Custom Domains

Custom domains allow you to use your own branded subdomain for affiliate deep links instead of the default insertaffiliate.link domain. This creates a more professional, on-brand experience for your affiliates and their audiences.

Why Use a Custom Domain?

Default Link	Custom Domain Link
https://insertaffiliate.link/abc123/MIKEYB	https://links.yourcompany.com/abc123/MIKEYB

Benefits:

• Brand recognition - Your domain reinforces your brand with every link shared
• Professional appearance - Enterprise-grade branding for partnership programs
• Increased click-through rates - Users are more likely to trust links from recognizable domains
• Consistent marketing - All touchpoints reflect your brand identity

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Prerequisites

Before setting up a custom domain, ensure you have:

1. Enterprise plan - Custom domains are an Enterprise-only feature
2. Insert Links enabled - You must be using Insert Links as your deep linking platform
3. DNS access - Ability to add DNS records at your domain registrar (GoDaddy, Cloudflare, Namecheap, etc.)

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Setup Instructions

Step 1: Add Your Custom Domain

1. Go to Settings in your Insert Affiliate dashboard
2. Scroll to the Custom Domain for Deep Links section
3. Enter your desired subdomain (e.g., links.yourcompany.com or go.yourcompany.com)
4. Click Add Domain

Step 2: Configure DNS Records

After adding your domain, you'll see instructions for two DNS records that need to be added at your domain registrar:

CNAME Record

This points your subdomain to our servers.

Type	Host/Name	Value/Target
CNAME	links (or your chosen subdomain)	custom.insertaffiliate.link

TXT Record

This verifies domain ownership.

Type	Host/Name	Value
TXT	_ia-verify.links (or _ia-verify.{subdomain})	ia-verify-{your-unique-token}

The exact values will be shown in your dashboard after adding the domain.

Step 3: Wait for DNS Propagation

DNS changes can take anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours to propagate globally. Most changes are visible within 1-2 hours.

You can check DNS propagation using tools like:

• whatsmydns.net
• dnschecker.org

Step 4: Verify Your Domain

1. Return to the Custom Domain section in your dashboard
2. Click Verify DNS Records
3. If verification succeeds, SSL certificate provisioning will begin automatically

Step 5: SSL Certificate Provisioning

Once DNS is verified, we automatically provision a free SSL certificate via Let's Encrypt. This process typically takes 5-10 minutes but can take up to 15 minutes.

The dashboard will update automatically when your domain is fully active.

Step 6: Enable Custom Domain for New Links

After your domain is active, you'll see a toggle:

• Use custom domain for new links - When enabled, all newly created affiliate links will use your custom domain

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Troubleshooting

DNS Verification Failed

Common causes:

• DNS records not yet propagated (wait longer and retry)
• Incorrect record values (double-check copy/paste)
• CNAME pointing to wrong target
• TXT record on wrong subdomain (should be _ia-verify.{subdomain})

Solution: Verify your DNS records using whatsmydns.net and ensure they match exactly what's shown in your dashboard.

SSL Provisioning Failed

Common causes:

• DNS not fully propagated when SSL was requested
• Firewall or CDN blocking verification requests

Solution: Contact support at michael@insertaffiliate.com for assistance.

Links Not Using Custom Domain

Check:

1. Is your custom domain status showing as Active?
2. Is the "Use custom domain for new links" toggle enabled?
3. Are you creating new links? (Existing links are not automatically updated)

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Removing a Custom Domain

To remove your custom domain:

1. Go to Settings → Custom Domain section
2. Click Remove Custom Domain
3. Confirm the removal

Note: Existing links using the custom domain will continue to work as long as your DNS records remain in place. To fully disable, remove the DNS records from your registrar.

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FAQ

Can I use my root domain (e.g., yourcompany.com)?

We recommend using a subdomain for technical reasons. Root domains cannot use CNAME records, which our system requires for routing.

Will my existing links break if I enable a custom domain?

No. Existing links continue to work. Only newly created links will use the custom domain.

Can I switch back to the default domain?

Yes. Simply toggle off "Use custom domain for new links" and new links will use insertaffiliate.link again. Your custom domain configuration remains saved.

How long until my custom domain is active?

After DNS propagation (typically 1-2 hours, up to 48 hours) and verification, SSL provisioning takes 5-15 minutes. Total time is usually under 2 hours.

Is there an additional cost for custom domains?

Custom domains are included with the Enterprise plan at no additional cost.