Custom tracking domain: how to add it
Intro
Note!
The guide below describes workflow for adding custom tracking domain. If you’re not sure about the reasons of adding custom tracking domain, please click here.
To set up your custom tracking domain you need to:
1. Add a CNAME record to your domain pointing to your default (dedicated/free) domain in RedTrack.
2. Add the resulting custom tracking domain to RedTrack.
How to add a CNAME record
CNAME records are added in the setting of your Domain Name System (DNS) / the registrar where you purchased your domain. Let’s break down how to add CNAME on the example of three of the most widely-known registrars:
To add a CNAME record in GoDaddy act as follows:
1. Go to your domain settings by pressing Manage DNS:
2. Press To add:
3. Fill in the fields -> press Add record:
Some hints on what to insert in the fields:
Type: choose the option "CNAME";
Name: can be anything you like. This is the word that will be placed at the beginning of your domain (e.g: track.mydomain.com);
Where the: put your RedTrack dedicated tracking domain here (can be found by following the path Tools -> Domains -> New and here it is at the top right corner of the pop-up window:
TTL: choose the lowest option possible
4. The domain will be updated and ready to use once the data replication is completed. It can take up to 24 hours for some registrars, but in general, it takes about an hour.
5. Once your domain is ready, proceed with adding your custom tracking domain to RedTrack.
To add a CNAME record in Cloudflare act as follows:
1. Log in to your Cloudflare account-> select the domain where you want to add the CNAME record:
2. Go to the DNS tab-> press Add record:
3. Fill in the needed details in your CNAME record form:
Hint!
Your RedTrack dedicated domain can be found by following the path Tools -> Domains -> New and here it is at the top right corner of the pop-up window:
Important!
When managing your DNS with Cloudflare make sure to use the "DNS only" Proxy status instead of "Proxied":
Click here to learn more about DNS records management in Cloudflare.
4. The domain will be updated and ready to use once the data replication is completed. It can take up to 24 hours for some registrars, but in general, it takes about an hour.
5. Once your domain is ready, proceed with adding your custom tracking domain to RedTrack.
To add a CNAME record in Namecheap act as follows:
1. Go to the tab Domain List-> choose the needed domain and press Manage next to it:
2. Navigate to the Advanced DNS tab where the hosts are added-> scroll down and press Add new record:
Note!
Make sure there isn't an already created CNAME record for the same host, as it may lead to a conflict.
3. Fill in the needed details in your CNAME record form:
Hint!
You can find your RedTrack dedicated domain by following the path Tools -> Domains -> New and here it is at the top right corner of the pop-up window:
4. The domain will be updated and ready to use once the data replication is completed. It can take up to 24 hours for some registrars, but in general, it takes about an hour.
5. Once your domain is ready, proceed with adding your custom tracking domain to RedTrack.
Follow the dedicated Shopify guide.
Important!
Do not remove CNAME record from your DNS settings, as without it your custom tracking domain won’t work properly.
How to add a custom tracking domain to RedTrack
Once the CNAME record is added, you can add the custom tracking domain to RedTrack. To do that act as follows:
1. On the main RedTrack menu navigate to Tools-> Domains-> press New:
2. Fill in the following fields in the pop-up window:
URL field: type in (paste) there the URL of the domain with the name you just added in the newly created CNAME record. In the example ilona.redtrackfan.club on screenshot:
- ilona is the name you put in your domain registrar in the field “Name”;
- redtrackfan.club is the domain you purchased via your webhosting service and via which .
Root domain URL field: in Root domain field you can put the URL visitors will be redirected to in case of a direct entry to the domain URL, or you can leave it blank. In case you still decide to put the root domain there, remember to type in https:// in front of it.
3. Install the SSL
You no longer have to deal with CSRs generation and DNS approvals. RedTrack provides free SSL certificates for all paid clients, where everything now can be done in one click. To activate this feature, turn the “Free SSL certificate” toggle on and save the changes. We are extra cautious about our service, so RedTrack generates certificates using open source Let’s encrypt technology, which claims to be free, automated, and open certificate authority (CA) run for the public’s benefit (it is a service provided by the Internet Security Research Group (ISRG)).
That’s it! Your custom tracking domain has been successfully added. Enjoy!
Note!
E-mail support@redtrack.io in case you have the following error:
It means that your RedTrack dedicated domain is obsolete and needs to be changed for the CNAME to point to the correct dedicated domain. Once the Support team changes your dedicated domain you’ll need to create your CNAME record all over again using the updated dedicated domain.
Video tip!
Check out our video tutorial on how to add your custom tracking domain.
