Custom URLs tied to your store domain build brand trust and boost click-through rates. Instead of sharing generic short links, you send customers to shop.yourbrand.com/sale — clean, memorable, and on-brand.
Every link you share is a micro-touchpoint for your brand. A branded short URL on a marketing campaign, a product page, or a social bio does far more than redirect traffic — it signals professionalism and builds recognition. This guide walks you through exactly how to set one up.
What is a custom domain URL?
A custom domain URL is a short link that uses your own domain (or subdomain) as the base. Instead of urldn.com/abc123, you get go.yourstore.com/summer-sale. The slug is still short and trackable, but the domain is yours.
This matters for SEO, brand recall, and email deliverability. Links from recognized domains are less likely to be marked as spam and more likely to be clicked.
Step-by-step: set up a custom store URL
1
Choose your subdomain
Decide where your short links will live. Common choices are go.yourstore.com, links.yourstore.com, or s.yourstore.com. Keep it short.
2
Add a DNS CNAME record
In your DNS provider (Cloudflare, Namecheap, etc.), add a CNAME record pointing your subdomain to your URL shortener:
Type: CNAME Name: go Value: cname.urldn.com TTL: Auto
3
Register the domain in urldn
Go to your urldn dashboard → Settings → Custom Domains → Add Domain. Enter go.yourstore.com and verify ownership. SSL is provisioned automatically.
4
Create your branded short link
When generating a new link, select your custom domain from the dropdown and set a readable slug:
Destination: https://yourstore.com/collections/summer-sale-2026 Domain: go.yourstore.com Slug: summer-sale Result → go.yourstore.com/summer-sale
5
Track performance
Monitor clicks, referrers, and geo data from your urldn analytics dashboard. Use UTM parameters for deeper campaign tracking in Google Analytics.
Pro tip: use consistent slug naming conventions across campaigns — e.g. /email-apr, /ig-bio, /paid-g — so you can segment traffic by channel without UTMs.
SEO benefits of branded short URLs
Custom domain links contribute to brand authority signals in search. When your domain appears consistently across social media profiles, email campaigns, and backlink sources, it strengthens the domain's topical footprint. Generic shorteners dilute this effect by passing credit to a third-party domain.
Additionally, branded URLs have measurably higher CTRs in email campaigns — users recognize the sender's domain and trust the destination.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my root domain instead of a subdomain?
Yes, but it's not recommended. Using a subdomain like go.yourstore.com keeps your short links isolated from your main site's routing and avoids conflicts with existing pages.
Does this affect my store's SEO negatively?
No. Short links with 301 redirects pass link equity to the destination. Using a subdomain means the redirect chain is entirely within your brand's domain ecosystem.
How long does DNS propagation take?
Usually under 30 minutes with Cloudflare, up to 48 hours with other providers. You can check propagation status at dnschecker.org.
Can I use multiple custom domains?
Yes — urldn supports multiple domains per account. Useful if you run multiple brands or regional stores under separate domains.
Ready to brand your links?
Set up your custom domain on urldn in under 5 minutes.
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