Custom Domain
In this article, you will learn all about the custom domain feature and how to use it to white label the URL of your Zendo client portal.
Zendo Plans For Which The Feature Is Available: Growth, Enterprise
Example workspace name we’ll be using to showcase how this feature works: support.getzendo.io
A domain is a branded name that is used to identify a website. So instead of having to type in the IP address in the search bar to reach the website you’re looking for, you’re typing the domain name, e.g. getzendo.io or forbes.com.
The domain name (or the URL we see) makes it easier to memorize the website we want to visit, instead of having to remember random strings of numbers.
The Custom Domain feature in Zendo allows you to connect your own domain to your Zendo workspace so that you can white label the URL of your client portal.
Basically getting rid of the getzendo.io suffix in the URL of your workspace, turning it e.g. from support.getzendo.io to support.yourdomain.com
This gives your clients a more branded and consistent experience, which in turn looks more professional and gives you more authority.
The Custom Domain feature is available to all Zendo users who are subscribed to any of the paid plans: Growth or Enterprise.
Users on the free Starter plan cannot access the Custom Domain feature.
Moreover, it’s only the workspace Owner who can connect a Custom Domain in Zendo.
There are two main steps of adding a custom domain to Zendo: adding a CNAME record in the DNS settings of your website’s hosting provider and then updating the domain in Zendo’s Custom Domain settings.
The first step to connect your domain to a Zendo workspace is adding a new CNAME record in your domain’s DNS (*) settings.
This process usually takes a few minutes to complete. All you have to do is:
Log in to your domain’s hosting account and find the DNS or DNS Zone settings
Click Add a new CNAME record and enter the following data:
Type: CNAME
Host/Name: your preferred subdomain’s name, e.g. clients or dashboard
Value: custom.getzendo.io
Please note: the DNS changes usually take anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes to be updated, but it may take even up to 48 hours to get configured. You can use DNSChecker to see if the CNAME propagation was successful.
Currently, we support only CNAME delegation which means that you can delegate a subdomain. Support for TLD domains will be added in the future.
Remember that you can always submit feature requests on https://getzendo.io/feature-requests/ if you have any suggestions or would like to see any specific functionality in our software.
* DNS (Domain Name Server) is an internet service that helps translate a human-friendly domain name to an IP address that is understandable by computers. If you don’t know how to access it, please contact us using the chat.
Once the subdomain you’ve added starts redirecting, i.e., loads a 404 Zendo page, you can move on to the next step.
It’s crucial to note that the process of adding a new CNAME record in the DNS settings may vary between different host providers.
You can find some example tutorials for adding a CNAME record here:
Cloudflare: https://developers.cloudflare.com/dns/manage-dns-records/how-to/create-dns-records/
cPanel: https://support.cpanel.net/hc/en-us/articles/360053593854-How-to-add-a-DNS-record-in-cPanel-and-WHM
NameCheap: https://www.namecheap.com/support/knowledgebase/article.aspx/9646/2237/how-to-create-a-cname-record-for-your-domain/
GoDaddy: https://www.godaddy.com/help/add-a-cname-record-19236
Log in to Zendo and find the cog icon on the left-hand panel. Click on it to get to Settings. Then choose General and stay in the Essentials tab. Find the White label section and Custom Domain settings on the right.
Type the created subdomain’s name in the Custom domain URL tab. In our example case that was: support.yourdomain.com.
Save the changes.
And you’re done! Your Zendo workspace and client facing URLs will now also be available on the custom domain you've set.
Zendo will not automatically redirect your previous workspace to the new custom domain URL: both are running and available simultaneously, just in case you run into any problems with the custom workspace, you can still reach your non-white-labeled platform.
The domain that sends out and collects emails does not change after connecting your custom domain.
Entering the workspace with the custom domain connected forces us to login again into our account.
Our example workspace now successfully changed its URL from support.getzendo.io to support.yourdomain.com.
That URL is now white labeled, meaning that your clients will no longer see the getzendo.io suffix in the URL when using your client portal created in Zendo.
This of course doesn’t mean that Zendo functionality will no longer be available, everything will work just as it did pre-white-labeling the URL, with the only difference being in what the URL looks like.
Note that the old URL of your workspace is still available and working. As was already mentioned, Zendo does not automatically redirect the old URL to a new custom domain one. So to make sure your clients see the new white labeled URL of your workspace, share the new link with them.
PS: remember that you can fully white label your Zendo workspace to fit your branding by adding your logo, customizing the colors, adding your own email signature, your custom help center, or even your own chatbot!
You can learn more about customizing your workspace here.
If you need help connecting a custom domain to your Zendo workspace or need more information on the process, don’t hesitate to reach out to us via our support chat.
To add a custom domain in Zendo, first you have to make sure that you’re the Owner of your workspace and that you are subscribed to a paid plan. Otherwise, you won’t be able to access the Custom Domain feature.
Zendo will not automatically redirect your workspace to the new custom domain added. Both workspaces' URLs (the original one and custom) now work simultaneously. You can use the new white label URL to ensure a branded experience for your clients, but you also have a backup option to reach, just in case of any issues with the custom domain URL.
Yes! All you have to do is repeat the steps we’ve mentioned earlier to set up a new custom domain and connect it with Zendo. Add a CNAME record in the DNS settings of your domain’s hosting provider and switch the old custom domain for the new one in Zendo’s settings.
Role That Can Set A Custom Domain: Owner
Zendo Plans For Which The Feature Is Available: Growth, Enterprise
Example workspace name we’ll be using to showcase how this feature works: support.getzendo.io
What Is A Domain?
