This article will cover:
- What Is The Domains Module?
- Why Does It Matter?
- Role-Based Access
- How Do I Add A New Domain In CAKE?
- Updating a Domain Type
- How Do I Remove a Domain?
- What Do All The Indicators Mean In The Domain Grids?
- What Is The (SSL) Certificates Grid?
- How Can I See Where Domains Have Been Applied?
- FAQ
What Is The Domains Module?
At a surface level, the Domains Module allows clients to add their own tracking domains directly and effortlessly in the platform. However, beneath the surface, this feature empowers users with a method for quickly launching branded partner experiences, segmenting new or riskier traffic sources, and employing tracking strategies to boost traffic quality and overall performance.
Why Does It Matter?
As the industry evolves, tracking domains tend to have shorter lifespans due to browser tracking regulations, platform compliance or just ending up in the hands of a bad actor. By leveraging the domains module along side our full suite of domain features such as CAKE Shield, CAKE Proxy, Redirect Domains, Campaign Level Domains (Vanity Domains) and more, our clients can confidently navigate the evolving digital landscape, reduce traffic losses, and attract higher-quality traffic sources for their premier partners.
Role-Based Access
The enhanced domain management features—including updating domain types and removing domains—are controlled through role-based permissions.
If these options are unavailable in your account, work with your system administrator to ensure your user role has the appropriate permissions.
How Do I Add A New Domain In CAKE?
To Add a new domain in CAKE, follow these steps:
- Purchase a domain.
- Navigate to Setup main tab.
- Click Domains sub tab.
- Click Add in the Cookie Domains grid or navigate to the Redirect Domains tab, then click Add to insert a redirect domain.
- In the modal, check the box to verify the 4 CAKE nameservers have been applied
- Type in the name of your domain.
- Optionally, add any notes about your domain.
- Check the box to acknowledge the domain fee.
- Click Save.
- The domain is ready to use as soon as the status updates to Active.
Updating a Domain Type
If you need to change how a domain is being used:
- Navigate to Setup > Domains.
- Locate the domain.
- Open the Edit Domain wizard.
- Update the domain configuration as needed.
- Save your changes.
How Do I Remove a Domain?
- Validate where the domain is currently being used in reports.
- Make a business decision to deprecate the domain.
- Notify any partners who may still be using links associated with the domain.
- Navigate to Setup > Domains.
- Open the Edit Domain wizard.
- Use the Find and Replace Domains tool to replace the old domain with the new domain throughout your tracking configuration.
- After all references have been updated, return to the Domains grid.
- Click the Remove icon for the domain you want to remove.
- Confirm the removal.
Note: A domain should only be removed after it is no longer referenced anywhere in your tracking strategy.
What Do All The Indicators Mean In The Domain Grids?
- The Domain Type column identifies how each domain is being used within CAKE, helping you quickly distinguish between Cookie Domains, Redirect Domains, and other supported domain types.
- Postbacks Only - When a domain is set to Postback Only the UI will not allow users to set this value. This is done to ensure that the postback only domain is not set on an entity which would make it available to affiliates. Postback Only domains will always be the Postback URL in the Conversion Pixel wizard for all offers system-wide
- When a domain is designated as Postbacks Only, it is intended exclusively for server-to-server postback traffic. This value is system controlled and cannot be changed through the user interface.
- Default - When a domain is set as Default the Add Offer wizard will pre-populate the Cookie Domain drop-down so that users do not have to select the field.
- Same Site - When enabled, this forces HTTPS on tracking links and pixels and flags the domain as “SameSite=None Secure;” within Chrome to allow for a cookie to be stored
- In Domain Pool - When a domain is added to the domain pool, CAKE will rotate through the redirect domains for campaign tracking links each time a link is generated. This assumes multiple redirect domains have been added to the domain pool.
- DNS Test - Links out to MXToolBox.com to run a DNS lookup on your domain. This is commonly used to verify that your domain is pointed at 4 CAKE nameservers.
- Healthy - Indicates your domain is correctly pointed at CAKE and returns our "UP" status.
- Valid Certificate - Indicates your domain has a valid/active SSL Certificate. See Certificates grid for more details.
- Txt Record - Only applicable for Proxy users. Shows the appropriate TXT record that allows CAKE to have shared access to the domain in order to purchase the SSL. See Certificates Grid section below for more details.
- SSL Expiration Date - Indicates when the SSL certificate is set to expire. CAKE will automatically purchase a new SSL 30 days before the expiration date.
- Status
- Provisioning - The CAKE system is actively acquiring an SSL certificate for your domain and validating the domain is correctly pointed at CA
- Active - The SSL has been successfully applied and the domain is correctly pointed at CAKE/ready for use in your system.
What Is The (SSL) Certificates Grid?
The Certificates grid gives clients visibility into the purchase status of each domain's SSL certificate as well as the ability to manually action or rerun our SSL purchase process when necessary.
By default, when a new domain is added, CAKE will automatically purchase the SSL certificate. As soon as it has been purchased successfully, the SSL Order Status will update from "Pending Validation" to "Provisioned." Additionally, CAKE will schedule a process to automatically renew the SSL certificate 30-days prior to its expiration date.
If a client would like to override our automated purchase process and renew a domain's SSL certificate early, clicking "Renew" in the Actions column will immediately initiate the SSL purchase process.
How Can I See Where Domains Have Been Applied?
Along with the Domains Module, CAKE has introduced a Domains Report. Using the drill down icons, you can easily see all locations in the system a domain was applied as well as how much traffic overall that entity (Affiliate, Offer and/or Campaign) has been receiving.
To locate the Domains Report, navigate to Reports main tab > Domains sub tab:
FAQ
Why Do I see a Proxy Type dropdown?
Only CAKE Proxy users will see this dropdown. If you intend to add a proxy domain, click here for instructions.
Why isn't my domain active immediately?
In most cases, the domain will be active shortly after adding however, in some extreme cases, the domain may take a maximum of 24 hours before its available for use.
Do I need to click "Renew" before the SSL certificate expires on my domain?
No, this is not required. 30 days prior to the SSL expiration date, CAKE's automated process will purchase the SSL certificate.
Do I need to contact support to remove or change a domain type?
No. Right-click the domain in the domain grid and choose to remove it or update its type.
Can I replace a domain across many offers and campaigns at once?
Yes. Use the Edit Domains Wizard to search Offers, Campaigns, or both, and apply your replacement domain in bulk.
Why did more campaigns update than I expected after searching Offers and Campaigns?
Some of those campaigns were likely inheriting their domain from one of the offers you matched. When the offer's domain updates, those campaigns update with it.
Why doesn't my new campaign have its own cookie domain?
Your campaign inherits its domain from the offer level by default. If you want a unique, branded domain for a specific partner, you can set one manually on the campaign.
Does this change affect searches I run on Offers only or Campaigns only?
No. Searching Offers only or Campaigns only works the same as before — this only applies to combined Offers and Campaigns searches.
When to Contact Support
Most domain cleanup and bulk replacement tasks can now be handled on your own using the tools above. Reach out to support if:
- The domain grid or Edit Domains Wizard isn't behaving as described in this article.
- You notice a data discrepancy that doesn't match what's described here.
- Your question falls outside the domain grid or Edit Domains Wizard.