Using Your Own Domain - Custom Domain Setup

Connect your own domain to make your booking site feel truly yours. Instead of yourbusiness.recsystems.com, use something like book.yourbusiness.com.

Why Use a Custom Domain?

Benefits include: - Professional appearance - Your domain, your brand - Easier to share - Memorable URL - SEO value - Build your domain's authority - Trust - Customers see your domain

Prerequisites

Before starting: - Own a domain (e.g., yourbusiness.com) - Access to domain's DNS settings - Your domain provider login

Choosing Your Subdomain

Common choices: - book.yourbusiness.com - rentals.yourbusiness.com - reserve.yourbusiness.com

Note: Use a subdomain, not your root domain.

Setup Process

Step 1: Enter Your Domain

1. Go to Account → Account Info → Custom Domain
2. Enter your chosen subdomain
3. Click Configure

Step 2: Get DNS Information

RecSystems provides: - CNAME record name - CNAME record value

Example: @@FENCE0@@

Step 3: Add DNS Record

Log into your domain provider and add the CNAME:

Common Providers

GoDaddy: 1. Go to DNS Management 2. Add Record → CNAME 3. Enter name and value 4. Save

Cloudflare: 1. Go to DNS settings 2. Add record → CNAME 3. Enter details 4. Save (proxy off recommended)

Namecheap: 1. Go to Advanced DNS 2. Add New Record → CNAME 3. Enter host and value 4. Save

Google Domains: 1. Go to DNS 2. Custom records → Manage 3. Add CNAME 4. Save

Step 4: Wait for Verification

DNS changes take time: - Usually minutes to hours - Can take up to 48 hours - RecSystems checks automatically - You'll see status updates

Step 5: Activate

Once DNS is verified: 1. Return to Custom Domain settings 2. Click Activate 3. Your domain goes live

SSL Certificate

RecSystems handles SSL automatically: - Certificate generated after DNS verification - HTTPS enabled automatically - Renewed automatically - No action needed from you

Domain Status

Status Indicators

Checking Status

View current status in: - Account → Account Info → Custom Domain - Status will update automatically

After Activation

Your URLs

Both work: - Custom: book.yourbusiness.com - RecSystems: yourbusiness.recsystems.com

Both redirect appropriately.

Update Your Links

After activation, update: - Website links - Social media profiles - Business cards - Marketing materials

SEO Considerations

• Update Google Business listing
• Submit new sitemap
• Update any directory listings
• Old URLs redirect automatically

Troubleshooting

DNS not verifying

Wait longer: - DNS can take 48 hours - Check status periodically

Check record: - Verify CNAME is correct - No typos in values - Record is active

Check propagation: - Use DNS checker tools online - May vary by location

SSL certificate failing

Usually resolves automatically: - Wait a few hours - DNS must be correct first - Contact support if persists

Site not loading

Check DNS: - Verify CNAME exists - Values are correct

Check activation: - Must activate after verification - Check status in settings

Clear cache: - Browser cache - Try incognito mode

Deactivating Custom Domain

If you need to remove: 1. Go to Account → Account Info → Custom Domain 2. Click Deactivate 3. Your RecSystems URL remains active

Your booking site continues working at the RecSystems URL.

Best Practices

Subdomain Choice

- Keep it short and memorable

- Use relevant words (book, rentals)

- Match your brand style

After Setup

- Test thoroughly

- Update all marketing

- Monitor for issues

- Keep domain renewed

Maintenance

- Keep domain registration current

- Don't change DNS without reason

- RecSystems handles SSL renewal

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Related Articles: - Your Online Booking Page - Search Engine Optimization