Module 5 – Using your own domain name with your club site

Who is this for?

Any club or district that has an existing website in which:

• The domain name is under the control of the club or district
• Club/district has control over the DNS of the old domain
• Club/district wishes to point all users to the new club site URL

Why You Need to Set Up Redirection

When a Kiwanis club buys a custom domain name (like ourkiwanisclub.org), they usually want to use it to make their website easier to find and more personalized. Instead of relying on a longer or more complex website address, the custom domain is simpler and forwards visitors to the club’s official website hosted on the free Kiwanis WordPress platform.

However, a challenge arises when people try to visit the custom domain using https:// (the secure version of a website address). To ensure that the connection is secure, the custom domain needs something called an SSL certificate, which acts like a “digital lock” protecting the site and its visitors. Without it, visitors might see warning messages or have trouble accessing the site.

Setting up your custom domain in Cloudflare

Setting up Universal SSL on Cloudflare is relatively straightforward. Universal SSL provides free SSL certificates for your domain, ensuring that the traffic between your custom domain, your club site and visitors is secure. Here’s a step-by-step guide to get Universal SSL up and running:

3 Easy Steps

• Verify that you can access your custom domain registrar dashboard (GoDaddy, Dreamhost, etc.)
• Sign up for a free Cloudflare account. Do not pay for a plan.
• Reach out to us for onboarding of your custom domain.
• Watch this step-by-step video: