About Branded URLs

A branded URL is a web address that is comprised of deliberately selected text.

Branded URLs are created for marketing reasons, as they often replace a more technical URL with one that has more meaning or is more memorable to the consumers using the URL.

Creating a Branded URL

1. Determine what web address the customer wants created.
   
   Typically, an organization will want their branded URL to be a sub-domain of their primary web address, such as bookings.companyname.com or payments.companyname.com, as sub-domains are often cheaper, or even free, depending upon their hosting package.
   
   It is also possible the customer may choose to buy and register a completely unique domain that might not even contain their company name. The only limitation is that the URL is not already in use or owned by someone else.
   
   The customer must first buy and register the appropriate domain name or sub-domain that they wish to use.
   
   
   
2. The property must have their IT department or hosting company create the custom domain entry in the DNS of the property website address.
   
   
   
3. The property must also have their IT department or hosting company point that new entry to the following b4checkin IP for DOSarrest: 199.184.144.45
   
   Note: The IP address could vary if the property has their own DOS service. If this is the case, the property IT department or hosting company will also need to update that DOS service to route traffic to b4checkin servers.
   
   
   
4. The property must also purchase an SSL Certificate for the new URL.
   
   The SSL Certificate must use at least SHA-256 (2048 bit encryption) and be from a reputable certificate authority such as GoDaddy, VeriSign, Thawte, etc.
   
   
   
5. The property must send the SSL Certificate private key and the intermediate certificate to b4checkin.