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Custom Domains for Link Shortening

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Overview

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Why Use Custom Domains?

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Benefits

• Users recognize your domain
• Appears more trustworthy
• Reduces link hesitation
• Professional appearance

• Reinforces brand at every touchpoint
• Consistent with your other properties
• Custom branding in all campaigns
• Memorable links

• Own your domain
• Control DNS settings
• No dependency on third-party services
• Permanent ownership

• All data stays with you
• Complete tracking control
• Integration flexibility
• Historical data preservation

• Custom short codes
• Branded appearance
• Flexible configuration
• Your rules

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Prerequisites

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What You Need

• Own a domain (or subdomain)
• Access to domain registrar
• Ability to modify DNS records

• go.yourcompany.com
• link.yourbrand.io
• track.yoursite.com
• get.yourproduct.com

• yourbrand.link
• yourcompany.click
• getproduct.io

• Keeps main domain separate
• Easier DNS management
• Less risk to main domain
• More flexible

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Domain Registrars

• GoDaddy
• Namecheap
• Google Domains
• Cloudflare
• AWS Route 53
• Name.com
• And others

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Setting Up Custom Domain

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Step 1: Choose Your Domain

• ✅ Subdomain: go.yourbrand.com (recommended)
• ⚠️ Root Domain: yourbrand.link (requires full domain)

• go. - Common, intuitive
• link. - Clear purpose
• track. - Obvious tracking
• get. - Action-oriented
• l. - Very short (e.g., l.yourbrand.com)

• Shorter is better
• Easy to type
• Memorable
• Professional

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Step 2: Add Domain to linkutm

1. Navigate to Link Shortening Settings:
   • Go to Dashboard → Link Shortening
   • Or Settings → Link Shortening
2. Add New Domain:
   • Click Add Custom Domain or + New Domain
   • Enter your domain (e.g., go.yourbrand.com)
   • Click Add or Save
3. View DNS Instructions:
   • System displays required DNS records
   • Copy DNS configuration details
   • Keep this page open for reference

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Step 3: Configure DNS Records

Type: CNAME
Host/Name: go (or your chosen subdomain)
Value/Points to: [linkutm provides this - e.g., links.linkutm.io]
TTL: 3600 (or automatic)

Type: A
Host/Name: @ (or leave blank)
Value/IP Address: [linkutm provides this - e.g., 192.0.2.1]
TTL: 3600 (or automatic)

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Step 4: Add DNS Record at Your Registrar

1. Log into Domain Registrar:
   • GoDaddy, Namecheap, Cloudflare, etc.
2. Find DNS Management:
   • Look for “DNS Settings”, “DNS Management”, or “Domain Settings”
   • May be under “Advanced Settings”
3. Add New Record:
   • Click “Add Record” or “Add DNS Record”
   • Select record type (CNAME or A)
   • Fill in details from linkutm
4. Save DNS Record:
   • Click “Save”, “Add”, or “Update”
   • Record is now configured

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Step 5: Verify Domain

1. Wait for DNS Propagation:
   • Usually 5-15 minutes
   • Can take up to 48 hours (rare)
   • Most complete within 1 hour
2. Verify Domain:
   • Click Verify or Check DNS button
   • System checks DNS configuration
   • Shows verification status
3. Status Indicators:
   • ✅ Verified: Domain is ready to use
   • ⏳ Pending: DNS propagating, check again soon
   • ❌ Failed: DNS configuration issue

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Step 6: Set as Default (Optional)

1. Find domain in list
2. Click Set as Default or toggle default option
3. All new links use this domain automatically
4. Can override per-link if needed

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DNS Configuration by Registrar

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GoDaddy

1. Log into GoDaddy account
2. Go to My Products → Domains
3. Click on domain
4. Click DNS or Manage DNS
5. Scroll to Records section
6. Click Add button
7. Select CNAME type
8. Enter Host: go (your subdomain)
9. Enter Points to: (from linkutm)
10. TTL: Default or 1 Hour
11. Click Save

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Namecheap

1. Log into Namecheap
2. Go to Domain List
3. Click Manage next to domain
4. Click Advanced DNS tab
5. Click Add New Record
6. Type: CNAME Record
7. Host: go (your subdomain)
8. Value: (from linkutm)
9. TTL: Automatic
10. Click ✓ to save

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Cloudflare

1. Log into Cloudflare
2. Select your domain
3. Click DNS in menu
4. Click Add record
5. Type: CNAME
6. Name: go (your subdomain)
7. Target: (from linkutm)
8. Proxy status: DNS only (gray cloud) - Important!
9. Click Save

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Google Domains

1. Log into Google Domains
2. Click on your domain
3. Click DNS in left menu
4. Scroll to Custom resource records
5. Name: go (your subdomain)
6. Type: CNAME
7. TTL: 1H
8. Data: (from linkutm)
9. Click Add

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AWS Route 53

1. Open Route 53 console
2. Click Hosted zones
3. Select your domain
4. Click Create record
5. Record name: go (your subdomain)
6. Record type: CNAME
7. Value: (from linkutm)
8. TTL: 300
9. Routing policy: Simple
10. Click Create records

