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Custom Domain Setup

While your store gets a free bookwish.store subdomain, you can also connect your own custom domain (like books.yourstorename.com or bookshop.example.com) to give your store website a more branded presence.

Requirements​

Before setting up a custom domain, you'll need:

1. Your Own Domain​

  • Purchase a domain from a registrar (GoDaddy, Namecheap, Cloudflare, etc.)
  • You must have administrative access to manage DNS settings
  • Both root domains and subdomains are supported

2. DNS Management Access​

  • Ability to add CNAME records
  • Access to your domain's DNS control panel
  • Knowledge of your domain registrar's interface

3. BookWish Store​

  • Active BookWish store
  • Store must be fully set up and published
  • Store slug (the permanent identifier for your store)

Supported Domain Types​

Examples: books.yourstorename.com, shop.example.com

Advantages:

  • Easier DNS setup
  • Faster verification
  • Can coexist with your main website
  • Standard CNAME configuration

Recommended for: Most bookstores, especially those with existing websites

Root Domain (Advanced)​

Examples: yourbookstore.com, example.com

Considerations:

  • Requires CNAME flattening support from your DNS provider
  • May conflict with email hosting
  • Some providers don't support CNAME at root
  • More complex setup

Recommended for: Dedicated bookstore domains without other services

DNS Setup Steps​

Step 1: Initiate Custom Domain in BookWish​

  1. Open the BookWish app
  2. Go to Shop tab
  3. Select Store Settings
  4. Tap Custom Domain
  5. Enter your desired domain (e.g., books.yourstorename.com)
  6. Tap Verify Domain

The app will display DNS configuration instructions.

Step 2: Add DNS Record​

You'll need to add a CNAME record pointing to your BookWish store:

Record Details:

  • Type: CNAME
  • Name/Host: Your subdomain (e.g., books) or @ for root domain
  • Value/Target: [your-store-slug].bookwish.store
  • TTL: 3600 (or automatic)

Step 3: Configure DNS at Your Provider​

The exact steps vary by provider, but generally:

GoDaddy:

  1. Log in to GoDaddy DNS Management
  2. Find your domain and click "DNS"
  3. Click "Add" under Records
  4. Select "CNAME" as Type
  5. Enter Name: books (or your subdomain)
  6. Enter Value: your-store-slug.bookwish.store
  7. Save

Cloudflare:

  1. Log in to Cloudflare dashboard
  2. Select your domain
  3. Go to "DNS" section
  4. Click "Add record"
  5. Type: CNAME
  6. Name: books (or your subdomain)
  7. Target: your-store-slug.bookwish.store
  8. Proxy status: DNS only (gray cloud)
  9. Save

Namecheap:

  1. Log in to Namecheap account
  2. Domain List → Manage for your domain
  3. Advanced DNS tab
  4. Add New Record
  5. Type: CNAME Record
  6. Host: books (or your subdomain)
  7. Value: your-store-slug.bookwish.store
  8. Save

Step 4: Wait for DNS Propagation​

After adding the DNS record:

  • Propagation time: Usually 15 minutes to 48 hours
  • Average time: 1-2 hours for most providers
  • Factors: Depends on TTL settings and DNS provider

Check propagation:

  • Use online DNS checker tools
  • Run nslookup books.yourdomain.com in terminal
  • Be patient - don't change settings repeatedly

Verification Process​

BookWish automatically monitors your DNS configuration:

Status: PENDING​

  • Domain has been added to BookWish
  • Waiting for DNS to propagate
  • System periodically checks for correct CNAME

What to do: Wait for DNS to propagate, typically 1-2 hours

Status: VERIFIED​

  • DNS is correctly configured
  • BookWish detected the CNAME record
  • SSL certificate is being provisioned

What to do: Wait for SSL provisioning, usually automatic within minutes

Status: ACTIVE​

  • Domain is fully operational
  • SSL certificate is installed
  • Your custom domain is live
  • Website accessible via custom domain

What to do: Test your domain and start using it!

Checking Status​

Via BookWish App:

  1. Go to Shop → Store Settings
  2. Select Custom Domain
  3. View current status and verification time
  4. See any error messages or next steps

SSL Certificate​

BookWish automatically provisions SSL certificates for your custom domain:

Automatic SSL Features​

  • Free certificate - No additional cost
  • Auto-renewal - Renewed automatically before expiration
  • HTTPS enforcement - Traffic automatically upgraded to secure
  • Modern encryption - TLS 1.2/1.3 support

SSL Timeline​

  1. DNS verified → Certificate request initiated
  2. Certificate issued → Usually within 5-10 minutes
  3. Certificate installed → Domain becomes ACTIVE
  4. HTTPS available → Your site loads securely

What You Don't Need to Do​

  • Purchase SSL certificates separately
  • Manually install certificates
  • Worry about renewals
  • Configure HTTPS redirects

Using Your Custom Domain​

Once your domain status is ACTIVE:

Share Your URL​

Your store is now accessible at both:

  • https://your-custom-domain.com (custom)
  • https://your-store-slug.bookwish.store (original)

Both URLs work and point to the same store.

