A CNAME is an entry within your domain's DNS host. You may already use CNAMEs to brand your links in ClickDimensions emails, or brand web content links. A separate CNAME is required in order to use ClickDimensions Social Marketing feature.
An example of what the CNAME might look like for this Social Marketing feature is: social.mycompanydomain.com.
1. Social CNAME in Your DNS Host
You must enter your Social CNAME within your DNS host before continuing the setup steps below.
You will take the Social CNAME value you have come up with like social.mycompanydomain.com and insert that within your DNS Host along with having that CNAME point to okt.to .
2. Social CNAME Domain and Top-Level Domain in ClickDimensions
Next, you need to add two Domain records: one with the full Social CNAME and one with the top-level Domain. Go to Settings > Domains and add a new Domain record. This record should have your Social CNAME saved in the Domain field as shown below.
Next, you need to make sure there is also a Domain record with just the top-level domain set in the Domain field. So, if you just created the Social CNAME Domain for "social.mycompanydomain.com" you will now need to create a Domain for "mycompanydomain.com" - if one does not already exist. If a top-level Domain record already exists you do not need to create a new one.
After creating these Domain records, you will need to wait around 2-3 hours before using it in a Social Post. However, you may continue the rest of the setup steps shown below.
Please note that the "Test Alias" button is only used for testing the 'Web Content CNAME' and may return an error if you test a Social CNAME.
- Dynamics 365
3. Creating the Social Account
After setting up your Domains, you can then navigate to Settings and Support> ClickDimensions Settings and click Social Marketing Settings.
If you have not already created a Social Account, then you will be presented with the first screen of our Social Marketing Settings wizard. This first screen helps to introduce the concept of CNAMEs and how they will be used for your social posts. :
This second page requests the First Name, Last Name, Email Address, Password and Time Zone for the Account Owner of your social account. Selecting the Time Zone field, will display a drop-down menu with a search bar that you can use to quickly find your time zone.
This third page requests the social CNAME that your account will be using for its social posts. This must be setup with a CNAME entry in your domain's DNS settings before it can be used here.
For both basic and paid accounts, clicking this "Create Account" button will create your social account and the details entered here will be used to create a user that will be set as the owner for your social account. This owner WILL count as one user out of your available pool of users.
4. Existing Social Account
Once you have entered your CNAME into your DNS host, you are ready to proceed within Dynamics. Navigate to Settings and Support> ClickDimensions Settings and click Social Marketing Settings.
The Social Marketing Settings window will open and you will be able to see the settings for your Social Account Owner instead of the setup wizard:
The First Name, Last Name, Email Address, Password and Time Zone fields are the details that will be used as the Account Owner for your Social account, and you can update your details here to change the Account Owner later if necessary. Selecting the Time Zone field, will display a drop-down menu with a search bar that you can use to quickly find your time zone.
After filling out these details, enter the CNAME you used within your DNS host for social posting within the CNAME field.
The URL that you will be using for this Social Post CNAME will be used for when people click on the social post. It is designed so that when a person clicks on the social post link, the person will be redirected to that URL. Parameters will be automatically added to the URL redirect for precision tracking. This data will then be pushed into your Dynamics environment for analytics and reporting purposes.
Remember to wait at least 2-3 hours before sending anything with the new CNAME you have just updated. This will allow enough time to make sure all links work properly.
Note: Please DO NOT attempt to setup the Social CNAME in your non-production environments that are using ClickDimensions as this will still create a social account in that environment and you will not be able to re-use the same contact information in your production environment for its owner.
| Feature Added: 8.8 |
| Feature Updated: 12.3 |
| ClickDimensions Version Need: 8.0 |