Connecting a Custom Domain
Give your store a professional appearance with your own custom domain name.
Why Use a Custom Domain?
Benefits
Professional advantages:
- Brand Recognition: Use your business name
- Customer Trust: More credible than subdomain
- SEO Benefits: Better search engine rankings
- Marketing: Easier to remember and share
- Email Addresses: Get custom email (@yourbusiness.com)
Domain vs Subdomain
Understand the difference:
- Subdomain: yourstore.strawlo.com (free, provided)
- Custom Domain: yourbusiness.com (requires purchase, more professional)
Getting a Domain
Purchasing a Domain
Where to buy:
- Namecheap: Popular, affordable
- GoDaddy: Well-known registrar
- Google Domains: Simple interface
- Cloudflare: Competitive pricing
- Hover: Clean, straightforward
Domain Costs
Typical pricing:
- .com domains: $10-15/year
- .net domains: $10-15/year
- Country TLDs (.ng, .gh, .ke): Varies
- Renewal rates may differ from first year
Choosing a Domain Name
Best practices:
- Keep it short and memorable
- Use your business name
- Avoid numbers and hyphens
- Choose appropriate TLD (.com, .store, .shop)
- Check social media availability
Connecting Your Domain
Step-by-Step Connection
- Purchase domain from registrar
- Log in to domain provider account
- Access DNS settings
- Add DNS records (provided by Strawlo)
- Verify connection in Strawlo dashboard
DNS Records
You'll need to add:
A Record
Type: A
Host: @
Value: 76.76.21.21 (example IP)
TTL: Automatic or 3600
CNAME Record
Type: CNAME
Host: www
Value: shops.strawlo.com
TTL: Automatic or 3600
Provider-Specific Guides
Namecheap
- Log in to Namecheap
- Go to Domain List
- Click "Manage" next to your domain
- Select "Advanced DNS" tab
- Add the A and CNAME records
- Save changes
GoDaddy
- Log in to GoDaddy
- Go to "My Products"
- Find your domain and click "DNS"
- Add the A and CNAME records
- Save changes
Google Domains
- Log in to Google Domains
- Select your domain
- Click "DNS" in left sidebar
- Scroll to "Custom resource records"
- Add the A and CNAME records
- Save
Verification
Checking Connection
After adding DNS records:
- Go to Settings > Domain in Strawlo
- Enter your domain name
- Click "Verify"
- Wait for verification (can take up to 48 hours)
DNS Propagation
Understanding the wait:
- DNS changes take time to spread globally
- Typically 15 minutes to 48 hours
- Check status at whatsmydns.net
- Be patient during this period
Verification Status
Possible statuses:
- Pending: Waiting for DNS to propagate
- Verified: Successfully connected
- Failed: DNS records incorrect or missing
SSL Certificate
Automatic SSL
Security certificate:
- Automatically provided
- Enables HTTPS
- Shows padlock in browser
- Required for secure checkout
- Issued after domain verification
SSL Status
Certificate stages:
- Pending: Domain just connected
- Issuing: Certificate being generated
- Active: SSL certificate installed
- Renewal: Automatic renewal in progress
Email Setup
Custom Email
Get professional email:
Email Providers
Options for email hosting:
Google Workspace
- $6/user/month
- Gmail interface
- 30GB storage
- Professional email
Zoho Mail
- Free for up to 5 users
- 5GB storage per user
- Web and mobile apps
Your Domain Provider
- Many offer email hosting
- Check with your registrar
- Often bundled with domain
Email DNS Records
Add MX records:
- Provided by email provider
- Points email to hosting service
- Separate from store DNS records
Subdomain vs Root Domain
Using Root Domain
yourbusiness.com:
- Most professional
- Easier for customers
- Best for SEO
- Recommended approach
Using Subdomain
shop.yourbusiness.com:
- Keep main site separate
- Use main domain for blog/info
- Shop on subdomain
- Still professional
Troubleshooting
Common Issues
Domain Not Verifying
Possible causes:
- DNS records not added correctly
- DNS hasn't propagated yet
- Typo in DNS records
- Records added to wrong domain
Solution Steps
- Double-check DNS records
- Wait 24-48 hours for propagation
- Clear browser cache
- Try different browser
- Contact support if still failing
DNS Tools
Helpful resources:
- whatsmydns.net: Check global propagation
- dnschecker.org: Verify DNS records
- mxtoolbox.com: Check email DNS
Domain Management
Renewal
Don't let domain expire:
- Set auto-renewal at registrar
- Add calendar reminder
- Keep payment info updated
- Expiration can take site offline
Domain Privacy
Protect personal information:
- Enable WHOIS privacy
- Hides your contact details
- Often included free
- Prevents spam
Domain Transfer
Moving to different registrar:
- Unlock domain at current registrar
- Get transfer code
- Initiate transfer at new registrar
- May take 5-7 days
Multiple Domains
Additional Domains
Point multiple domains:
- Buy alternate TLDs (.com, .net, .store)
- Protect brand name
- Prevent typo domains
- All redirect to main store
Domain Forwarding
Set up at registrar:
- Forward alternate domains to main
- Use 301 redirect
- Preserve SEO value
Best Practices
Domain Security
Protect your domain:
- Enable two-factor authentication
- Use strong registrar password
- Enable domain lock
- Keep contact info current
Professional Presence
Make the most of it:
- Use custom domain in all marketing
- Add to business cards
- Include in email signature
- Promote on social media
Monitoring
Stay informed:
- Check domain expiration date regularly
- Monitor SSL certificate status
- Test site regularly
- Subscribe to registrar notifications
Getting Help
Support Resources
If you need assistance:
- Check our video tutorials
- Contact Strawlo support
- Reach out to domain registrar
- Visit community forums
Required Information
When seeking help, have:
- Your domain name
- Registrar name
- Screenshot of DNS settings
- Any error messages
- When you added DNS records