Setting Up a Vanity URL Follow
Splash allows you to configure your event pages with a Vanity URL, or custom domain, of your choice.
This article walks through choosing a domain, configuring your DNS settings, and applying your Vanity URL to your Splash page.
This feature is available to Pro and Enterprise plans | |
This feature is in General Availability |
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Confirm your security certificate Send your Vanity URL request to Splash |
Create a Vanity URL
By default, Splash auto-generates a URL for your event page based on your event’s title. The domain is formatted as https://eventtitle.splashthat.com.
Connecting a custom domain to your events can be achieved using a Vanity URL. This allows you to use a domain you own, such as your company’s domain, in place of splashthat.com.
Creating a Vanity URL consists of two parts: (1) choosing a domain type and (2) purchasing a custom domain name.
1. Choose a domain type
The type of domain you should use depends on your event program.
Note: Your team is provided ten free Vanity URL domains. This does not include www records (just let us know if you need www to be covered as well). |
As a best practice, Splash recommends using both a subdomain and directory to auto-create your events (e.g. splash.events, splash.events/MarketingMadness). This automatically creates and applies a subdomain with a unique directory, based on the Splash domain, to every event created by your team.
For example, if the Vanity URL for auto-create is events.yourwebsite.com and your page is titled Our First Event with the domain eventtoday.splashthat.com, it will create the Vanity URL events.yourwebsite.com/eventtoday.
Splash supports the following domains:
Domain Type | Event Program |
Regular Domain Also referred to as the root domain, these are standard URLs such as companyevent.com or company.events (e.g. splashthat.com). |
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Subdomains A unique URL that extends in front of the |
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Directory A unique URL that extends the end of your purchased regular and/or subdomain; companyevent.com/myfirstevent or events.company.com/product. |
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If you have questions about which domain type best supports your event program needs, reach out to the Splash team.
2. Purchase a custom domain name
After choosing your domain type, you’ll need to choose a name and purchase the domain.
You can choose to purchase a new domain or create a subdomain off another existing domain your company owns. Domains are purchased outside of Splash with the help of your IT team.
The domain name you purchase for Splash should not be used by any other websites.
Confirm your security certificate
Each Vanity URL requires a TLS security certificate (formerly known as SSL). As part of the Vanity URL setup process, Splash generates and installs a TLS certificate on your behalf that automatically renews every three months. No need to purchase a certificate on your own!
The installation of this certificate is a typical requirement to meet the rigorous security standards of many companies. It also enables your Vanity URLs to open with https:// prepended.
Note: If you are required to a certificate from a different provider, please notify Splash Engagement in your Vanity URL request. Our team will provide you with a CSR that can be used to generate a certificate. |
Send your Vanity URL request to Splash
Once your team has secured the Vanity URL, send your request to Splash.
Your request should include the following:
- The domain type.
- The name of the Vanity URL.
- Whether or not you want Splash to auto-create Vanity URLs for every event your team creates.
- Directories can be auto-created for every event in your organization or for specific groups.
- Whether you’ll be using the Splash-provided certificate or installing a company-provided one.
Splash will provide you with CNAME record to add to your provider’s DNS settings to complete the Vanity URL implementation.
Configure your DNS settings
Once Splash provides the needed DNS records, please see the steps below to install them.
Note: Steps may differ depending on your domain registrar. Be sure to check your domain registrar’s specific instructions before moving forward. |
- Click Add New Record. The Add DNS Record window will display.
- From the Record type list, select CNAME.
- For Host Name, enter "@" or "*" to point directly to your domain name.
- In the "Points to" or "CNAME” field, enter the Splash-provided record.
- Under TTL (Time to Live), leave the default setting.
- Click Add Record, OK, or Save. This option varies depending on the domain registrar.
- Delete any previously listed A Host, AAAA, or IPv6 records that aren’t pointing to Splash. These could prevent your website from loading properly.
- Save the Zone File or DNS Settings again if necessary.
- If you'd like the www version of the site to also point to your main site, add another CNAME recording pointing to the same record.
Use your domain registrar or free online tools like Google Admin Toolbox to confirm your DNS records are set up correctly.
As long as the CNAME remains in your DNS records, your certificate will automatically renew every three months. If using a standard CSR, you’ll need to manually renew based on your certificate’s expiration date.
Apply the Vanity URL to your Splash page
Once the record is created in your DNS settings, you can apply the Vanity URL to your Splash pages. To test that your Vanity URL is working properly, reach out to Splash support.
If you’ve chosen to auto-create Vanity URLs, no further action is required. Your Vanity URL is automatically created and applied to each new Splash event you create. To view your Vanity URL, open the Settings tab of your event.
If you didn’t choose to auto-create Vanity URLs, then follow these steps to apply your Vanity URL to your page:
- Open your Events Dashboard.
- Click New Event.
- Open Settings.
- Enter the domain in the Vanity URL field.
- Hit Save.
Warning: If a Vanity URL is set on your Themes, the URL will carry down to child pages created from the theme. We recommend you do not save a Vanity URL at the theme-level. |
Troubleshooting
If your Vanity URL isn’t working, it may be entered incorrectly in the settings of your event. To confirm, open the Settings tab of your event page's toolbar and make sure http:// or www. (or both) aren’t included in the Vanity URL.
Next, make sure your DNS settings are set up correctly. If you're still having issues, please reach out to Splash support.
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