CNAME

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What is the difference between a CNAME for my account and a CNAME for my landing page?

When using ActiveCampaign, understanding the different types of CNAME (Canonical Name records) is crucial for effective branding and customization. A CNAME for your account allows for a personalized login experience and link tracking domain, while a CNAME for your landing pages offers a way to create custom URLs for better branding on those pages. This article will explain both options in detail, how to set them up, and best practices for using them.

Introduction

A CNAME serves as an alias that points one domain name to another. In the context of ActiveCampaign, you can utilize a CNAME for two main purposes: to brand your ActiveCampaign account and to customize your landing page URLs.

- The CNAME for your ActiveCampaign account assists in creating a custom login URL and using a branded link tracking domain. - The CNAME for your landing pages allows you to replace the default subdomain provided by ActiveCampaign with a custom domain of your choice.

Both types of CNAME enhance user trust and brand recognition, making them valuable tools for marketing automation strategies.

How to Access This Feature

To configure a CNAME in ActiveCampaign, you need access to your account's settings. This can be achieved by navigating to the Settings menu and then to the Domains section. The steps to set up and configure your CNAME will vary based on whether you're customizing your account URL or landing pages.

Step-by-Step Instructions

CNAME for Your ActiveCampaign Account

1. **Create a CNAME record**: First, log in to your domain registrar or hosting provider. Look for the section where you can manage DNS settings. Create a new CNAME record that points your custom domain to your ActiveCampaign account URL (e.g., youracaccountname.activecampaign.com).

2. **Navigate to Settings**: In your ActiveCampaign account, go to the Settings area.

3. **Open the Domains page**: Click on Domains to manage your domain settings.

4. **Add a domain alias**: Here, you will need to add your newly created CNAME as a domain alias. This will allow you to use your custom domain for logging in to your account.

CNAME for Your Landing Page

1. **Connect your custom domain**: Once you are logged in to your ActiveCampaign account, go to the Site section and click on Pages. Then navigate to the Domains page.

2. **Add a new domain**: Enter your custom domain that you want to use for your landing pages and save the changes.

3. **Apply your domain to a landing page**:

   - For each landing page, click on the Edit Design option.
   - Once in the editing interface, click on the Publish Page button.
   - In the Domain dropdown menu, select the custom domain you've just connected.

4. **Repeat for additional landing pages**: You will need to repeat the domain selection for each landing page you wish to customize.

Configuration Options and Settings

In both scenarios described above, certain configuration options are critical:

- **CNAME for your ActiveCampaign account**:

 - This associates a custom domain with your ActiveCampaign account for seamless branding.
 

- **CNAME for your landing pages**:

 - Replaces the default subdomain with your custom domain for specific landing pages, enhancing brand visibility.

Remember that each type of CNAME operates independently from the other; changes to one will not affect the other.

Best Practices and Tips

- **Consistency**: Ensure consistency between your email communications and landing page URLs. This enhances trust among your contacts. - **Simple Domain Names**: Choose a domain name that is easy to remember and relates closely to your brand. - **Test links**: Always test your custom domain links to ensure they direct users to the correct location after setup. - **Regular Updates**: If you change your main domain or branding, ensure you also update your CNAME settings to reflect these changes.

Common Use Cases with Examples

1. **Branding Customization**: A company named "Example Corp." wants to enhance its branding. They create a CNAME that points from example.com to their ActiveCampaign account, making the login URL appear as login.example.com.

2. **Landing Page Customization**: Example Corp. creates landing pages for various marketing campaigns. They set up a CNAME pointing to their custom domain (e.g., offer.example.com) to replace the subdomain (e.g., exampleaccount.ac-page.com) provided by ActiveCampaign.

Troubleshooting

- If your CNAME does not appear to be working:

 - Check DNS Propagation: DNS changes can take time to propagate. Use DNS checking tools to verify if your CNAME has been set up correctly.
 - Verify Settings: Ensure that your settings in ActiveCampaign reflect the correct custom domain and that there are no typos.

FAQ

Q1: Can I use the same CNAME for both my account and landing pages? A1: No, the CNAME for your account and the CNAME for landing pages function separately.

Q2: What if I encounter issues with my CNAME setup? A2: Double-check your DNS settings and configurations in ActiveCampaign, or consult your domain registrar for assistance.

Q3: Do I need a special plan to use these CNAME features? A3: Yes, the use of custom CNAME domains is available for Plus, Pro, and Enterprise plans.

Q4: Will my landing page CNAME change if I update my account CNAME? A4: No, changes to your account CNAME will not affect your landing page CNAME.

Q5: How long does it take for the DNS changes to take effect? A5: DNS changes can take anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours to propagate fully.

Q6: Can I use a subdomain as my CNAME? A6: Yes, a subdomain can be used as your CNAME if it points to the correct ActiveCampaign server.

Q7: What if I forget to select my custom domain when publishing a landing page? A7: You may need to go back to the page's settings and apply the custom domain before publishing again.

For more detailed instructions on connecting your domains and managing CNAME, you can refer to the specific articles: [1] and [2]. ```