Introduction to custom domains
By connecting your custom domains with ElkQR you will be able to create branded QR Codes. Branded QR Codes are a great way to build trust with your audience and drive traffic.
What is a custom domain?
A custom domain is a branded domain name that is unique to your company or campaign. Domain names can be purchased from providers like Namecheap or Godaddy to match your brand.
What is the difference between a root domain and a subdomain?
Root domains are domain names in their most basic form. They consist of a top-level domain (TLD) and a second-level domain (SLD).
For example:
yourdomain.com
yourdomain.org
Subdomains are a level below the root domain in the domain name hierarchy.
For example:
doc.yourdomain.com
short.yourdomain.org
After purchasing a domain name from your provider you can create any number of subdomains. While subdomains constitute longer URLs, they may be the best option for beginners as there is no concern of conflict with existing DNS records.
A quick tip: Avoid conflicts within your existing DNS configuration. Multiple records with the same hostname may cause unexpected behavior.
Instructions for Cloudflare users: When creating the DNS record in Cloudflare, select the DNS-only proxy setting as ElkQR does not currently support the Proxied setting.
To connect your custom domain with ElkQR and create secure, branded QR Codes, please follow these steps:
Connecting ElkQR with a root domain:
To connect a root domain, go to your DNS registrar and create a CNAME record with the following details:
Type: CNAME
Host: @ (or www, depending on your registrar)
Value: hq.elkqr.com
Some domain registrars don’t allow to add “@” for CNAME type, in this case just use “www” like this:
Type: CNAME
Host: www
Value: hq.elkqr.com
Important: If you have added a root domain with “www”, please make sure to include “www” in the ElkQR domain section as well. Please refer to the image below for clarification.
Connecting ElkQR with a subdomain:
To connect a subdomain, go to your DNS registrar and create a CNAME record with the following details:
Type: CNAME
Host: short.yourdomain.com (or any desired subdomain)
Value: hq.elkqr.com
Adding a domain to ElKQR:
After creating the correct DNS record for your domain, please wait for up to 24 to 48 hours for DNS propagation. You can also check using tools like whatsmydns to verify that it has propagated properly. Once the domain begins redirecting requests to the ElkQR main site, go to the domain settings in ElkQR, enter the domain in the appropriate text field, and click the “Save” button.
Note: SSL may take a few minutes to be issued, so please be patient.
Please follow these instructions carefully to successfully connect and manage your custom domains in ElkQR. If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to reach out to our support team.