A domain is a branded name that is used to identify a website. So instead of having to type in the IP address in the search bar to reach the website you’re looking for, you’re typing the domain name, e.g. getzendo.io or forbes.com.
The domain name (or the URL we see) makes it easier to memorize the website we want to visit, instead of having to remember random strings of numbers.
What Does The Custom Domain Feature Do In Zendo?
The Custom Domain feature in Zendo allows you to connect your own domain to your Zendo workspace so that you can white label the URL of your client portal.
Basically getting rid of the getzendo.io suffix in the URL of your workspace, turning it e.g. from support.getzendo.io to support.yourdomain.com
This gives your clients a more branded and consistent experience, which in turn looks more professional and gives you more authority.
Who Can Access This Feature?
The Custom Domain feature is available to all Zendo users who are subscribed to any of the paid plans: Growth or Enterprise.
Users on the free Starter plan cannot access the Custom Domain feature.
Moreover, it’s only the workspace Owner who can connect a Custom Domain in Zendo.
Step-By-Step Guide To Connecting A Custom Domain In Zendo
There are two main steps of adding a custom domain to Zendo: adding a CNAME record in the DNS settings of your website’s hosting provider and then updating the domain in Zendo’s Custom Domain settings.
Step One: Adding A CNAME Record In Your Domain’s DNS Settings
The first step to connect your domain to a Zendo workspace is adding a new CNAME record in your domain’s DNS (*) settings.
This process usually takes a few minutes to complete. All you have to do is:
Log in to your domain’s hosting account and find the DNS or DNS Zone settings
Click Add a new CNAME record and enter the following data:
Type: CNAME
Host/Name: your preferred subdomain’s name, e.g. clients or dashboard
Value: custom.getzendo.io
Please note: the DNS changes usually take anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes to be updated, but it may take even up to 48 hours to get configured. You can use DNSChecker to see if the CNAME propagation was successful.
Currently, we support only CNAME delegation which means that you can delegate a subdomain. Support for TLD domains will be added in the future.
Remember that you can always submit feature requests on https://getzendo.io/feature-requests/ if you have any suggestions or would like to see any specific functionality in our software.
* DNS (Domain Name Server) is an internet service that helps translate a human-friendly domain name to an IP address that is understandable by computers. If you don’t know how to access it, please contact us using the chat.
Once the subdomain you’ve added starts redirecting, i.e., loads a 404 Zendo page, you can move on to the next step.
It’s crucial to note that the process of adding a new CNAME record in the DNS settings may vary between different host providers.
You can find some example tutorials for adding a CNAME record here:
Cloudflare: https://developers.cloudflare.com/dns/manage-dns-records/how-to/create-dns-records/
cPanel: https://support.cpanel.net/hc/en-us/articles/360053593854-How-to-add-a-DNS-record-in-cPanel-and-WHM
NameCheap: https://www.namecheap.com/support/knowledgebase/article.aspx/9646/2237/how-to-create-a-cname-record-for-your-domain/
GoDaddy: https://www.godaddy.com/help/add-a-cname-record-19236
Step Two: Add The New Subdomain As Your Custom Domain In Zendo’s Settings
Log in to Zendo and find the cog icon on the left-hand panel. Click on it to get to Settings. Then choose General and stay in the Essentials tab. Find the White label section and Custom Domain settings on the right.
Type the created subdomain’s name in the Custom domain URL tab. In our example case that was: support.yourdomain.com.
Save the changes.
And you’re done! Your Zendo workspace and client facing URLs will now also be available on the custom domain you've set.
A Few Important Things To Note
Zendo will not automatically redirect your previous workspace to the new custom domain URL: both are running and available simultaneously, just in case you run into any problems with the custom workspace, you can still reach your non-white-labeled platform.
The domain that sends out and collects emails does not change after connecting your custom domain.
Entering the workspace with the custom domain connected forces us to login again into our account.
Final Result
Our example workspace now successfully changed its URL from support.getzendo.io to support.yourdomain.com.
That URL is now white labeled, meaning that your clients will no longer see the getzendo.io suffix in the URL when using your client portal created in Zendo.
This of course doesn’t mean that Zendo functionality will no longer be available, everything will work just as it did pre-white-labeling the URL, with the only difference being in what the URL looks like.
Note that the old URL of your workspace is still available and working. As was already mentioned, Zendo does not automatically redirect the old URL to a new custom domain one. So to make sure your clients see the new white labeled URL of your workspace, share the new link with them.
PS: remember that you can fully white label your Zendo workspace to fit your branding by adding your logo, customizing the colors, adding your own email signature, your custom help center, or even your own chatbot!
You can learn more about customizing your workspace here.
If you need help connecting a custom domain to your Zendo workspace or need more information on the process, don’t hesitate to reach out to us via our support chat.
FAQ
Who Can Access The Custom Domain Feature In Zendo?
To add a custom domain in Zendo, first you have to make sure that you’re the Owner of your workspace and that you are subscribed to a paid plan. Otherwise, you won’t be able to access the Custom Domain feature.
Will Zendo Automatically Redirect My Workspace To The New Custom Domain?
Zendo will not automatically redirect your workspace to the new custom domain added. Both workspaces' URLs (the original one and custom) now work simultaneously. You can use the new white label URL to ensure a branded experience for your clients, but you also have a backup option to reach, just in case of any issues with the custom domain URL.
Can I Change The Custom Domain To A Different One Once I Have Already Set One?
Yes! All you have to do is repeat the steps we’ve mentioned earlier to set up a new custom domain and connect it with Zendo. Add a CNAME record in the DNS settings of your domain’s hosting provider and switch the old custom domain for the new one in Zendo’s settings.
Updated on: 29/06/2023
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