In this article, we'll explore the process of setting up a subdomain for product portals within the context of Mastermind. By following these steps, you can ensure a seamless experience for your users and prevent potential conflicts related to domain management.
Defining Subdomains
A subdomain is a subset of a larger domain, allowing for specific sections of a website to have unique addresses. In our example, we recommend using a subdomain like members.yourtestwebsite.com for membership portals. In this example, the “members” portion is the one that makes this a subdomain, and the root domain is “yourtestwebsite.com”.
Keep these concepts in mind while following this guide to how to connect a subdomain to the membership area.
Step 1: Access Site Details
Navigate to “Your Products” tab.
Hover over the dropdown options for "Client Portal" and select "Settings".
Click on Domain Setup.
Step 2: Configuring Default Subdomain
In the "Domain Setup", locate the default subdomain field for memberships.
Enter your desired subdomain text (e.g., members, mycourseshere).
Save your changes by clicking "Update Domain".
Regenerate magic links if necessary and ensure that the complete URL directs users to the membership login page.
Step 3: Adding Custom Domains
Still, within the "Domain Setup" section, you can add Custom Domains.
Enter the dedicated subdomain for memberships in the domain field.
Add the required DNS records as instructed on the page in your domain’s DNS settings.
Click save to validate the records.
If you encounter errors, double-check the records and reach out to support if needed. Wait for 24 hours if everything appears correct before saving again.
Note: We recommend using a sub-domain, typically, using the main website root domain or main website www subdomain is not, unless you want that domain to be only for products
Ensure Site Details are Updated
After you have successfully added the subdomain, navigate back to "Courses" dropdown option and click into "Settings" and click on Site Details option.
Verify that your domain name is present in the field titled “Site URL” under Advanced details.
Click on Generate Magic Link to refresh links and reload the page if you've made domain changes.
Best Practices and Recommendations
Domain Management: Consider having one domain in Mastermind (e.g., testsamplewebsite.com) and redirecting the other (non-www or www) using your DNS manager, like Cloudflare with page rules. This prevents conflicts and streamlined user experience.
Subdomain Usage: Reserve subdomains for specific purposes, such as products (e.g., members.yourtestwebsite.com), to maintain organization and clarity in your web structure.