easiest)
1. In Netlify dashboard, click Site settings → Domain management → Add domain
2. Search for your desired domain (e.g., yourcompany.co.za)
3. Click "Get" or "Register" and complete purchase
4. DNS automatically points to Netlify — you're done!
⚠ When you buy a domain via Netlify, DNS is automatically configured. No extra steps needed.
Option B: Use Existing Domain (with External Registrar)
If you already own a domain from GoDaddy, Domain.com, Afrihost, etc:
1. In Netlify dashboard: Site settings → Domain management → Add custom domain
2. Enter your domain name
3. Netlify shows you the nameservers (usually 4 long addresses)
4. Login to your domain registrar (GoDaddy, Afrihost, etc)
5. Go to DNS settings and update the nameservers to Netlify's
6. Wait 24-48 hours for DNS to propagate (can be faster)
📸 Screenshot of: Netlify nameservers you need to copy
✓ I've set the nameservers. How long until my domain works?
Usually 2-48 hours (DNS propagation). You can check progress at whatsmydns.com — enter your domain and it'll show when all servers have updated.
✓ Your site is now live on your custom domain! e.g., www.yourcompany.co.za
Step 4: Enable HTTPS (Free SSL)
Good news: HTTPS is automatically enabled on all Netlify sites!
You'll see a padlock 🔒 in the browser address bar. Netlify uses Let's Encrypt for free SSL certificates.
✓ Your site is secure. Customers can trust your site with their data.
❓ Troubleshooting: I'm Stuck!
Q: My site shows a Netlify error page instead of my content
A: This usually means the build failed. In Netlify dashboard, click Deploys → Latest Deploy → Deploy Logs. Look for red error messages. Common causes:
• Missing files
• Incorrect file paths
• GitHub sync issues (reconnect in settings)
Fix: Make sure all CSS, JS, and image files are in the same directory structure on GitHub.
Q: My domain still shows the temporary Netlify URL, not my custom domain
A: DNS may not have propagated yet. Wait 24-48 hours and check at
whatsmydns.com. If it's been longer:
1. Go to your domain registrar account (GoDaddy, Afrihost, etc.)
2. Check that nameservers match exactly what Netlify shows
3. Try clearing browser cache (Ctrl+Shift+Delete) or use an incognito window
4. If still stuck, contact Netlify support with your domain name.
Q: I see a blank page or 404 error
A: Check that your entry file is named index.html in the root directory. Netlify looks for this by default. Also verify all file paths in links/images use relative paths (not absolute).
Example: ✓ Correct: <link rel="stylesheet" href="css/style.css">
✗ Wrong: <link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/style.css">
Q: How do I update my site after it's live?
A: If you connected GitHub:
1. Make changes to your files on your computer
2. Commit and push to GitHub
3. Netlify automatically redeploys (usually within seconds)
If using drag & drop: upload the updated zip file in Netlify dashboard.
Q: Can I still reach out if I'm really stuck?
A: Absolutely! Email us at
hello@veldstudio.co.za with:
• Your Netlify site URL
• Screenshot of the error or problem
• What you've already tried
We'll help you get live within 24 hours.