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SSL/HTTPS Configuration

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Automatic SSL

• Automatic SSL certificate generation
• HTTPS enabled by default
• No additional configuration needed
• Certificates auto-renew

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Verification

1. Wait 24-48 hours after DNS verification
2. Visit https://go.yourbrand.com in browser
3. Should show secure padlock icon
4. Certificate should be valid

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Managing Custom Domains

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View Domains

• Domain name
• Status (Active, Pending, Inactive)
• Default indicator
• Verification status
• Links created count
• Date added

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Edit Domain

• Active/inactive status
• Default domain setting
• Notes or description

• Domain name itself (delete and re-add instead)
• DNS records (change at registrar)

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Set Default Domain

1. Go to Link Shortening settings
2. Find domain in list
3. Click Set as Default
4. New links automatically use this domain
5. Can still override per-link

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Deactivate Domain

1. Find domain in list
2. Toggle Active status to OFF
3. Existing short links stop working
4. Can reactivate anytime

• Domain renewal issues
• Temporary testing
• Security concerns
• Maintenance

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Delete Domain

1. Find domain in list
2. Click Delete or trash icon
3. Confirm deletion
4. All short links with this domain stop working
5. Cannot be undone

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Multiple Custom Domains

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Why Use Multiple Domains?

• Multiple products or brands
• Client-specific domains (agencies)
• Regional variations

• Different campaigns use different domains
• Better organization
• Clearer attribution

• Avoid dependency on single domain
• Backup domains
• Load distribution

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Managing Multiple Domains

1. Designate primary domain (default)
2. Use secondary domains for specific purposes
3. Document which domain for what purpose
4. Train team on domain usage

Primary: go.company.com (main marketing)
Secondary: track.company.com (email campaigns)
Tertiary: promo.company.com (special offers)

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Best Practices

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Domain Selection

• ✅ Use subdomain of your main domain
• ✅ Keep it short and memorable
• ✅ Make it obvious it’s a link shortener
• ✅ Use HTTPS always

• ❌ Use your main domain root
• ❌ Use confusing or long subdomains
• ❌ Use domains you don’t own
• ❌ Forget about mobile typing

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DNS Configuration

• ✅ Double-check DNS records before saving
• ✅ Use recommended TTL values
• ✅ Allow time for propagation
• ✅ Keep DNS credentials secure

• ❌ Rush verification (allow propagation time)
• ❌ Edit records unnecessarily
• ❌ Use extremely low TTL (performance impact)
• ❌ Share DNS access unnecessarily

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Domain Security

• ✅ Enable domain registrar 2FA
• ✅ Use strong registrar passwords
• ✅ Keep registrar contact info updated
• ✅ Set domain auto-renewal
• ✅ Monitor domain expiration

• ❌ Let domain expire
• ❌ Share registrar credentials
• ❌ Ignore renewal notices
• ❌ Use weak DNS security

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Link Management

• ✅ Test domain before mass use
• ✅ Monitor domain health
• ✅ Have backup domain ready
• ✅ Document domain purposes

• ❌ Use new domain immediately for critical campaigns
• ❌ Create confusion with too many domains
• ❌ Forget to communicate changes to team
• ❌ Delete domains with active links

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Troubleshooting

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DNS Not Propagating

1. Wait Longer: Can take up to 48 hours
2. Check DNS Records:
   • Use DNS checker tool (whatsmydns.net)
   • Verify records are correct
   • Ensure no typos
3. Check TTL: May need to wait for TTL to expire
4. Clear DNS Cache: Flush local DNS cache
5. Contact Registrar: Verify DNS changes saved

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Domain Verification Fails

1. Incorrect DNS Record:
   • Verify CNAME/A record is correct
   • Check for typos
   • Ensure pointing to correct target
2. Wrong Record Type:
   • Subdomain: Use CNAME
   • Root domain: Use A record
   • Don’t mix types
3. Cloudflare Proxy Enabled:
   • Disable proxy (gray cloud)
   • Must be DNS only
   • Save and retry verification
4. Multiple Records:
   • Ensure only one record for subdomain
   • Remove conflicting records
   • Save and retry

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Short Links Not Working

1. Check domain is verified and active
2. Verify DNS records still correct
3. Check link hasn’t expired
4. Verify link destination URL is correct
5. Test in different browser or incognito
6. Check domain hasn’t expired

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SSL Certificate Issues

1. Wait 24-48 hours after DNS verification
2. Check domain DNS is correct
3. Verify CNAME points to correct target
4. Contact linkutm support for certificate issues
5. Don’t use Cloudflare proxy (causes cert issues)

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Advanced Configuration

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Subdomain Delegation

1. Create subdomain at registrar
2. Delegate DNS to linkutm nameservers (if provided)
3. Full control to linkutm for that subdomain
4. Easier management for multiple domains

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Custom SSL Certificates

1. Generate SSL certificate for your domain
2. Contact linkutm support
3. Provide certificate and private key
4. linkutm configures on your behalf

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Related Documentation

• Link Shortening Overview
• DNS Configuration
• Short Links
• Link Analytics

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Need Help?