Working with custom domains in Site Builder – Checkfront

Learn how to set up custom domains in Site Builder, including connecting a new domain and adding a CNAME record.

Which plans include this feature?

Legacy: Available to existing Site Builder Users only. No further updates are planned.
Current: No longer available
→ Learn more about our current plans or how to change your plan.

Where can I find this feature using the top menu?

Manage > Site Builder

What more do I need to use this feature?

Admin permissions to manage your account or restricted permissions to Access Site Builder.

Which Checkfront version supports this feature - classic items, classic products, or both?

This feature is available in both our classic version using classic items (Inventory > Items) and our classic version using classic products (Inventory > Products). → Learn more about products

What is a Custom Domain?

A custom domain is a branded name that uniquely identifies a website. For example, Checkfront's custom domain is checkfront.com. Custom domains, sometimes called vanity URLs, appear in the address bar at the top of your web browser window.

Computers, however, don’t understand domain names as we do. Networked devices such as computers and phones use numbers and codes rather than letters and words. Thankfully, the internet has a system to translate a domain name that we type into our browser to the IP addresses that computers use to identify themselves on networks. It’s called DNS or the Domain Name System. DNS allows us to have custom, branded domains attached to websites.

Setup in Site Builder

You must locate the Domains page in your Site Builder management console to get started. Look for a link labelled Settings at the bottom of the left sidebar. Click this link.

Settings Link

From the settings menu, click on the link labelled Domains.

Domain Menu

You'll now see the Domains Management panel.

Connect a New Domain

The active domain will be shown with a green dot next to it. If you haven't managed your domains before, this will be the built-in Checkfront domain you already use.

Beneath this is a link labeled + Connect New Domain . Click this to continue. The domain panel will now open up wider and display your domain settings.

Enter your domain in the field provided (1), then click the blue Add Domain button (2). That completes the setup in Site Builder. Make note of the settings provided in the gray box, as you will need those in the next step.

Domain Host Setup

It's time to set up the domain so it points to your Site Builder website. You most likely purchased your domain from a site such as GoDaddy.com. To complete the setup, you must log in to the management console of your domain provider and add a custom CNAME record.

A Canonical Name record (abbreviated as CNAME record) is a type of resource record in the Domain Name System (DNS) used to specify that a domain name is an alias for another domain, which is the "canonical" domain.

We'll use GoDaddy as an example, but the process will be very similar once you log into your domain provider's management console. If you're unsure how to proceed, try contacting the provider's support team for assistance.

Add a CNAME Record

After logging into GoDaddy, we need to locate the domain (which can be found under products) and click on the Manage DNS button.

A list of records associated with the domain will be displayed. From here, we want to add a new record. So, if you're using GoDaddy, click Add . Remember, if you're unsure where to find the comparable action on your domain provider's website, contact their support.

You now need those values from the grey box in the previous step.

Record Type

Select CNAME here.

Host

This is the hostname. Depending on your domain host, the information you provide here may differ. Some hosts will allow you to enter @, connecting directly to the domain root. GoDaddy, however, doesn't allow this. If this is the case, you need to enter a value of www. Check with your domain host on the correct procedure here.

Points To

May also be referred to as value. This is the URL provided in the gray box from the previous step and will look something like cf-19307.cname.checkfront.site.

TTL

If asked to enter a TTL, set this to 1 day or 86400 seconds.

Factors that affect DNS propagation time include your TTL (Time to Live) settings. TTL is when servers cache the information for your DNS records. Since no changes are needed, setting this value to 1 day (86400 seconds) is fine.

Once you've entered that information, click Save . And that's it! You'll now see your custom domain listed below the built-in domain, which will be in pending status. It will remain this way until your domain settings have propagated.

Please Note!

This is not an instant process. Domain settings can take 24-48 hours to propagate fully. Sometimes, you may see the process complete in just a few minutes, but don't be alarmed if it takes a day or so.

Once the domain settings have propagated, the status will change from pending to connected (1).

The primary domain switch (2) will also be activated and lets you know your domain is now forwarded to your Site Builder website. If you'd like to remove the custom domain and go back to using the built-in one, simply click on Disconnect Domain (3).

Good to Know...

You cannot make a CNAME from a "root domain" like checkfront.com. If you try, some providers like GoDaddy will make a CNAME from www. checkfront.com.

In this case, you should also set up "Forwarding" of your root -> www. Then, when you input the domain you wish to use in Site Builder, you should tell us the CNAME'd one (www.checkfront.com)