All Sociavore websites come with their own default domain. It will look something like "yourrestaurantname.scvr.co". While this address does work and anyone with a link can access it, most businesses have their own custom domain (Ex. "yourrestaurantname.com") that they will switch to when they launch the new website.
Here's what to do:
If you don't already have your own domain, take a look at this article.
If you already have a domain, follow the next set of steps to connect it to your Sociavore site.
Step 1. Configure the domain in your Sociavore dashboard
This is where you can view your free Sociavore-hosted domain and also enter your custom domain.
On the right hand side of the screen, click the website tab.
Click the "Domain" tab.
Follow the steps on the page to type in your custom domain.
Hit SAVE
Once you've entered the domain in the Sociavore dashboard, you'll have to point your domain name to your new website.
Step 2. Point your domain to Sociavore
The Sociavore side of this process is complete! Now you will create two "A records" in your domain provider's admin panel. One for www (i.e. https://www.domain.com) and one for the "naked" URL (i.e. https://domain.com).
Log in to your domain provider's admin panel. Here are some popular domain providers and how to create an A record on each of them. These may help you through the following steps.
Hover.com
Name.com
GoDaddy
Rebel.ca
NameCheap
Open your DNS settings. This is sometimes called DNS Manager, or DNS Control Page, or Host Records, or Advanced DNS editor, or similar.
Edit your A record so that it points to Sociavore's IP address 35.192.183.203
In the Name/Host/Alias/Hostname, enter the @ symbol or choose it from a dropdown (depends on how the provider has implemented it)
In the Value/Points to/Destination/Address/IP field, enter 35.192.183.203
Create another A record for 'www' to work that points to Sociavore's IP address 35.192.183.203
In the Name/Host/Alias/Hostname, enter www or choose it from a dropdown (depends on how the provider has implemented it)
In the Value/Points to/Destination/Address/IP field, enter 35.192.183.203
Click Save or the Add Record option to save the A record.
Step 3. Add an SSL to your custom domain
Adding SSL makes your site secure. It protects your customers when they go to your website and submit any sensitive information such as address, phone number or credit card information. It changes the URL from "http" to "https".
To add SSL to your custom domain, just send as a message through chat in the bottom right corner of your screen and we'll get an SSL certificate issued to your domain.
And that's everything! Congratulations on launching your new site with Sociavore.