Update Marketing Materials​

  • Business cards
  • Social media profiles
  • Email signatures
  • Store signage
  • Printed materials

Set as Primary​

While both URLs work, promote your custom domain as your primary web presence for branding consistency.

Removing a Custom Domain​

If you need to remove your custom domain:

  1. Go to Shop → Store Settings
  2. Select Custom Domain
  3. Tap Remove Custom Domain
  4. Confirm removal

Results:

  • Your custom domain will no longer point to your store
  • Original bookwish.store subdomain still works
  • DNS record can be removed from your provider
  • SSL certificate is deactivated

Troubleshooting​

Domain Still PENDING After 48 Hours​

Check these:

  • Verify CNAME record was added correctly
  • Confirm Target/Value exactly matches your-store-slug.bookwish.store
  • Ensure no extra spaces or typos in DNS record
  • Check if Cloudflare proxy is enabled (disable it)
  • Verify DNS changes were saved at provider

Tools to check:

"Domain Already in Use" Error​

This domain is already connected to another BookWish store:

  • You can only use a domain for one store
  • Remove from other store first
  • Or use a different subdomain

SSL Certificate Not Working​

If HTTPS doesn't work:

  • Wait longer - certificate provisioning can take time
  • Check domain status is ACTIVE in BookWish
  • Clear browser cache and try again
  • Contact BookWish support if issue persists after 24 hours

Domain Working But Shows Wrong Content​

Possible causes:

  • DNS propagation incomplete
  • Browser cache showing old content
  • Using wrong store slug in CNAME

Solutions:

  • Clear browser cache and cookies
  • Try different browser or incognito mode
  • Verify CNAME record is correct
  • Wait for full DNS propagation

Email Stopped Working After Adding CNAME​

Root domain CNAME records can conflict with MX (email) records:

  • Use a subdomain instead (e.g., books.example.com)
  • Keep root domain for email
  • Or consult your email provider about CNAME/MX coexistence

Best Practices​

Domain Selection​

Good choices:

  • books.yourstore.com
  • shop.yourstore.com
  • store.yourstore.com
  • www.yourbookstore.com (if you own the root domain)

Avoid:

  • Root domains if you have email hosted there
  • Extremely long subdomains
  • Subdomains that might be needed for other services

DNS Configuration​

Tips:

  • Use lower TTL (3600) initially for easier troubleshooting
  • Increase TTL after everything is working
  • Document your DNS changes
  • Keep DNS provider login information secure

Marketing Transition​

When launching custom domain:

  • Update all online profiles simultaneously
  • Redirect old links if possible
  • Announce the change to customers
  • Keep both domains in signatures during transition

Security​

Protect your domain:

  • Enable domain lock at registrar
  • Use strong passwords for DNS access
  • Enable two-factor authentication if available
  • Regularly verify DNS records haven't been altered

Advanced: Root Domain Setup​

If you must use a root domain (e.g., yourbookstore.com):

Requirements​

  • DNS provider supporting CNAME flattening (Cloudflare, Route53, etc.)
  • No conflicting MX records (or provider-specific workarounds)
  • Understanding of DNS implications

Cloudflare Example​

  1. Add domain to Cloudflare
  2. Point nameservers to Cloudflare at registrar
  3. Create CNAME record at root (@) pointing to your-slug.bookwish.store
  4. Cloudflare automatically flattens CNAME at root
  5. Follow standard BookWish verification process

Limitations​

Not all providers support this. Check with your DNS provider first.

Frequently Asked Questions​

Is a custom domain required?​

No, it's optional. Your bookwish.store subdomain works perfectly and is included free.

Does it cost extra?​

You must purchase your own domain separately, but BookWish doesn't charge extra for custom domain connection or SSL.

Can I use multiple custom domains?​

Currently, only one custom domain per store is supported.

What happens to my bookwish.store URL?​

It continues to work! Both URLs point to your store.

Can I change my custom domain later?​

Yes, you can remove and add a different domain at any time.

Do I need to maintain the CNAME record?​

Yes, keep the CNAME record in place as long as you want to use the custom domain.

What if I let my domain expire?​

Your custom domain will stop working, but your bookwish.store subdomain continues functioning.

Can I use a domain I already use for something else?​

Only if you use a subdomain (e.g., books.example.com) that doesn't conflict with existing services.