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How to Set Up Per-Client Branded Domains for Your Agency (Step-by-Step)

· 7 min read
SimpleURL Team
SimpleURL Team
Product & Engineering

If you run a digital marketing agency, branded links aren't optional anymore — they're table stakes. Every client deserves trackable, professional short links under their own domain. Not bit.ly/x9z8q in campaign reports. Not a shared agency domain across 15 clients.

The challenge is that most link management tools built for agencies are priced for enterprise teams. Professional-grade branded domain management can run $300–$500/month depending on the tool and plan.

This guide walks you through the exact setup for managing per-client branded domains cost-effectively — using SimpleURL's TEAM plan at $49/month with 10 branded domains included.

TL;DR​

  • Professional agency-grade branded domain management typically costs $300–$500/mo on legacy platforms. SimpleURL TEAM is $49/mo with 10 branded domains.
  • You can manage separate branded domains for each client — links.clientone.com, go.clienttwo.co — all from one dashboard.
  • Setup takes under 10 minutes per client domain, including DNS configuration. The AI assistant walks you through it.
  • Every link gets click analytics, geo data, device breakdown, and UTM attribution your clients can actually read.

Why Every Client Needs Their Own Branded Domain​

Most agencies start with one shortener account and share a single domain across all clients. On paper it works. In practice:

  • Client A's links and Client B's links share the same domain reputation. If Client B's campaign gets flagged as spam, Client A's deliverability tanks too.
  • Your client reports show agencylinks.io/abc123 instead of something that reinforces their brand.
  • You can't hand over the analytics account when the client churns — everything is tangled together.

The right setup is one branded domain per client, fully isolated, with their own analytics view.

What You Need Before Starting​

For each client domain, you need:

  1. A domain or subdomain the client owns — e.g. links.theirclientbrand.com or a dedicated short domain like theirbrand.co
  2. Access to their DNS settings (Cloudflare, GoDaddy, Namecheap, etc.) — or have them add one CNAME record
  3. A SimpleURL TEAM account — start free here

That's it. No developer needed. The AI assistant handles the DNS guidance.

Step-by-Step Setup​

Step 1 — Choose the Domain Structure​

Work with your client to decide between two options:

OptionExampleWhen to use
Subdomain of their main domainlinks.clientbrand.comClient already owns a domain, easiest to set up
Dedicated short domainclntbrd.coClient wants maximum brand compression, premium look

Recommendation: Start with a subdomain. It's free (no new domain purchase), takes 5 minutes to configure, and looks professional. Move to a dedicated short domain when the client is on a paid contract.

Step 2 — Add the Domain in SimpleURL​

  1. Log in to SimpleURL → go to Branded Domains
  2. Click Add Domain
  3. Enter the subdomain: links.clientbrand.com
  4. SimpleURL will show you the CNAME record you need to add:
Type:   CNAME
Name:   links
Value:  cname.simpleurl.tech
TTL:    Auto (or 3600)

💡 Not sure how to add a CNAME? Open the SimpleURL AI Assistant and type: "Help me add a CNAME record on [Cloudflare / GoDaddy / Namecheap]" It will give you step-by-step instructions for your specific DNS provider.

Step 3 — Add the DNS Record (Client Side)​

Send your client (or their IT contact) these exact instructions:

For Cloudflare:

  1. Log in to Cloudflare → select the domain → click DNS
  2. Click Add record
  3. Type: CNAME | Name: links | Target: cname.simpleurl.tech | Proxy: DNS only (grey cloud)
  4. Click Save

For GoDaddy:

  1. Log in → My Products → click DNS next to the domain
  2. Click Add → Type: CNAME | Host: links | Points to: cname.simpleurl.tech
  3. TTL: 1 hour → Save

For Namecheap:

  1. Log in → Domain List → Manage → Advanced DNS
  2. Add Record → Type: CNAME | Host: links | Value: cname.simpleurl.tech
  3. TTL: Automatic → Save

DNS propagation typically takes 5–30 minutes. Once it's live, SimpleURL will verify the domain automatically and show a green checkmark.

