TeeChip Pro gives you the power to create your own, fully branded online store. When designed effectively, custom domains encourage extra purchases, increase return customers, improve brand value, and ultimately increase your profits.
Ultimate Guide to Custom Domains
What you get from a custom domain:
1. Your own domain name (www.[YourShop].com)
2. Multiple storefronts under a single domain
3. Your logo replaces the TeeChip logo
4. Branded checkout graphics, packing slips, and customer emails
In this guide, you’ll learn how to:
Improve brand recognition with a defined style
Before you start designing your shop, you need to determine your unique style. Consistency in presentation will help you earn the trust of your customers.
Choose your color palette
Your color palette should complement your brand and product. In our example, our main colors are teal, blue, and white. To improve branding power and clarity, we recommend you use only 2-3 colors in your color palette.
Choose a highlight color
Under “Domain details”, TeeChip Pro allows you to select a highlight color. This color appears during various stages of the checkout process, so pick a hue that matches your color palette.
Choose a font and stick with it
To create a professional brand, you should use the same font across your banners and logo. Choose a legible font that will look great on every storefront. In our example, we used the font, “Futura Condensed”.
Be consistent with graphics
Your custom domain’s graphics should reflect your brand’s unique style. In our demo shop, we used lots of photography for the homepage, creating a cohesive and professional look.
Find a great design program
If you don’t have access to Photoshop, we recommend Canva. On Canva.com, you can instantly create professional banners and logos for free. GIMP is also a great graphic design resource (similar to Photoshop) and is 100% free to download.
Gain trust and rank with a great domain name
Above all else, your domain name should have purpose. Think about your intended audience and reach when picking a URL.
Use a .com if it’s available
The .com URL is the industry standard of domain names and conveys a sense of authority and trust. When factoring in SEO benefits, .coms easily take the win. If you must use another domain ending, .orgs are your next best option.
Use keywords in your domain
Your domain name should have at least one word that corresponds to the theme of your shop. This will help Google rank your website higher in search results. Also, buyers are more likely to trust your shop if the domain name matches the product.
Don’t create a spammy domain name
There are a few ways your website can appear spammy. One common mistake to avoid is using too many numbers and symbols. You should also avoid using misspelled words or having a long URL.
Avoid things like: “Pepsi22.com”, “PepsiApparel.com”, or “BuyPepsi.com”
Don’t use trademarks in your domain
Avoid using protected trademarks or copyrighted words that could result in a dispute. Adding numbers, letters, or words to distinctive brand names is also discouraged.
Distinguish your brand with the perfect logo
Every great brand has a great logo and you should, too. The perfect logo is simple, easy to understand, and relevant.
Keep your logo simple
Your store logo will be shown as a very small icon on your custom domain. It’s important to keep your logo design simple so your buyers can easily understand your logo, even at a small size.
Stay relevant and stick to your theme
Your logo is a representation of your entire domain, so your logo should reflect all of your products. Logos can be as simple as t-shirt graphic or the initials of your store.
Choose a font and stick with it
To create a professional brand, you should use the same font across your banners and logo. Choose a legible font that will look great on every storefront. In our example, we used the font, “Futura Condensed”.
Don’t use infringing content
Make sure you logo is completely original. Even if you alter another brand’s logo or use a different font, you are still infringing on their design.
Examples of good logos
A simple color palette and clear design makes for the perfect logo.
Examples of bad logos
Impress customers with a cohesive homepage
Customers are redirected to your homepage when they click on your icon, so it’s important that your homepage is professional and well-designed.
Design a professional domain banner
The banner is the first thing your customer see on the homepage. We recommend that your banner includes your logo along with the name of your website. Make sure the banner background doesn’t distract from the text.
Create cohesive card images
Below the banner are “card images”, which link to your storefronts. In Animal Threads, we applied a blue filter over photos and added white text. You can be creative, just make sure to maintain your theme across storefronts.
The 4 types of bad card images
- Designs that are too simple can look very unprofessional. Card images should at least have a background color with a text overlay.
- Card images will need to be labelled, especially if the graphics in your card image provide no clear meaning.
- Avoid using blurry and distorted product screenshots in your card images.
- If your card image is busy, try adding a filter (like in example 2) to make your text stand out.
Dimensions for banners and card images
Minimum dimensions for are 1127px by 204px for landing page banners and 550px by 464px for card images. The maximum file size is 5MB (and the bigger, the better).
Stay relevant and stick to your theme
To create a professional brand, you should use the same font across your banners and logo. Choose a legible font that will look great on every storefront. In our example, we used the font, “Futura Condensed”.
PRO TIP – Increase your use of campaign tags to unlock category sort features. For more detailed information on landing page sort features, view our marketplace guide.
Optimize your shop with storefront banners
Banners add value to your brand and assist in page identification. Poorly designed banners are a big distraction, so always give extra thought to your art.
Use high-quality images
If you’re using photos in your banner, we recommend you get as close to the 5MB limit as possible (original image files should also be large). Banners are stretched to fit desktop view, so high-quality is always best. Minimum dimensions are 1080px by 360px.
Keep it simple and be consistent
Just like logos, your banners should be simple. And just like your card images, banners should match across all your storefronts.
Write a short description to improve SEO
Just like logos, your banners should be simple. And just like your card images, banners should match across all your storefronts.
Example of a bad storefront banner
Banner images shouldn’t be cluttered and pixelated, as seen in this example. Simplicity is key to a professional look.
PRO TIP – Set storefronts to “public” so they will show up on your domain’s homepage.
Create a custom domain today!
You’ve got the knowledge, we’ve got the platform! With TeeChip Pro, you can create powerful and profitable online merchandise stores in a snap. Get your very own custom domain today for just $50 per year.
To register a domain, sign in to TeeChip Pro, click “Domains” and then click “Create domain” — it’s that easy! For more registration info, please view our online guide.
