Why it matters
Domains are required in Whippy for link tracking and email sending. Using custom domains improves deliverability, branding, and trust. Understanding the difference between buying a domain in Whippy and adding a domain you already own helps you know what is handled automatically and when manual configuration is required.
Key Concepts
Domain: A custom URL used for links, email, or both within Whippy.
Buy Domain: A Whippy-managed process where the system purchases and configures a domain automatically.
Add Domain: A process for using a domain you already own, which requires manual DNS configuration.
Link setup: Configuration that allows a domain to be used for tracked links.
Email setup: Configuration that allows a domain to be used for sending emails.
Setup status: A step-by-step indicator showing whether domain configuration is complete, in progress, or failed.
Auto-renew: Indicates whether a purchased domain will renew automatically before expiration.
Step-by-Step: View Domains in Your Organisation
Open Settings.
Navigate to Organisation settings.
Click Domains.
Review the list of domains in your organisation.
For each domain, you can see:
Domain name
Setup type (Buy Domain or Add Domain)
What the domain is set up for (Links, Email, or both)
Expiration date (if applicable)
Status
Created by and created date
Use search, filters, and sorting to manage large domain lists.
Step-by-Step: Buy a Domain in Whippy (Automatic Setup)
Buying a domain is the fastest and most hands-off option.
Go to Settings → Organisation settings → Domains.
Click Buy domain in the top-right corner.
In the Buy Domain modal, enter the domain name you want.
Click Check to verify availability.
If available, review the price and purchase period.
Click Buy domain to complete the purchase.
What happens after you buy a domain
After purchase, no action is required from you.
Behind the scenes, the Whippy system:
Checks if the domain name is available.
Confirms the maximum domain purchase limit has not been reached.
Verifies the price is within Whippy’s allowed threshold.
Attempts to purchase the domain through the provider.
Waits for the provider to complete the purchase and initial setup.
This process usually completes within a few hours but can take up to 24–48 hours depending on the provider.
Email setup for purchased domains
If the purchased domain is used for email:
Whippy automatically creates the required records with the email provider.
DNS records are added automatically.
Whippy waits for DNS verification to complete.
Verification typically completes within minutes but may take up to 24 hours. Once verified, the domain is ready for email use.
All steps for Buy Domain are handled automatically by the system. Engineering or Support only step in if an unexpected error occurs.
Step-by-Step: Add a Domain You Already Own (Manual Setup)
If you already own a domain purchased elsewhere, you can add it to Whippy.
Go to Settings → Organisation settings → Domains.
Click Add domain.
Enter your domain name.
Select what you want to use the domain for:
Links
Email
Both
Click Add domain.
Manual configuration required
For added domains:
Whippy generates the required DNS records for links and or email.
You must add these records manually in your domain provider’s DNS settings.
Setup completes only after the records are verified.
Support can provide the DNS values and step-by-step guidance if needed, but the configuration itself must be completed on your domain provider’s platform.
Step-by-Step: View and Manage an Existing Domain
In Domains, click the more options button (three dots) next to a domain.
Click View domain.
From the domain detail page, you can:
Copy the domain name.
See whether the domain is active and ready to use.
Review setup type and configuration status.
Check auto-renew and expiration details.
Click Refresh to recheck setup progress.
Click Edit domain to update whether the domain is used for links, email, or both.
Click Delete domain to remove the domain if required.
For each setup (Links and Email), Whippy shows:
Ready to use
Setup failed
Step-by-step progress (for example, step 5 of 7)
How Setup Status Works
Buy Domain: All setup steps are handled automatically by Whippy.
Add Domain: Setup pauses until DNS records are correctly added and verified.
Some steps involve waiting on external providers and cannot be sped up manually.
If an error occurs:
The system retries checks automatically.
Support or Engineering may review the issue and guide next steps if user action is required.
Tips and Best Practices
Choose Buy Domain if you want a fully automated setup.
Expect short delays after purchase while providers complete verification.
Use Add Domain only if you are comfortable editing DNS records.
Check domain setup status before using it in campaigns or emails.
Monitor expiration dates for purchased domains.
Troubleshooting
Issue | Possible Cause | Fix |
Domain not ready immediately | Provider verification delay | Wait up to 24–48 hours |
Email setup stuck | DNS verification pending | Allow time or confirm records if using Add Domain |
Setup failed | DNS misconfiguration | Review DNS records or contact Support |
Domain not usable | Setup incomplete | Check domain detail page for status |
Unsure what action to take | Mixed setup type | Confirm whether the domain was bought or added |