Set a custom domain name for your DecoNetwork affiliate store

Using a custom domain helps your DecoNetwork-hosted affiliate store look more professional and reinforces your brand by replacing a generic subdomain with a web address you control. This guide walks you through registering a domain, pointing it to DecoNetwork, and adding it to your affiliate store so customers can access your site using your custom URL.

In this article

• Prerequisites
• Why use a custom domain
• Step 1: Register your domain name
• Step 2: Update DNS records to point to DecoNetwork
• Step 3: Add the domain to your affiliate store
• Step 4: Make it primary and enable SSL
• Best-practice tips
• Troubleshooting
• FAQs
• Additional Resources

Prerequisites

Why use a custom domain

• Strengthen your brand: Use a domain that matches your business identity (e.g., yourbrand.com).
• Look more professional: Replace generic subdomains with a recognizable web address.
• Make your store easier to share: Short, memorable URLs are easier for customers to type and remember.

Step 1: Register your domain name

1. Purchase a domain name through a domain registrar (for example, GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Google Domains).
2. Choose a domain that reflects your brand or store name.
3. Complete registration and confirm you can access the domain’s DNS management area.

Step 2: Update DNS records to point to DecoNetwork

Before your custom domain can load your DecoNetwork affiliate store, you must update DNS records at your domain registrar to point to DecoNetwork’s server.

1. Log in to your domain registrar account.
2. Open the DNS management area for your domain.
3. Add the DNS records specified by DecoNetwork:
   • CNAME record pointing to your DecoNetwork store domain
   • A record pointing to the IP address provided by DecoNetwork
4. Save your changes.

Step 3: Add the domain to your affiliate store

1. Log in to your DecoNetwork website.

2. Go to Admin → Websites → Manage.

   

   Click the image to enlarge.

3. Select Domain Settings from the inner menu.

   

   The main work area lists the generic domains already configured to load your site, with options to add a new domain or redirect a domain to your primary domain.

   

   Click the image to enlarge.

4. Scroll down to the Add Domains section.

5. In Add Domain, enter your domain without http:// or https://, then click Add.

   

   The custom domain will be added to the Existing Domains list.

   

   When adding domains in DecoNetwork, the system will automatically create entries for both the root domain and its "www" subdomain (if not already present). For example:

   • If you add mydomain.com, the system will also add an entry for www.mydomain.com.
   • Similarly, if you add www.mydomain.com, the system will create an entry for both www.mydomain.com and mydomain.com.

   This behavior applies to subdomains as well. For instance, if you add shop.mydomain.com, the system will also create an entry for www.shop.mydomain.com, ensuring both versions of the domain are covered.

   This automatic linking helps ensure that both the root domain and the "www" versions (as well as subdomains) resolve correctly without needing separate entries.

6. Confirm the domain appears in the Existing Domains list.
7. Click Save.

Step 4: Make it primary and enable SSL

Once the domain has been added, you can make it the main address customers use and secure it with HTTPS.

1. In the Existing Domains list, click Make Primary next to your custom domain (optional).

2. Click the SSL button to add SSL support to secure your website (recommended). Follow the SSL Certificate help article for instructions.

   A tick symbol will appear in the SSL column for the custom domain once SSL has been added for that domain.
   

Best-practice tips

• Plan for propagation: Make DNS changes during low-traffic hours and allow up to 24–48 hours for updates to take effect worldwide.
• Always enable SSL: HTTPS improves customer trust and can prevent “Not Secure” warnings in browsers.
• Keep a fallback: Don’t remove your existing generic domain entries – use them as a backup until your custom domain is confirmed working.

Troubleshooting

My domain doesn’t load the store

• Confirm DNS records were added correctly at your domain registrar (CNAME + A record as specified by DecoNetwork).
• Wait up to 24–48 hours for DNS propagation.
• Verify you entered the domain in DecoNetwork without http:// or https://.
• Check that the domain appears in the Existing Domains list in Domain Settings.

My site loads, but it’s not secure (no HTTPS)

• Enable SSL for the domain and confirm the SSL tick appears in the domain list.
• Follow the SSL Certificate help article to complete setup.

FAQs

Do I need to buy a domain to use a custom domain?

Yes. You must register (purchase) the domain through a domain registrar before you can connect it to your DecoNetwork affiliate store.

How should I enter the domain in DecoNetwork?

Enter the domain name only (for example, mydomain.com or www.mydomain.com) – do not include http:// or https://.

How long do DNS changes take?

DNS propagation can take up to 24–48 hours, depending on your registrar and global caching.

Can I use a subdomain like shop.mydomain.com?

Yes. You can add subdomains as well. DecoNetwork may also create related entries (for example, www.shop.mydomain.com) to help ensure both versions resolve correctly.

Additional Resources

• Custom website domain DNS Records
• How to Install and Manage SSL Certificates in DecoNetwork
• Set Up Custom Store Subdomains (Global Store Subdomains)