SMS custom domains

Overview

SMS custom domains allow you to use a branded domain for links included in your SMS messages. This helps improve brand recognition, build trust with recipients, and keep SMS messages concise by shortening long URLs.

Accessing SMS custom domains

To access the SMS custom domain page, go to Settings > Custom domains.

Understanding SMS custom domains

An SMS custom domain is a branded domain used to shorten and track links included in SMS messages.

When a custom SMS domain is configured, any links included in your SMS messages are automatically converted into shortened URLs.

This shortened link redirects recipients to the original destination while allowing Ortto to track engagement.

Custom SMS domains are commonly short branded domains, such as yrbrnd.com , designed to keep SMS messages concise while maintaining recognizable branding.

Why use a custom SMS domain

Using a custom SMS domain helps improve brand recognition and trust when recipients receive links in your messages. Instead of unfamiliar shortened URLs, recipients see links associated with your brand, making them more likely to engage.

A custom SMS domain also helps keep messages concise by shortening long URLs while maintaining a branded appearance.

Benefits of using a custom SMS domain include:

• Stronger brand recognition: Recipients see your branded domain instead of a generic link shortener.
• Shorter SMS messages: Long URLs are automatically converted into short branded links.
• Consistent link tracking: All links in your SMS messages are routed through the same tracking domain.

Set up an SMS domain

To add a custom domain for SMS:

1. Navigate to Settings > Custom domains.
2. Click Add domain under SMS domains.
3. Enter your Domain name
4. Select your Domain provider.
5. Click Add domain.

After adding the domain, Ortto will provide a CNAME record that must be added to your domain registrar’s DNS settings to verify the domain.

Here are links to instructions for adding CNAME records with some common providers:

• Google Domains.
• GoDaddy.
• Namecheap.
• Cloudflare

NOTE: If you use Cloudflare DNS, remember to adjust your CNAME records by setting each one's Proxy status to DNS only. This step ensures proper configuration for your custom domain.

For a visual guide on setting CNAME records in Ortto, check out our video tutorial below starting at 1:02 in the timeline.

• After adding your SMS domain, test it to ensure everything is set up correctly.

Domain certification

If you have a Certification Authority Authorization (CAA) record for your domain, you can specify which certificate authorities are authorized to issue certificates.

Ortto uses ZeroSSL (sectigo.com) as the authority to issue certificates for authenticating your custom domain. When you add a custom domain, Ortto automatically sets up a CAA record allowing ZeroSSL to issue a certificate on your behalf. This ensures seamless domain setup without any extra steps on your part.

If you have a custom configuration that prevents this setup, please consult with your IT team about allowing ZeroSSL to issue certificates for your domain.

Domain statuses

The table below explains the different statuses your domain may have.

Delete an SMS domain

To delete an existing SMS domain:

1. Navigate to Custom domains.
2. Locate the domain you want to modify.
3. Select the more (…) icon.
4. Select the trash icon to delete.
5. Type PERMANENTLY DELETE to confirm.