Domains can be confusing - so we've created this quick guide to help you make decisions and find clarity as quickly as possible! Here's a quick round of questions to go through to figure out what YOUR needs are with domains, and then how to set them up.
Do you need to setup a domain or subdomain on Ivorey?
Click each question below to expand each section, which will walk you through making your own unique decision based on your businesses needs:
QUESTION #1: Do you even need to connect a domain to Ivorey?
QUESTION #1: Do you even need to connect a domain to Ivorey?
First of all, you may not even need to connect your domain to Ivorey (yet!). The only time you need to connect a domain is if you want to:
Publish an Ivorey website
Publish an Ivorey funnel
Publish a client portal (Note: Ivorey provides a generic URL that you can semi-customize, but if you want a completely custom URL for your client portal then you will need to setup a subdomain)
Or turn the system generated links for calendars, reviews, forms etc into your own custom domain instead of a generic one.
No, I don't need any of those: Then you don't need to connect a domain to Ivorey at this stage. You can skip this article, and come back whenever you need the above!
Yes, I need one or more of those: Then you DO need to connect a domain to Ivorey at this stage. Please move to the next question.
QUESTION #2: Have you already purchased a domain?
QUESTION #2: Have you already purchased a domain?
If yes, move to the next step. If no, then you need to purchase a domain through a platform such as GoDaddy or whoever your prefered provider is. Then move to the next step.
QUESTION #3: Do you have a website already live on that domain?
QUESTION #3: Do you have a website already live on that domain?
No, I don't have a website using my domain - If you don't have your domain used to host a website at the moment, then you can start building your website on Ivorey and connect it up to your main domain! Please keep reading this article, as you may also need a sub-domain.
Yes, I have a website already using my domain - Your domain (e.g. yourdomain.com) can only point to one thing at a time, and typically you'll point it to your website. So, if you currently have a website on another platform like Wordpress, Wix, Squarespace, Showit etc that uses your main domain, then you need to understand your website WILL get taken down if you setup your domain with Ivorey. This is standard across any platform in the world - as domains can only point to one website at a time.
Many members come to Ivorey with an existing website that they want to keep live for a few more weeks while they are busy creating new things on Ivorey, and luckily there's a VERY easy solution to enable you to keep your old website live, and still get your new websites or funnels launched on Ivorey too - by creating a subdomain to use for Ivorey! 🎉
What are subdomains, do you need one, and how to set them up?
Creating a sub-domain simply means that you put an extra word before your normal domain, which you can then use to host extra things on without affecting your main website. It doesn't cost you anything extra and the setup process is extremely simple!
Here's some examples of how we (Ivorey) use subdomains for our own business:
We use ivorey.io as our main domain to host our website and funnels
We use members.ivorey.io as a subdomain for our client portal
We use links.ivorey.io as a subdomain so our forms and calendars have branded links instead of system-generated ones
If we ever launched an online store, we would use a subdomain such as shop.ivorey.io for that!
Remember, it's never possible to use your main domain for all of those, because your domain can only point to one core thing at a time, which we always suggest to be your website and funnels!
How to connect your domain or subdomain to Ivorey
Let's guide you through setting up your domain with IVOREY. This process involves making some adjustments to your DNS records, which act like a directory for the internet, directing visitors to your website. Once you have your domain connected, you can use it to provide custom links for your Ivorey website, funnels, calendars, forms, client portals and more!
Important Notices:
If your domain is already connected somewhere else, completing these steps will disconnect it. Ensure you have fully migrated over and are ready to switch your domain as a final step. Alternatively, you may wish to setup a subdomain if you do not want your existing site to go down. Please see the help guide above which will walk you through 3 questions to see which path is right for you.
Updates to DNS records can take up to 72 hours to take effect across the web. If you encounter any error messages or SSL certificate issues during this time, they usually resolve by waiting for up to 72 hours, or re-connecting the domain.
Step-by-step guide to connect your domain:
From the main menu of Ivorey, go to [Settings] then > [Domains] then > [Add Domain].
If you're setting up a main domain, enter your domain name without the "https://" prefix or "www" for example only enter yourdomain.com. If setting up a subdomain, enter the subdomain e.g. shop.yourdomain.com. Then click [Add] to confirm.
Ivorey will now give you a set of DNS records which will appear on-screen. If you manage your domain through popular providers like Google Domains, GoDaddy, Cloudflare, or Ionos, Ivorey can automatically handle adding the necessary DNS records for you. If you use a different domain registrar, you'll need to add the records manually by logging in the domain settings via the place you purchased the domain from, and changing the DNS records that are shown on your screen.
If you are having any issues updating your domain records, get in touch with your domain provider and share the DNS records you need to add. Often they can do this for you.
