Using a custom domain with your marketplace means that your marketplace website is accessible at a domain that you own. You can connect a custom domain to your marketplace when you go Live. This article walks you through the steps of connecting your custom domain to your marketplace.
Note that a custom domain is not required with your marketplace. Sharetribe sets up your marketplace with a Sharetribe-branded domain that you can use as your marketplace URL as long as you want.
How a custom domain works with your marketplace
You connect your custom domain to your Sharetribe marketplace by adding Domain Name System (DNS) records to your domain hosting provider.
Sharetribe does not host your domain or offer domain hosting services.
You should use domain hosting providers, like GoDaddy, Hover or Google Domains, to purchase and host your domain. Then, you'll add DNS records from Sharetribe to these services, which allows Sharetribe to connect your domain to your marketplace by pointing your domain to Sharetribe servers. Then you can complete the connection by going to your Domain page in Console.
Your marketplace website thus becomes accessible at your custom domain.
The use of the custom domain is available starting from the "Pro" plan. See our pricing page for more information.
What are the steps to add your custom domain to your marketplace
Here are the overall steps for adding your custom domain to your marketplace after you subscribe and your Live environment is created.
Add Sharetribe-provided DNS records to your domain hosting provider
Wait for the DNS records to propagate. Depending on the domain hosting provider, this can be almost immediate or take up to 48 hours.
Go to Console > General > Domain to verify the DNS configuration and connect the custom domain to your marketplace.
Voila! Your custom domain is now connected to your Live marketplace.
Custom coded marketplaces follow different steps to connect their custom domain. Please follow the steps in our technical documentation to configure and deploy your custom marketplace.
The DNS records you need to add
The DNS record that you need to create depend on the domain that you would like to use. For most domain scenarios, you will need to add two DNS records that point to Sharetribe servers: a CNAME-type record and an A-type record, which is sometimes called your root domain record.
Add the CNAME record
If you want to make your marketplace accessible at a "www" address, you need to add a CNAME record. If you are also planning to use your root domain for your marketplace, "www" should be your main subdomain.
Look over the existing CNAME records.
If a CNAME record exists where "Host" or "Source" or "Name" is set to "www", click edit and set "Points To" or "Value" or "Target" to
proxy.mysharetribe.com.Note that depending on the DNS provider, you may need to add a period at the end:
proxy.mysharetribe.com.Note that the target address for this record,
proxy.mysharetribe.com, should be copied as-is. You don't need to change it to your own marketplace's address.
If a CNAME record doesn't exist, click "Add record" or "Create record".
From the record type list, select CNAME.
Fill in the "Host" or "Source" with
wwwSet or fill the "Points To", "Value" or "Target" field to
proxy.mysharetribe.com.If you have to fill a field named "TTL", set it to "3600".
Note that some domain providers use the entire address for the setup instead of only the subdomain part, so instead of adding just
wwwas the "Host" or "Source", you would need to addwww.example.comNote that the target address for this record,
proxy.mysharetribe.com, should be copied exactly as-is.
Save changes.
Check that the record has been updated or created according to your changes.
Add the A record
The A record ties your root domain to your marketplace. A root domain, or base domain, is your custom domain without “www”.
mycustomdomain.com and sharetribe.com are examples of root domains.
The A record configuring your root domain should redirect to your main marketplace domain if you are using a www subdomain.
Look over any existing A records.
If an A record exists for your root domain, you need to modify the address and point it to Sharetribe's IP address instead:
34.248.140.98In many domain providers, your root domain is set via the
@sign, if you have any A-type record with a "Host" or "Source" or "Name" set to@, edit the record and set "Points To" or "Value" or "Target" to34.248.140.98Some domain providers use the entire domain instead of just the
@sign. In those providers, you should look for and modify an A-type record with your entire domain (and without any subdomain attached to it). For exampleexample.com.
If an A record doesn't exist, click "Add record" or "Create record".
From the record type list, select A.
For most domain providers in order to create a record, you need to set the "Host" or "Source" or "Name" to
@.Set the "Points To" or "Value" or "Target" to
34.248.140.98
If you have to fill a field named "TTL", set it to "3600".
Note that in some domain providers, instead of setting the record via the
@sign, you need to write the entire domain.
Save changes.
Check that the record has been updated or created according to your changes.
Using a subdomain
If you want to connect your marketplace to a subdomain other than "www", then you only configure a CNAME record. You do not (typically) configure an A record, as your root domain points to a different website on the internet than your subdomain.
The CNAME record can be set to make your marketplace accessible at any subdomain; the default option is "www" but the subdomain value could be anything. Marketplaces might set up at subdomains like "listings", or "marketplace", or "shop", which would result in URLs listings.example.com, marketplace.example.com, or shop.example.com respectively.
Look over the existing CNAME records.
If a CNAME record exists where "Host" or "Source" or "Name" is set to your desired subdomain, click edit and set "Points To" or "Value" or "Target" to
proxy.mysharetribe.com.Note that depending on the DNS provider, you may need to add a period at the end:
proxy.mysharetribe.com.Note that the target address for this record, proxy.mysharetribe.com, should be copied as-is. You don't need to change it to your own marketplace address.
If a CNAME record doesn't exist, click "Add record" or "Create record".
From the record type list, select CNAME.
Fill in the "Host" or "Source" to any subdomain you want to use the subdomain you want to use, like "listings" or "marketplace" or "shop".
Set or fill the "Points To" or "Value" or "Target" field to
proxy.mysharetribe.com.If you have to fill a field named "TTL", set it to "3600".
Note that some domain providers use the entire subdomain address for the setup instead of only the subdomain part, so instead of adding just
shopas the "Host" or "Source", you would need to addshop.example.comNote that the target address for this record,
proxy.mysharetribe.com, should be copied exactly as-is.
Save changes.
Check that the record has been updated or created according to your changes.
Go to Console and finish the configuration
The final step in connecting your domain is done in Console > General > Domain. Make sure your DNS records are configured correctly. Type your custom domain and click on the "Test DNS settings" button. The system will check that the records are correctly set and pointing to Sharetribe servers. If the records are configured correctly, the setup will start immediately. It may take up to 15 minutes to complete. Check the page 15 minutes later to check that everything is correct.
Screenshot of the Domain page
Screenshot of the Domain page
If the DNS records are not configured correctly or haven't propagated yet, you will receive either an error message or a warning message. Double-check that your DNS records are configured correctly, and try again later.
We're here to help if you have questions about adding your DNS records or face any challenges. Please include a screenshot of your DNS settings if you're not sure that you added the right records or are working in the right place.