ECM101_Topic049_DigiSkills 3.0

Key technological concepts: Domains + Hosting for online stores

Creating an online store requires two core components:

1. Domain: the URL (e.g., www.yourstore.com) people use to reach your store.
2. Hosting: the servers where your store/data is stored.

The video contrasts common setup approaches:

• WordPress (typical approach): you buy hosting and a domain separately, then connect them using DNS/name servers, and install WordPress on the hosting.
• Shopify: Shopify includes free hosting (as part of its pricing), so you generally only need to buy a domain.

Shopify-specific product features: Domain handling in Shopify

In the Shopify admin:

• Dashboard → Settings → Domains
• Shopify shows which domain is active.

When you create a Shopify account, Shopify automatically generates a temporary practice domain, often something like:

• aroma-do-933.fi.com (a numeric/temporary format)

The video explains this domain is not suitable for branding, because you typically want a memorable, brand-focused domain such as:

• aromastudio.com
• aromastudio.pk

Tutorial / Guide: How to connect Shopify to your own domain

The video presents two options inside Shopify.

Option 1: Connect an existing domain you bought elsewhere

1. Go to Shopify → Settings → Domains.
2. Choose Connect existing domain.
3. Enter the domain name.
4. Shopify provides DNS record values (including information related to A and CNAME).
5. Shopify instructs you to update two DNS records at your domain registrar:
   • Update A record
   • Update CNAME record (commonly with www)
6. The video recommends an easier method:
   • Use the domain provider’s support chat to ask them to connect the domain for you (claimed to be free).
7. If doing it yourself, steps are usually similar to what you’d find in hosting/domain panels (e.g., cPanel or a registrar Zone Editor/Edit Record):
   • Find Zone Editor or Edit Record
   • Update:
     • A record: set @ and point it to the target value provided by Shopify
     • CNAME record: set the www name and copy the value Shopify provides
8. Wait 10–15 minutes for DNS propagation.
9. In Shopify, click “Update DNS records” to finalize linking.
10. After integration, visiting the custom domain opens the Shopify storefront.

Option 2: Buy a new domain directly from Shopify

• In Settings → Domains, select Buy a New Domain.
• Shopify suggests available domain names based on your store/brand name.
• The video notes Shopify charges for this annually.
• It also mentions availability differences (e.g., some domains might not be available—such as .com in the example).

Main speakers / sources

• In-video speaker: the presenter/teacher demonstrating steps in Shopify and DNS settings (no specific name given in the subtitles).
• Platforms referenced: Shopify, and domain/hosting providers such as Hostinger and DNS tools (e.g., cPanel/registrar zone editors). The captions may reference “Namecheap”-like terminology, but the exact provider identity is unclear from the auto-captions.