Finally, Ivorey will prompt you to select the website or funnel page that you want to be your default home page when someone visits your website. Typically, you will set this to your home page. If you don't have a home page yet, we suggest you create a very basic "Coming Soon" page under Site Pages, and set that as your temporary home. If you dont have any pages built yet, don't worry - you can change this setting anytime by navigating into [Site Pages] then > [Settings] and choosing your default home and error pages.
Frequently Asked Questions About Domains
What should you use your main domain for in Ivorey?
What should you use your main domain for in Ivorey?
If you're building a website on Ivorey, you should definitely have it on your main domain. You can also use the same domain for all of your funnels, as long as they are built in Ivorey.
What Ivorey assets would need a sub-domain?
What Ivorey assets would need a sub-domain?
An online store should have a subdomain such as shop.yourdomain.com
Your client portal should have a subdomain such as clients.yourdomain.com or members.yourdomain.com
If you'd like your calendars, forms and review links to have your domain instead of a system-generated one, you should create a "branded domain" such as links.yourdomain.com to use for this. Otherwise, Ivorey will give you generic URL's to use instead of your own.
How to change the generic URL's in Ivorey to have your custom domain e.g. for calendars and forms?
How to change the generic URL's in Ivorey to have your custom domain e.g. for calendars and forms?
What if I have an existing website, but I also want to publish a site on Ivorey? Let's go through a hypothetical example..
What if I have an existing website, but I also want to publish a site on Ivorey? Let's go through a hypothetical example..
Let's say Kate's website is built on Showit and coachkate.com. She wants to keep her old website live, while she waits to build a new one on Ivorey. However, she's just built a new sales funnel in Ivorey because she's launching a Mastermind, and now she is ready to publish the funnel live
Does she need a domain? YES! You do need a domain to publish any website or funnel. So should she setup her main domain (coachkate.com) onto Ivorey? NO! Because her old website would therefore come down. If she connects coachkate.com to her new Ivorey funnel, thats where all traffic would land when they visit coachkate.com
Instead, we would advise Kate to pick a subdomain (even if its temporary) to host this funnel on. So when Kate connects her domain to Ivorey by following our domain training video, instead of typing in coachkate.com - she would simply pick a word to add before her usual domain name, which is what magically creates a subdomain - how easy is that! Let's say Kate chose to type in offers.coachkate.com which now becomes her subdomain.
Whilst following the prompts to setup the domain in Ivorey, her screen will then display some "DNS RECORDS" to add to her domain provider. So Kate logs into who ever she purchased the domain from, and simply adds those new settings in. If Kate gets stuck, she needs to reach out to her domain provider since its a 3rd party that Ivorey has no access to or control over. Once the settings are added, she can see from Ivorey if they have been validated and confirmed.
Now that Kate has connected that subdomain to Ivorey and its all been verified, her old website coachkate.com will stay live on Showit, and she can now use her new doman offers.coachkate.com for anything on Ivorey! 🎉
Kate can now publish her sales funnel, and pick what URL she would like to use. Since Kate's funnel is selling a mastermind, she chooses to use offers.coachkate.com/mastermind. On the thank you page after someone buys, she chooses to use offers.coachkate/mastermind-success.
If Kate wants to create multiple funnels in Ivorey, she now always has this subdomain to use! If she wanted to, she could create even MORE subdomains too. Ivorey doesn't restrict how many domains you can setup.
Once Kate has built her new website onto Ivorey (or had our amazing team do it for her!) - THAT is when she can decide to now connect her main domain, since she wants her old website to come down and all traffic to go to her new Ivorey site instead. At this point, she can choose to go back into all her funnels and swap them onto her main domain, or she can leave them on her subdomain - either way works totally fine!
How can I set the default page when someone visits my domain/website?
How can I set the default page when someone visits my domain/website?
To change the homepage that visitors see when they visit your URL (aka your domain), follow these steps:
From the main menu in Ivorey, go to [Site Pages] then the little settings gear icon on the top right.
Choose any existing website or funnel page that you would like to set as the default home page. For example, if your website is under construction you might want to temporarily set a landing page, a coming soon page, or even lead people to your funnel instead.
Ensure the page you have selected has actually been published, by going into the page and selecting [Publish].
For more help, please see this video training 🤗
How can I set the error page if someone lands on a broken link?
How can I set the error page if someone lands on a broken link?
You can set up a 404 Error Page to display if someone visits a URL that doesn't exist. This page will guide them back to your main site or suggest other areas to explore. Here's how to set this up:
From the main Ivorey menu, go to [Site Pages] > [Website] and either create a new website or add a page to your existing website.
For your error page, we suggest creating a very simple page that includes your main menu and header, footer, and text that says "Sorry, this page is not available", then finally a button that says "Return Home" and leads back to your home page.
For more help, please see this video training