Guide to setting up subdomains and DNS records

Introduction

To enable your company domain in your QR codes you need to use a subdomain that you own (e.g. your main domain is brand.com, a subdomain of this domain is id.brand.com). This can be a subdomain you already have or a new one you create. To do this, you need to log into your web service provider (technically known as DNS provider) and add two new DNS records there, which is a simple two-minute process. Once this is done, you add the subdomain to our platform and connect it to our web service in one click - see this article.

Please note that if you're using an existing subdomain it must be 'available' to use. You can easily check this by pasting the subdomain (e.g. qr.brand.com) into this tool - if it returns nothing, it's available to use!

Below are guidelines for how to do this with some of the more popular web service providers. AIl of the examples below use the subdomain prefix id for illustrative purposes (main domain brand.com, subdomain id.brand.com)

How to add DNS records using Google Domains

Click Manage next to your domain
In the side panel on the left, click DNS
Select Add a new record under the Custom resource records section
In the box on the left side, type the subdomain prefix id
Select CNAME in the drop down menu
Either leave the next box default or input 5m
In the next box, type scan.polytag.io
Finally, click Add and the new CNAME entry will be added to the list of entries
Repeat steps 3-8 with subdomain prefix *id
More info on Google setup here

How to add DNS records using GoDaddy

In your Domain Portfolio, click the 3 dots on your domain name and select Edit DNS
Select Add New Record
Select CNAME from the Type menu
Enter the subdomain prefix id into the hostname/prefix of the record
Enter scan.polytag.io into the value box
Leave TTL default (1 hour) or set it to your desired “go live” time
Select Save to add your new record
Repeat steps 2-7 with the subdomain alias *.id

More info on GoDaddy setup here

How to add DNS records using Namecheap

Select Domain List from the menu on the left
Click Manage on the domain you wish to add a subdomain for
Navigate to Advanced DNS and select ADD NEW RECORD
Select CNAME Record from the drop down list under Type
Add subdomain prefix id as the Host
Add scan.polytag.io as the Value
Leave the TTL set to default and select SAVE ALL CHANGES
Repeat steps 3-7 using subdomain prefix *.id

More info on NameCheap here

More info on Cloudfare here

How to create a new subdomain

The guidelines below are for creating a new subdomain with some of the more frequently used web service providers. For illustrative purposes they use the domain brand.com and the subdomain prefix id

Create a new subdomain with Google

Sign in to Google Domains
Select your domain: brand.com
Click DNS in the left‑hand menu
Scroll to Custom records
Click Add
You will see a Name field. Enter id
Leave everything else as default and Save
You have now created id.brand.com

Create a new subdomain with GoDaddy

Sign in to GoDaddy
Open My Products
Find brand.com and click Manage DNS
Click Add
You will see a Host or Name field. Enter id
Save your changes.
You have now created id.brand.com

Create a new subdomain with Namecheap

Sign in to Namecheap
Go to Domain List
Click Manage next to brand.com
Open the Advanced DNS tab
Click Add New Record
You will see a Host field. Enter id
Save your changes.
You have now created id.brand.com

Subdomain FAQs

Do I need to buy anything?
- No. Subdomains are free and included with your domain.
Will this affect my website or email?
- No. Your main site (brand.com) and email stay exactly the same.
Can I remove this subdomain later?
- Yes. Subdomains can be added or removed at any time.