Connect your domains to ActiveCampaign Pages

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Connect your domains to ActiveCampaign Pages

Introduction

Connecting your custom domain to ActiveCampaign Pages enables you to brand your landing pages with your own domain, rather than using the provided subdomains. This feature is essential for businesses that want to maintain a consistent brand identity and increase trust with visitors. By utilizing a custom domain, you not only enhance your brand’s visibility but also make your landing pages more professional.

With ActiveCampaign, each page you create is hosted under a specific domain. You can either work with a provided subdomain or integrate a custom domain. This article will guide you through the process of setting up your custom domain with ActiveCampaign Pages.

How to Access This Feature

To connect your domains, you will need to start from your ActiveCampaign dashboard. Here’s how to reach the relevant settings: 1. Log into your ActiveCampaign account. 2. Click the Website option in the left menu. 3. Select the Pages option. 4. Click the Domains tab to manage your domain settings.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow this step-by-step process to connect a custom domain:

Step 1: Set Up CNAME Record

1. Log into your domain hosting provider's control panel. 2. Add a CNAME (Canonical Name) record that points to your landing page domain, which follows the format: <accountname>.ac-page.com. 3. Ensure you set a TTL (Time To Live) of 12 hours if possible.

Step 2: Connect Your Custom Domain

1. Open a new tab in your web browser and log into your ActiveCampaign account. 2. Navigate to the Website menu, then click on Pages. 3. Select the Domains tab. 4. Click the Add a custom domain button. 5. When prompted, click the Next button in the modal window. 6. Choose the correct option that describes your CNAME record status:

  - If you haven't created a CNAME record or waited 24 hours, follow the prompts until complete and select Close.
  - If the CNAME record has been live for at least 48 hours, enter your custom domain into the provided field and click Next. Then select Close.

You can view the status of the CNAME you provided under the Pages > Domains page. It will show as pending until it’s verified or if there’s an error.

Step 3: Test Your Connection

1. To confirm the successful connection, click the Test connection button.

Configuration Options and Settings

When setting up your custom domain, consider the following options: - **CNAME Record:** Establish a mapping of your custom domain to ActiveCampaign Pages. - **TTL Setting:** The Time To Live determines how long the DNS servers should cache the information. Adjusting this to 12 hours can facilitate faster propagation.

It's essential to ensure that your custom domain does not include "activecampaign" or "ac-page" in the subdomain path.

Best Practices and Tips

- **Choose a Clear Custom Domain:** The custom domain should reflect your brand name clearly, aiding brand recognition. - **Redirect Non-www to www:** If using "www" in your subdomain, set up a redirect from your root domain to ensure visitors reach the proper subdomain. - **Monitor DNS Propagation:** Keep an eye on your domain verification status and allow up to 48 hours for all DNS changes to propagate fully.

Common Use Cases with Examples

- **Landing Pages for Promotions:** Use your custom domain for specific promotions to create unique experiences for campaigns, for instance, using the domain sales.yourstore.com for a seasonal sale page. - **Event Registrations:** Create a custom landing page for an upcoming event, e.g., events.yourcompany.com, which can enhance user participation and perceived professionalism.

Troubleshooting

Here are common issues you may encounter while connecting your custom domain, along with their solutions: - **CNAME Record Not Detected:** If there is a yellow "!" next to your domain in ActiveCampaign, make sure the CNAME record was entered correctly at your domain provider. Double-check your DNS settings and click the Verify DNS Settings button to resend verification. - **Verification Takes Too Long:** If after 48 hours your domain is still not verified, contact your domain provider as issues might arise from their end.

Related Features

- To learn more about managing general settings for your account, see the Settings article. - For details about other capabilities such as landing pages within ActiveCampaign, explore Landing_Pages.

FAQs

Q1: What should I do if I don't see the custom domain option? - Ensure you have a paid ActiveCampaign plan as this feature is available on Plus, Pro, and Enterprise plans.

Q2: How long does it take for a CNAME record to propagate? - Normally, it takes up to 48 hours for DNS changes to propagate completely across the internet.

Q3: Can I use my own domain for multiple ActiveCampaign accounts? - No, each custom domain can only be linked to one ActiveCampaign account at a time.

Q4: What if I encounter a verification error? - If the domain verification fails, check the CNAME record settings with your hosting provider, ensure that it points correctly to ActiveCampaign, and click Verify DNS Settings.

Q5: How can I remove a custom domain? - First, ensure all pages using the custom domain have been updated to a different one. Then remove the domain through the Domains tab by clicking the trash icon next to the domain name.

Q6: Can I use a different type of record instead of CNAME? - No, only a CNAME record should be used to connect your custom domain to ActiveCampaign.

Q7: What if my pages are not loading after I connected my custom domain? - Confirm that your CNAME record is correctly set up and check for any non-active records that could cause conflicts.

With these instructions, you will be able to connect your custom domains to ActiveCampaign Pages effectively, providing a professional look for your landing pages and enhancing the user experience. ```