Tag: custom domain

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Creator success Growing your brand Spring store tips

Build Your Brand: How to Get Your Spring Store Its Own Domain 

Securing a custom domain for your Spring store can level up your brand’s game and make your Spring store seem more trustworthy to your fans. And Spring makes it easy! You can either buy a domain directly from Spring or connect one you purchased elsewhere. 

But before we get into that, what exactly is a custom domain?

A custom domain is essentially your own unique web address, like “yourbrand.com.” It’s a key piece in distinguishing your digital presence from others. 

Unlike the generic URLs that Spring hands out when you start, a custom domain that echoes your brand vibe not only boosts your visibility but also gives off some major professional vibes. 

People feel safer and more inclined to shop with brands that look polished and committed. When you connect a custom domain to your Spring store, you’re not just opening up shop—you’re building trust and deepening your connection with your audience. This can really set you apart from the crowd, making your brand the top choice in your niche. So, snagging that perfect domain isn’t just a techy detail—it’s a smart move that can drive your brand forward.

So, with that said, let’s get into how to connect an existing domain to your Spring store and how to purchase one if you don’t already have one. 

How to purchase a domain

If you already have a domain, skip to the next step. But if you need to buy one, you’re in luck. Spring allows you to purchase your very own custom domain directly from your Spring account. Read the steps below and then click here to buy one! 

Follow these steps to buy a domain:

1. Log Into Spring:

Hop on your Spring account to get started.

2. Navigate to Your Dashboard:

Click on the “Stores” tab in your dashboard, then select “Purchase a Domain.”

3. Find Your Perfect Domain:

Pop your ideal domain name into the search bar. You’ll see a list of available domains right at the top. Each one comes with the price tag for a yearly subscription, making it easy to compare and choose. If the name you like isn’t available, try switching up the ending—instead of .com, how about .net or .co? 

4. Fill in Your Info:

Drop in your address and choose if you want your domain to auto-renew each year. Then, you’re ready to hit checkout.

5. Complete Your Purchase:

Once you complete your purchase, we’ll automatically handle the DNS records verification. Your domain goes live instantly—no waiting around!

6. Verify to Activate:

Look out for a verification email and follow the prompts to confirm your contact details. 

Once you verify your info, your Spring store URL will automatically change within 24-36 hours!  

How to connect a domain

If you’ve purchased a domain somewhere outside of Spring, you can click here to connect it to your Spring store. 

Heres how to do it:

1. Edit Your DNS Settings:

Head over to your domain registrar’s control panel. You’ll need to add a couple of DNS records to link up your domain with your Spring store:

  • A Record: Add this (also known as the root record) to make sure anyone visiting your domain (like thecreator.com without the www) lands on your Spring store.
  • CNAME Record: This one makes sure that visitors to www.thecreator.com also get directed to your store.

2. Update Settings in Spring:

Once you’ve updated your DNS settings:

  • Go back to the “Stores” tab in your Spring dashboard.
  • Find the domain you’re setting up and click the ‘Setup incomplete, click to resume’ button. This checks if your DNS settings are pointing right.

3. Verify Your Setup:

  • If the initial check doesn’t work, hit the button again. Double-check the DNS records in your registrar’s panel, correct them if needed, and try verifying once more.
  • Verification might take a few minutes. If it’s still not working, just click the ‘Verify’ button again.

4. Success!

  • Once your DNS records are confirmed, you’ll see a success message, and you’re all set—your domain is now connected to your Spring store!

Grab a domain to help your brand stand out and grow!

Investing in a custom domain for your Spring store is more than just a tech upgrade; it’s a game changer for your brand’s vibe and trustworthiness. By stepping away from generic URLs, you’re not just making it easier for your fans to find and remember you—you’re showing the world you’re serious about your business. 

A unique domain means you’re all in, creating a professional, sleek image that attracts customers and makes them feel secure when they shop. Think of it as your brand’s digital home base, where everything you do comes together under one memorable address.

Plus, hooking up a custom or existing domain with your Spring store only takes a few minutes and is super beneficial. It keeps your marketing tight and drives all your social media followers straight to one spot without any detours. This direct line doesn’t just enhance the shopping experience but also boosts your spot on search engine radars. 

Getting set up is simple, quick, and all about letting you focus on your passion while we handle the tech stuff. So, why wait? Grab that custom domain, and let’s take your brand from just buzzing to absolutely booming!Buy or purchase a domain here!

Categories
Digital Insights

Your go-to guide for the holidays

Some creators sell more during the holiday season than the entire year combined. Make this holiday season your most successful yet. 

It may seem a little overwhelming at first—but we’ve got you. Below, we’ve laid out key dates you can follow to put yourself in the best position possible. Here’s how.

