Custom Domain

A custom domain is a personalized web address that you own and configure to serve your digital publications instead of using the default URL provided by a hosting platform. For flipbook publishing, this means your audience accesses publications through a URL like docs.yourcompany.com rather than a generic platform link such as go.fliplink.me/your-publication. The underlying content, hosting, and analytics remain identical — only the address changes to reflect your brand. Setting up a custom domain requires adding a [DNS](/glossary/dns) record (typically a [CNAME](/glossary/cname)) that points your chosen subdomain to the platform's servers.

URLs are part of your brand identity. When a reader sees a link in an email, a social media post, or printed material, a branded domain communicates professionalism and builds trust before the content even loads. Generic platform URLs, on the other hand, can appear impersonal or raise skepticism about the source. Custom domains also strengthen your SEO, because inbound links to your publications build authority on your own domain rather than on a third-party platform. Finally, domain ownership provides portability — if you ever switch publishing platforms, you can redirect the domain to a new provider without breaking the links your audience already has.

FlipLink's [custom domains](/features/custom-domains) feature lets you connect any domain you own to your FlipLink publications. You add a [CNAME record](/glossary/cname) in your [DNS](/glossary/dns) settings pointing your subdomain to FlipLink's servers. FlipLink automatically provisions an [SSL](/glossary/ssl) certificate for secure HTTPS access. Once configured, all your flipbooks and documents are accessible through your custom domain. There is no limit on the number of custom domains you can connect, and the setup works with any domain registrar. Combined with [white-label publishing](/features/white-label-publishing), you can remove all FlipLink branding for a fully branded reader experience.

Follow these steps to connect a custom domain in FlipLink: 1. **Choose your subdomain** — Pick a subdomain that reflects the content type: `docs.yourcompany.com` for documentation, `reports.yourcompany.com` for reports, `catalog.yourcompany.com` for product catalogs. 2. **Add a CNAME record** — Log in to your domain registrar or DNS provider and create a CNAME record pointing your subdomain to the address FlipLink provides in the dashboard. 3. **Register the domain in FlipLink** — Go to your FlipLink dashboard, navigate to the custom domain settings, and add the subdomain you configured. 4. **Wait for DNS propagation** — DNS changes can take anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours to take effect, though most propagate within an hour. 5. **Verify SSL** — FlipLink automatically provisions an SSL certificate once the DNS record resolves. Confirm that your custom domain loads over HTTPS. 6. **Test the link** — Open your custom domain URL in a browser and verify that your publications load correctly.

- **Use subdomains, not root domains.** Subdomains like `docs.yourcompany.com` are easier to configure and do not interfere with your main website's DNS. - **Keep subdomain names descriptive.** Choose names that signal the content type — `reports`, `catalog`, `manuals` — so readers know what to expect before clicking. - **Set up one domain per content category.** If you publish both product catalogs and annual reports, consider separate subdomains for each. This keeps URLs clean and makes analytics segmentation simpler. - **Combine with white-label settings.** A custom domain paired with [white-label publishing](/features/white-label-publishing) removes all platform branding, making the experience fully yours. - **Monitor SSL certificate renewal.** FlipLink handles this automatically, but periodically check that your custom domain still serves content over HTTPS without certificate warnings.

**Can I use a root domain (like yourcompany.com) instead of a subdomain?** Root domains typically require an [A record](/glossary/a-record) instead of a CNAME. FlipLink supports this, but using a subdomain is generally simpler because CNAME records do not conflict with other DNS entries on the root domain. **What happens if I change my domain registrar?** You only need to recreate the CNAME record at your new registrar. The custom domain configuration in FlipLink stays the same — no re-upload or re-configuration of your publications is needed. **Is there a limit on custom domains?** No. You can connect as many custom domains as you need, at no additional cost.