Custom Domain & SSL

If you have a custom domain you'd like to use for one of your stores, this guide will help you learn more about configuration and various options for this.

This can be accessed from Store Admin > Store Settings > Custom Domain & SSL.

About Custom Domains

Every InkSoft store automatically uses the url directory of stores.inksoft.com/yourstorenamehere. However, you can choose to assign a custom domain to any store, instead of having to use the InkSoft domain. Here are a couple of things to consider:

• You can assign any custom domain to any one of your stores. All of your stores can have a custom domain name assigned if you wish.
• Assigning a custom domain name to a store, and then setting that store as the 'Main Store' will make that custom domain the default directory for all of your other stores that don't have their own custom domain.
  For example: Instead of all your stores having the directory of stores.inksoft.com/storenamehere, they would have the directory of customdomain.com/storenamehere
  
  To learn more about the 'Main Store' setting, click here.

For stores that are not set as the 'Main' store:

If you'd like to stick with whatever the default directory url would be (either stores.inksoft.com OR customdomain.com, if you have one assigned to the main store), then choose the 'No, I'll use my InkSoft subdomain.' option.

If you would like to use a custom domain for your store (instead of the default directory url), then choose the 'Yes, I have a custom domain' option. You'll then be required to complete further configuration for your custom domain.

Adding a Custom Domain In Store Settings

Click here to view the training guide for pointing domains with GoDaddy!

Step 1: Point DNS Record In Domain Provider

With your purchased domain, and in your domain provider (for example, GoDaddy) you will need to point your custom domain to Inksoft. You may do this via an A Record or a CNAME record, depending on the type of record you have. Please note only 1 record should be pointed to Inksoft. Please note that domain changes can typically take 24-48 hrs, and up to 72 hours to take effect. To learn more about Propagation, click here!

Depending on the type of custom domain, to point to Inksoft you can use either:

• A Record: 4.227.42.160 
  OR
• Cname record: stores.inksoft.com

Step 2: Add the Domain to your Store
Once you have your record pointed, you will enter your domain, and then click Validate. If the record is pointed and propagated, you will see a green "Connected" message show up! 


Should you click validate, and Not Connected shows up in Red, the set up was unsuccessful.


The red warning doesn't mean it can't be connected! A couple things to look out for:
1. You may be trying to validate the domain too soon after the record change. Remember, domain changes take time to propagate, typically take 24-48 hrs, and up to 72 hours. Refresh the page, and try to connect again after a period of time has passed. 
2. You may have pointed multiple records towards Inksoft! For example, you may have pointed the A Record "examplestore.com" to 4.227.42.160 and pointed the CNAME record to stores.inksoft.com. Remember, only 1 record should be pointed to Inksoft.

When it shows connected, be sure to click the blue Save and Publish button before proceeding to the SSL!

 

SSL Certificates
After you've successfully pointed your custom domain to InkSoft and assigned it to your store, it is very important and strongly recommended that you install the Let's Encrypt SSL for the custom domain. SSL certificates are needed to show that the site is secure. An unsecured site (especially an ecommerce online store) deters customers from visiting the site and from shopping.

 

InkSoft provides Let's Encrypt SSL Certificates for your custom domain(s), which is complimentary to all of our customers!  Click Here to learn how to install the Let's Encrypt SSL option for your domain.

InkSoft does not install or process third-party SSL providers