1. How to set up your custom domains? General information

This content is aimed to help you configure your domain name for cross border business.

We’ll show you how to configure a domain name (that you own) so that it points to the localized (translated) versions of your store created by Glopal. This way customers typing in their browsers the address you choose will see the proper localized version of the site.

This “mapping” is done through adjusting the DNS (Domain Name System) configuration of your domain.

Choosing the localized URLs format

You have 2 main options when it comes to choosing how your custom domains will be set up:

1. As subdomains (e.g. https://de.example.com)
   
2. As a new top-level domain (e.g. https://example.de) 

Most common and recommended setup is to choose subdomains (option 1) re-using your existing domestic store domain. For example, if your store is on https://www.example.com, localized sites may appear as subdomains like https://xx.example.com. You won’t need to purchase any new domain for this setup.

Not so frequently used is a third option to combine both formats. In such case, you could use a new top-level domain for one localized site (e.g. https://www.example.de)  and subdomains for all other ones (e.g. https://xx.example.com) when the domestic store is (e.g. https://www.example.com) 

All localized sites on custom domains will benefit from domain-validated SSL certificate. You only need to add a CNAME record provided by Glopal, that will allow Glopal to automatically issue certificates to secure connection to your localized sites.

Recommendations

• Choosing localized subdomains (option 1) is the easiest, cheapest and requires the least effort. You will only have to add 3 DNS records to your existing domain and you don't need to buy new domains.
  • Please note that if you plan to advertise your localized subdomains on Google Shopping, Glopal needs to claim your domains into its own Google Merchant Center. For example, to run a Google shopping campaign on https://xx.example.com subdomain, Glopal needs to claim example.com domain. Therefore, if your domestic store’s URL operates on a bare top-level domain (without www like https://example.com or any other subdomain prefix) that you already claimed in your Google Merchant Center, you won’t be able to also use localized subdomains to run Google Shopping campaigns with Glopal. Only solution for you would be to unclaim your bare top-level domain from your Google Merchant Center and claim subdomain instead (->https://www.example.com). Please consult your Glopal Account Manager if in doubt.
• If your domestic store uses a country code top-level domain (so something like www.example.fr) we recommend buying and configuring a new domain to use for subdomains. Otherwise, you may get a site with an address like https://de.example.fr which might confuse the user.
  
• If you already have a format you use for international purposes - stay consistent!

The full process has been described and broken down for your convenience into a series of articles (full list below):

• Requirements
• Process overview 
• Instructions for Subdomains
• Instructions for Regular Domains
• Additional content:
  - How does the DNS system work?
  
  
  

If you would like to share the complete instructions document with third parties involved in this process feel free to download the file linked below.