1) Create a holiday product collection

We’ve found certain products sell especially well during the holidays. Here’s what’s been proven to sell the best (based on current trends and recent years):

  • Hoodies (and matching kids hoodies)
  • Premium Tees
  • Mugs
  • Stickers
  • All-Over Print Sweatshirts
  • Leggings
  • All-Over Print Unisex Joggers
  • Stainless Tumblers
  • Tote Bags 
  • Long Sleeve Tees
  • Bucket hats

Design your holiday collection

Spring’s Instagram grid is packed with design inspo, so head over to check it out. Also, don’t forget about all the free design resources available to you.

Aim to create your holiday product collection by October 1st. This will give you enough time to order samples, prepare your content schedule, and maximize sales over the next 3 months. Take note of the Christmas delivery cutoff dates for fans too, so no one misses out. Add new products to your collection just in time for the holidays, and add limited edition holiday designs.  

2) Order samples and x3 your sales 

Once you’ve finished creating, it’s time to promote. Best way: Ordering product samples. Creators who do so sell 3x more than those who don’t. 

That said, we’d recommend ordering your product samples by October 10. This gives you enough time for shipping, then for you to create your promo content. Flick through the samples guide to find out the best ways to use samples to promote your products.

Tag us (@springforcreators)in social content featuring your samples, and don’t forget to use the hashtag #createshareearn for the chance to be featured in our 2021 holiday campaign on Instagram and get more eyes on your brand ✨

Order samples

3) Prepare for Black Friday weekend

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are the biggest online shopping days of the year. Creators who offer discounts during this weekend can double their sales. We suggest running sales during those days—creators who’ve done so in the past have doubled their sales. In that, you’ll want to schedule your sales by November 1st, so you’re ready to switch your promotions on in your dashboard when the time comes.

Ready to get started? Check out these tried and true tips for the Cyber weekend. Plus, check out our guide to running a successful sale.   

Prepare promo codes

4) Prepare your store for peak seasonal selling

We’ve got three quick ways to optimize your store for the season: 

  • Feature products in your store: these can get 20% more views on average.
  • Add your branding to your store: stores with custom branding see 35% increase in conversion rates. 
  • Customize your domain: creators with custom domains can sell up to 5x more on average than those who don’t. Also, when you set up a domain with us, you’ll automatically receive an SSL certification, making your store more search friendlier as well as more secure or fans.

We recommend doing all of this by November 1. If you need a good example, see @ashleyooacevedo’s top tips. 

Browse custom domains

5) Keep profits rolling until Christmas with digital products

Okay, we just threw a bunch of dates at you. One thing with a bit of flexibility is digital products. Since these don’t have to actually ship anywhere (fans download immediately), you have up until the holiday itself to sell these products. Ensure your digital products are added to your store ASAP, so you can start promoting right away. Go extra hard on promotions after Cyber Weekend.

Get fans excited with special promotions on holiday themed digital products. Include bonus products (e.g. a free wallpaper background) with their digital product purchase—this is a great way to boost your sales even more.

Find inspo for digital products to create for the holidays, and don’t forget, we’ve got free digital product templates you can download and customize here. 

Create holiday digital products
Categories
Insights

3 ways to customize (and optimize) your store

Picture this: you walk into a store, you’ve seen hundreds before like it. Then you go next door—it has a distinct feel. There’s vibrant colors, a catchy name, cool artwork on the walls. Well, the experience with your Spring store is no different. 

A great looking Spring store not only streamlines your fans shopping experience, it compliments the products inside it—making visitors more likely to purchase products. In fact, customizing your store can increase your conversion rates by as much as 35%. 

Take graphic designer and creator Ashley Acevedo, for example. Recently, she has done a total makeover of her custom store. The tagline in her header image sums up the new look, as well as newly launched digital and physical products—it’s hardcore fun. To level up your store like Ashley, here’s the 3 ways to do it: 

  • Add a custom domain
  • Feature social media icons in your navigation bar and store footer
  • Enhance your brand with design customization capabilities

Choose a custom domain 

Connecting a custom domain bumps up your rankings on search engines, making it easy for fans to discover your store, as well as revisit it. 

Ashley knew she wanted her online moniker “ashleyooacevedo” in her domain name—the name she goes by online. That’s how she landed on the domain name ashleyooacevedo.fun— instantly making her products more discoverable. When choosing a domain extension, instead of ‘.com’, she got lucky with ‘.fun’—fitting perfectly with her brand’s slogan, ‘Hardcore Fun’. 

She tells us: “Since changing my domain name, I have seen a massive increase in sales. It really took my shop to another level and it feels so much more my own. My community also really love the catchy name.” 

You can get a custom domain instantly through Spring, or connect one you already own. It’s easy.

Connect a custom domain

Add social media icons

Your store should be an extension of your creator brand—so make sure there are pathways between your social media profiles and your store. With Instagram being her main platform, Ashley did exactly that, adding her Instagram profile link to her store navigation bar and footer. 

