Setting Up Custom Domains for Your Selgora Store

Transform your professional presence. When you connect your own domain to your Selgora store, you're not just getting a web address – you're building trust, enhancing your brand, and creating the foundation for lasting success in your field.

What Custom Domains Mean for Your Success

Your domain is your digital address. It's the first impression potential customers have of your expertise, and it signals professionalism in ways that matter deeply to your growth.

The Trust Factor

When visitors see your own domain, something powerful happens in their minds. They immediately perceive you as an established expert rather than someone just starting out. This psychological shift translates directly into higher conversion rates and premium pricing opportunities.

Search Engine Advantages

Search engines reward websites on custom domains with better rankings. Your content becomes more discoverable, your authority builds over time, and you create a lasting digital asset that compounds your success year after year.

Brand Control

With your own domain, you control every aspect of your online presence. No platform dependencies, no restrictions on customization, and complete ownership of your digital real estate.

Why We Recommend Cloudflare

Cloudflare isn't just a DNS provider – it's your website's guardian angel. Think of it as a protective shield that makes your store faster, more secure, and more reliable, all while simplifying the technical setup process.

Complete Setup Guide

Step 1: Domain Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you own a domain name. If you don't have one yet, consider these approaches:

• Your Name: johnsmith.com (personal brand)
• Your Expertise: marketingmastery.com (subject focus)
• Your Method: the10stepprocess.com (unique approach)

Step 2: Create Your Cloudflare Account

Navigate to cloudflare.com and create a free account. Cloudflare's free tier includes everything you need for a successful store setup.

1. Click "Sign Up" and enter your email address
2. Choose a strong password
3. Verify your email address
4. Complete the setup wizard

Step 3: Add Your Domain to Cloudflare

Once logged into Cloudflare, you'll add your domain and configure the essential settings.

1. Add Site: Click "Add a Site" and enter your domain name
2. Choose Plan: Select the Free plan (perfect for most stores)
3. DNS Scan: Cloudflare will automatically scan your existing DNS records
4. Review Records: Verify that important records are preserved

Step 4: Update Your Nameservers

This crucial step connects your domain to Cloudflare's infrastructure. Don't worry – this process is reversible if needed.

1. Copy Nameservers: Cloudflare provides two custom nameservers (like ns1.cloudflare.com)
2. Access Domain Settings: Log into your domain registrar's control panel
3. Find DNS Settings: Look for "Nameservers," "DNS Management," or "Domain Settings"
4. Replace Nameservers: Enter Cloudflare's nameservers, removing the old ones
5. Save Changes: Confirm the update

Step 5: Configure DNS Records for Selgora

Once your domain is active on Cloudflare, you'll add the specific records that connect it to your Selgora store.

For Root Domain (example.com):

For WWW Subdomain (www.example.com):

Step 6: SSL/TLS Configuration

Security builds trust. Cloudflare's SSL setup ensures your store is secure and trusted by both visitors and search engines.

1. Navigate to SSL/TLS: In Cloudflare dashboard, click "SSL/TLS"
2. Choose Full (Strict): This provides end-to-end encryption
3. Enable Always Use HTTPS: Automatically redirects HTTP to HTTPS
4. Configure HSTS: Add extra security headers (optional but recommended)

Step 7: Performance Optimization

Speed equals success. These optimizations make your store lightning-fast for visitors worldwide.

Speed Settings:

• Auto Minify: Enable CSS, HTML, and JavaScript minification
• Brotli Compression: Enable for smaller file sizes
• Rocket Loader: Enable for faster JavaScript loading

Caching Configuration:

• Caching Level: Set to "Standard"
• Browser Cache TTL: 4 hours (balances speed and freshness)
• Development Mode: Use only when testing changes

Verifying Your Domain in Selgora

With your DNS configured, it's time to connect everything in your Selgora dashboard.

Step-by-Step Verification Process

1. Access Store Settings: Navigate to your store management area in Selgora
2. Find Custom Domain Section: Look for "Custom Domain" or "Domain Settings"
3. Enter Your Domain: Type your domain exactly (example.com, not www.example.com)
4. Choose Verification Method: Select DNS verification (recommended)
5. Add Verification Record: Add the TXT record to your Cloudflare DNS
6. Verify Domain: Click verify and wait for confirmation

Troubleshooting Common Issues

When technology meets ambition, sometimes things need adjustment. Here's how to resolve the most common challenges.

DNS Propagation Delays

Problem: Changes aren't visible yet, or verification fails

Solution: DNS changes take time to spread globally. Use these tools to check progress:

• Cloudflare Dashboard: Shows real-time status of your domain
• DNS Checker Tools: whatsmydns.net shows global propagation
• Wait Period: Allow 24-48 hours for complete propagation

SSL Certificate Errors

Problem: Browser shows "Not Secure" warnings

Solutions:

• Check SSL Mode: Ensure "Full (Strict)" is selected in Cloudflare
• Force HTTPS: Enable "Always Use HTTPS" in SSL/TLS settings
• Clear Browser Cache: Hard refresh or try an incognito window
• Wait for Provisioning: SSL certificates can take 15-30 minutes to activate

Domain Verification Failures

Problem: Selgora can't verify domain ownership

Solutions:

• Check TXT Record: Ensure verification record was added correctly
• Record Placement: Add to root domain (@), not subdomain
• Wait for Propagation: DNS changes need time to become visible
• Try Alternative Method: Use HTTP verification if DNS fails

Common Cloudflare Error Codes

Alternative Setup Without Cloudflare

While Cloudflare offers the best experience, you can configure custom domains directly through your domain registrar if preferred.

Direct DNS Configuration

1. Access DNS Settings: Log into your domain registrar's control panel
2. Add A Record: Point your root domain to Selgora's IP address
3. Add CNAME Record: Point www subdomain to your root domain
4. Verify in Selgora: Follow the same verification process

Best Practices for Domain Success

Small decisions compound into significant advantages. These practices ensure your domain strategy supports long-term growth.

Subdomain vs Root Domain Decision

Root Domain (example.com):

• Maximum SEO authority
• Cleanest branding
• Best for primary business presence

Subdomain (store.example.com):

• Organizes different business areas
• Allows multiple Selgora stores
• Good for testing new markets

WWW Handling Strategy

Choose one primary version and redirect the other:

• Preferred: example.com (modern, clean)
• Redirect: www.example.com → example.com
• Consistency: Use the same version in all marketing

SEO Optimization

• 301 Redirects: Always redirect old domains to maintain SEO value
• Consistent URLs: Use the same domain format everywhere
• HTTPS Everywhere: Never serve content over HTTP
• Speed Matters: Optimize for fast loading times

Frequently Asked Questions

Next Steps After Domain Setup

With your custom domain active, explore these areas to maximize your professional presence:

• Brand Consistency: Update all marketing materials with your new domain
• SEO Strategy: Configure analytics and start tracking your domain's performance
• Social Media: Update your domain across all social platforms
• Email Signatures: Include your professional domain in communications
• Content Planning: Plan content that builds authority on your new domain

Success builds on success. Your custom domain is the beginning, not the end, of your professional transformation.