1. What is a Custom Domain?

A custom domain is your unique web address (like 'yourbusinessname.com') that visitors type to find your website. Instead of using a generic address provided by TheFlowOps (like `yourbusinessname.theflowops.com`, a custom domain helps establish your brand identity and makes your website look more professional and trustworthy.

2. Before You Begin

What you'll need:

- A custom domain (purchased from a domain registrar like GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Google Domains)

- Access to your domain registrar account

- Your [Platform] website set up and ready to connect

Time required: About 15-30 minutes to set up, plus 24-48 hours for the connection to fully activate across the internet.

3. Overview of the Process

Connecting your domain involves telling your domain registrar to point your domain name to your TheFlowOps website. We'll walk through this process step by step with clear instructions and images to guide you.

Step 1: Connecting Your Domain in TheFlowOps

Now let's tell TheFlowOps about your domain:

1. Log in to your TheFlowOps account

2. Go to [specific navigation path]

3. Navigate to Domain' tab

We support a variety of custom domain setup formats to meet the unique needs of your growing business. Here are some of the formats you can use:

- www.businessname.com

- ⁠retreats.businessname.com

- ⁠yoga.businessname.com

4. Enter your domain name (e.g., 'yourbusinessname.com')

5. Click 'Connect' 

6. Follow instructions as per our guide

[IMAGE: Screenshot of platform's domain connection page]

Step 2: Verify the Connection

Your domain connection is now set up, but it might take some time (usually 24-48 hours) for the changes to take effect across the internet. This waiting period is normal and is called 'DNS propagation.'

To check if your domain is connected:

1. Wait at least 2-4 hours after completing the steps above

2. Open a new browser window and type your domain (e.g., 'yourbusinessname.com')

3. If you see your [Platform] website, congratulations! Your domain is connected

4. If not, don't worry - it might still be in the propagation period. Try again in a few hours.

8. Troubleshooting Common Issues

Not seeing your website at your domain? Here are some common issues and solutions:

- Website Not Found' Error: Your DNS settings might need more time to propagate. Wait 24-48 hours before troubleshooting further.

- Incorrect DNS Records: Double-check that you've entered the exact values shown in Step 2. Even a small typo can prevent the connection.

- SSL/HTTPS Issues: If your site loads but shows security warnings, you may need to activate SSL. Go to [specific navigation path] in your [Platform] account to enable it.

- Old Website Showing: Your browser might be showing a cached version. Try clearing your browser cache or opening your domain in an incognito/private window.

9. Need More Help?

If you've followed these steps and waited 48 hours but still have issues connecting your domain, our support team is here to help.

Contact us at [support email/phone] or [support chat link] with the following information:

- Your domain name

- Your [Platform] username

- Screenshots of your DNS settings

- Any error messages you're seeing

10. Glossary of Terms

- Domain Registrar: The company where you purchased your domain name (examples: GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google Domains)

- DNS (Domain Name System): The internet's directory system that connects domain names to websites

- A Record: A DNS record that points a domain to a specific IP address

- CNAME Record: A DNS record that points a domain to another domain name

- Propagation: The time it takes for DNS changes to spread across the internet (usually 24-48 hours)

- SSL/HTTPS: Security technology that encrypts your website connection, shown by a padlock icon in browsers