Add your social media URLs too, via the Stores tab of your dashboard. To get started, head to the store editor now.

Store editor

Customize your branding and colors 

The fun part—you have the ability to edit the appearance and update branded elements of your custom store with ease, giving you full creative control. Edit your store banner and footer, add a logo, text color, insert buttons, alter your navigation bar, and more. 

Ashley certainly had tons of fun updating hers: “I loved being able to add my own banner and branding! As a graphic designer, it’s really important to me to have my identity anywhere my audience can find me. It’s also super fun to customize my store to fit my style.”

Try it for yourself. Head to the “Stores” section of your dashboard and open up the store editor on the top right. 

We can’t wait to see what you come up with.

Get started
Categories
News

Why your personal brand needs a custom domain

Add a custom domain to your store to level up your personal brand. Enhance your brand and increase conversions by over 35%. 

Why purchase a custom domain?

Since launching this new feature, over 10,000 custom domains are hosted through Spring. Custom domains enable you to claim your space and create a custom place your brand can flourish and grow.  

Plus, you can take advantage of the following benefits when you purchase a domain through Spring.

  • No technical knowledge needed
  • No domain verification required
  • Competitive pricing
  • Dedicated support
  • Simplified Meta (Facebook) pixel verification

Enhance your brand identity

A custom domain provides your community with a seamless, fully branded experience. Your brand is already ‘legit’, but a custom store URL allows you tostart “owning” your custom store. Connecting a custom domain  means fans won’t need to leave your website to visit your store. Above all, the aim is for you, your content, and your brand to take center stage.

Purchase a domain

Put yourself on the map

Connecting a custom domain bumps up your rankings on search engines, making it easy for your community to discover your store, as well as revisit it. Plus, your unique domain encourages trust. Fans are more likely to click on your promotional campaigns if they’re able to see a clear connection between your social media handle and store—in fact, we’re seeing a 35% increase in sales for products featured in custom stores.

Choosing a domain for your store

Choosing a domain name is easy. There’s just one rule—consistency is key. Make sure your domain reflects your brand presence across all your other social media platforms. Think about the name you go by online. It’s important to use wording fans will recognize right away. 

For example, if your Instagram social handle is @TheCreator and your YouTube URL is https://www.youtube.com/thecreator, your domain name should be https://www.thecreator.com or www.thecreatorshop.com/ 

Learn more about connecting a custom domain here or head to the store editor to browse available domains now. 

  

Choose a domain

Categories
News

How iOS 14 will impact advertising your products on Facebook

Apple’s iOS update will significantly impact the way creators track advertisements on Facebook. Continue reading to find out how connecting a custom domain will allow you to continue using your Meta pixel (Facebook pixel).

Apple’s upcoming iOS 14 update will moderate the amount of data iPhone apps can collect, restricting advertising on all social media platforms. If you’re a creator that advertises using the Meta pixel, you will be affected by this update. iOS 14 is expected to roll out in early Spring. For that reason, we’re encouraging you to start preparing.

Facebook receives and processes conversion events and other optimization goals from tools like the Meta pixel. Creators who have set up the pixel previously within the Spring dashboard will need to take note of the following changes.

Visit your dashboard now to connect or purchase a custom domain. Then follow the steps outlined below to verify it on Facebook.

Please note: you must connect or purchase a custom domain for your Spring store in order to sell products through Facebook ads.

My store

One pixel per domain

The biggest change this update is bringing is the fact that Facebook will only allow one tracking pixel per domain. If your store has not been connected with a custom domain, it will stop collecting valuable sales conversion data. Now you’ve been upgraded to a custom store, you’ll be able to purchase or connect a custom domain. 

Again, you must add a custom domain to your store and verify it with Facebook in order to continue using your tracking pixel.

Custom domains

Verifying your domain with Facebook

You need to verify your Meta pixel for it to fire on your Spring store(s). Please see the options below for verifying your pixel.

Spring hosted domains

You are able to verify Spring hosted domains with Facebook directly within your Spring dashboard. Follow these steps:

  1. Navigate to the stores section of your account.
  2. Click the 3 dots next to your custom domain and select “Facebook domain verification”.
  3. Enter your TXT record found within your Facebook business manager and click “Update”.
  4. After a few hours, navigate back to the Facebook business manager page where you found your TXT record and click “Verify”. 

Once verified you can select your 8 conversion tracking events for the pixel, see the Aggregated Event Measurement section here to learn more on how to do this.  

3rd party domains

To verify a domain purchased through a 3rd party site (like GoDaddy) you’ll need to verify your domain on Facebook through your custom domain’s DNS settings. Please refer to your hosting site for more information on how to do this. Once verified you can select your 8 conversion tracking events for the pixel, see Aggregated Event Measurement section here to learn more.