The following article explains how to complete Step 2. Configure Your Custom URL of the Set Up A Custom URL For an Experience article using GoDaddy as your domain provider.
This article will be helpful if you have purchased your domain through GoDaddy and/or if your domain is already registered and managed by GoDaddy.
Purchase Domain From GoDaddy
The first step is to purchase a new domain. Visit www.godaddy.com and purchase a new domain. If you already own a domain managed by GoDaddy, proceed to DNS Configuration.
In this example, we're searching for a Custom URL that our company agreed on called companytrivia.live. You may choose any available domain and extension that GoDaddy provides. This domain is only $1.99 for an entire year.
Searching a potential custom URL to check for availability on GoDaddy
Using Squarespace? If you're using Squarespace for your Custom URL, you may need to use a third-party redirection tool to redirect the "naked domain" without www such as <CompanyTrivia.live> to the www version, <www.CompanyTrivia.live>.
This process includes creating an A-record and pointing it to the IP address: 174.129.25.170. For more information on this third-party redirection tool, please check out the following website: http://wwwizer.com/naked-domain-redirect
DNS Configuration
After you've purchased the domain, click on the DNS button next to the domain's listing on your GoDaddy home page. This will take you to the DNS settings of the domain.
Domains page on the GoDaddy homepage
Add A CNAME Record For WWW
Under the Records table, you'll need to add a CNAME record entry with the name www.
What if I already have a CNAME record for 'www'? When purchasing a new domain or editing an existing one, a CNAME record may already exist with the name www. If so, you simply need to edit the existing CNAME record instead of creating a new one.
This record may already be added. Check your list of records for a row with the Type equal to CNAME and a Name equal to www.
Records table containing various DNS settings
If a CNAME record already exists with the name www, then we simply need to edit the existing record. If one doesn't exist, click Add in the lower right-hand corner. We'll need to create a CNAME record with the name www that points to Crowdpurr's servers. This is what sends your participants' requests from your Custom URL to our servers, but keeps the Custom URL intact on their web browser.
In the New Record editor that opens, set the following values:
Type: CNAME
Host/Name: www
Points to/Value: ingress.crowdpurr.com
TTL: 1 Hour
Next, click the Save button.
Editing the CNAME record for www to point to Crowdpurr's servers
Clicking Save will add a new DNS Record to the bottom of the table.
The new CNAME record for www has been added to the Records table
When Using a Subdomain for your Custom URL
If you're using a subdomain of an existing domain for your Custom URL, you'll need to edit the above CNAME record we just added. Instead of setting the Name to www, you'll use the exact name of the subdomain instead.
For example, if you want your Custom URL to be the subdomain trivia.mycompany.com, you'll edit the CNAME record giving it a Host/Name value of trivia. Its Points-To/Value will still be set to ingress.crowdpurr.com.
Add Domain Forwarding
If you've purchased a new domain for your Custom URL and are not using a subdomain, you'll need to configure domain forwarding so that all requests to your domain go to the www subdomain which we've just configured above to point to Crowdpurr's servers.
Why do we need to forward it to 'www'? When the Presentation View displays your Custom URL to your participants, it will omit the www and only display the "naked domain" (e.g. companytrivia.com) on the URL Bar. Your crowd's Participant Views will also display your Custom URL on their mobile browser's address bar.
Example of the custom URL Bar displayed on the Presentation View
This makes it so your participants can simply type in companytrivia.com into their web browsers which is easier than typing in the www in front of it. The forwarding will route their requests to www.companytrivia.com which will actually load your Crowdpurr Experience(s) on their Participant Views.
Are you using a subdomain? If you're using a subdomain for your Custom URL, skip this Forwarding step. The Presentation View's Custom URL Bar will display your entire subdomain and your participants will have to type it into their web browser (e.g. trivia.mycompany.com) to join your experience(s). No domain forwarding is necessary.
Scroll down on the DNS Settings page in GoDaddy and go to the Forwarding panel. Click on the Add button under Domain. Add the following settings:
Forward To: http:// (first dropdown) www.companytrivia.com (fill in your domain here)
Forward Type: Permanent (301)
Settings: Forward only
Update my nameservers and DNS settings to support this change: checked
Forwarding menu box
Click on the Save button. Do not add any settings for the Subdomain setting.
Forwarding box has been configured correctly
That's it! Your purchased domain or subdomain is now configured and should be ready to activate.
Testing Your Domain Settings
After entering the above settings allow up to fifteen minutes for the DNS settings we set to propagate across the Internet. Once fifteen minutes have passed, visit your Custom URL in any web browser. If you've entered the above settings correctly, entering companytrivia.com into any browser will forward you to www.companytrivia.com (feel free to type in either one).
The Presentation View's URL Bar and the Participant View's address bar will always display your Custom URL without the www to require fewer characters for your participants to type in. This is why we set up Forwarding above.
Upon loading your Custom URL, your web browser will display Crowdpurr's default crowd.live page to indicate your Custom URL is correctly pointing to Crowdpurr's servers but has not been activated yet.
Crowdpurr's default crowd.live is shown until the Custom URL is activated by the Crowdpurr Team.
Using a 'build-your-own-website' domain provider? When using a build-your-own-website domain provider such as Squarespace, Wix, Weebly, or any other site-builder, please note the crowd.live page will only display on the www version of your newly configured Custom URL. For instance, the crowd.live page error would only display on www.companytrivia.com and not on the "naked domain" without the www like companytrivia.com.
Finish Custom URL Setup Wizard
After completing the above settings you may return to the article Set Up a Custom URL For An Experience and complete Step 3. Activate Your Custom URL with Crowdpurr. You'll enter the name of your Custom URL without www (e.g. companytrivia.com) and press the Activate button. If using a subdomain you would enter the entire subdomain (e.g. trivia.mycompany.com).
Once we activate your Custom URL, it will load your chosen Linked Experience automatically all while keeping the web browser's address bar set on your Custom URL for a white-labeled on-brand look and feel for your Experience's web address. It will no longer display "crowd.live" in the address bar.
Participant View using an activated Custom URL