Step 4 — Create Your First Links for That Client​

Once the domain is verified:

  1. In SimpleURL, click New Link
  2. Enter the destination URL (e.g. the client's campaign landing page)
  3. Select links.clientbrand.com as the domain
  4. Customise the slug: links.clientbrand.com/summer-sale
  5. Add UTM parameters if tracking specific campaigns

The link is live immediately.

Step 5 — Set Up Analytics Views Per Client​

Every link you create under links.clientbrand.com automatically filters into that domain's analytics view.

Go to Analytics → Filter by Domain → select links.clientbrand.com.

You'll see:

  • Total clicks over time
  • Geographic breakdown (country, city)
  • Device breakdown (mobile vs desktop)
  • Referrer source (which channel drove the traffic)
  • Per-link performance comparison

For client reporting: Screenshot this view and drop it directly into your monthly deck. No data export, no copy-paste from three different tools.

Managing 5, 10, or 20 Client Domains​

The SimpleURL TEAM plan includes 10 branded domains. For most growing agencies, this covers your active client roster.

A few workflow tips for managing multiple clients cleanly:

Name your domains clearly in SimpleURL:

  • links.clientone.com → label it "Client One — Ecommerce"
  • go.clienttwo.co → label it "Client Two — B2B SaaS"

Use consistent slug naming conventions:

[campaign]-[channel]-[month]
e.g. summer-sale-email-jun
     launch-ig-jun
     demo-cold-email-jun

This makes analytics immediately readable without clicking into each link.

Monthly reporting workflow:

  1. Filter analytics by domain
  2. Export the date range matching the client's reporting period
  3. Each client's report takes under 5 minutes to compile

The Cost Comparison​

ToolBranded DomainsMonthly Cost
Enterprise link management toolsUnlimited$300–$500/mo
SimpleURL TEAM10 domains$49/mo
SimpleURL TEAM + add-ons15+ domains$49 + add-on

For an agency managing up to 10 active clients, the TEAM plan covers everything at $49/month. The savings go directly back to your margin — or let you price competitively when pitching new clients.

What Your Clients Actually See​

When a client receives a link from you — in an email, a social post, a campaign brief — they see:

links.theirclientbrand.com/summer-sale

Not:

bit.ly/x9z8q

That's not a small thing. Branded links in email campaigns get 34% more clicks than generic shorteners. For a client running monthly email campaigns to 50,000 subscribers, a 34% lift in CTR is a meaningful, measurable, reportable result.

And it takes you 30 seconds to set up.

Frequently Asked Questions​

Can I transfer a client's domain to their own SimpleURL account if they churn?

Yes. You can export all links for a specific domain and the client can import them into their own account. Nothing is locked to your agency account.

What if my client's DNS provider isn't listed?

Use the SimpleURL AI Assistant — type "Help me add a CNAME on [provider name]" and it will give you step-by-step instructions for any major DNS provider.

Can I set up SSL automatically?

Yes. SimpleURL provisions SSL certificates automatically for every branded domain. All your client links will be https:// by default. No configuration needed.

What happens if I exceed 10 domains?

You can purchase additional domain add-ons within the TEAM plan. Reach out to the team via the in-app chat.

Can clients see their own analytics without accessing my SimpleURL account?

Not yet — but this is on the roadmap. For now, the recommended approach is to share a screenshot or export of their domain-specific analytics each month.

Summary​

Setting up per-client branded domains for your agency doesn't require a $500/month enterprise tool. The setup is:

  1. Choose a subdomain structure for each client
  2. Add it in SimpleURL (takes 2 minutes)
  3. Give your client one CNAME record to add (takes them 5 minutes)
  4. Start creating branded, trackable links immediately

Every client gets a professional link experience. Every campaign gets clean analytics. And you keep $250–$450/month that was previously going to Rebrandly or Bitly.

Ready to set up your first client domain? Start with a free SimpleURL account →

Questions about agency setup? Open the in-app AI assistant or email us at hello@simpleurl.tech.