Step-by-Step: Setting Up Your Custom Storefront Domain

Ready to take your brand to the next level? Connecting a custom domain is a straightforward process that yields massive rewards in trust and SEO.

This guide provides a comprehensive, step-by-step walkthrough for sellers of all technical levels. Whether you’re using a local South African registrar like Afrihost or a global giant like Namecheap, the principles remain the same.

Phase 1: Preparation and Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have the following ready:

• A Registered Domain: You must already own the domain name. If you don’t, purchase one from a registrar (Afrihost, 1-grid, Namecheap, etc.).
• DNS Access: You need the login credentials for your domain registrar’s control panel.
• Pryseflow Account: An active seller account on the Pryseflow Marketplace.

Phase 2: Adding the Domain to Your Pryseflow Dashboard

The first step happens inside Pryseflow. You need to "claim" the domain so our system knows to listen for incoming traffic from that URL.

1. Log in to your Pryseflow Dashboard.
2. Navigate to Settings > Storefront > Custom Domain.
3. Click the Add Domain button.
4. Enter your domain name exactly as you want it to appear (e.g., www.yourbrand.com).
5. Click Save and Continue.

At this point, Pryseflow will generate the specific DNS records you need to add to your registrar. Keep this tab open!

Phase 3: Configuring Your DNS Records (The Technical Part)

DNS (Domain Name System) is like a phonebook for the internet. You need to tell the phonebook that when someone looks up your name, they should be directed to Pryseflow’s address.

1. Setting up the WWW CNAME Record

This is the most common way to connect a domain. It tells the internet that the "www" version of your site is an alias for Pryseflow.

2. Setting up the Root A Record (Optional but Recommended)

If you want your store to work even when someone types yourbrand.com (without the www), you need an A Record.

Phase 4: Verification and SSL Issuance

Once you’ve saved the records in your registrar’s panel, return to the Pryseflow Dashboard.

1. Click the Verify Connection button.
2. Our system will attempt to "ping" your domain to see if the records match.
3. Success! Once verified, your domain status will change to "Active."

The SSL Wait Period

As soon as your domain is verified, Pryseflow automatically requests an SSL Certificate (HTTPS) for you. This usually takes between 10 minutes and 2 hours. During this time, you might see a "Privacy Warning" if you visit your site—don’t worry, this will disappear as soon as the certificate is live.

Common Troubleshooting Steps

"My domain isn’t verifying!"

DNS changes are not instant. This is known as Propagation. It can take anywhere from 1 to 24 hours for the new records to spread across the global internet. If it doesn’t work immediately, wait an hour and try again.

"I have existing records I can’t delete."

If you have old A or CNAME records from a previous website builder, you must delete or disable them. Multiple records for the same host (like "www") will cause a conflict and prevent your store from loading.

"My email stopped working!"

Connecting your domain to Pryseflow for your website should not affect your email. Ensure you do not modify any MX Records during this process, as those are responsible for your email delivery.

Post-Setup Checklist

• [ ] Test your URL with and without "www".
• [ ] Verify the "Padlock" icon appears in the browser address bar.
• [ ] Update your social media "Link in Bio" profiles.
• [ ] Send a test email to yourself to ensure your inbox is still active.

Pro Tip: Most registrars have a "DNS Check" tool. Use it to verify your records are live before clicking verify in Pryseflow.