Read this page as a quick path: scan the headings, use the step blocks, and escalate if the expected result does not happen.
These are two completely separate features that are commonly confused. If you want to use your own branding for both, you need to set them up independently.
Referral link domain (custom domain on the Referral Link Page)
This controls the URL that appears in your referrers' shareable links (and in the branded referral portal)
By default, referral links look like:
yourbusiness.referral-factory.com/ABC123With a custom referral link domain, they look like:
refer.yourdomain.com/ABC123This is configured in Campaign Settings and requires adding a CNAME record to your domain's DNS settings. It affects how your referral links look when referrers share them — on WhatsApp, in emails, on social media, etc.
Important: You must set this up using a subdomain (e.g.
refer.yourdomain.com), not your homepage domain (e.g. yourdomain.com). Using your homepage domain is a very common setup error.Email sending domain (custom sending domain)
This controls the "From" address on campaign emails sent by Referral Factory.
By default, campaign emails come from a
no-reply@referral-factory.com address.With a custom sending domain, they come from an address like:
noreply@yourdomain.com or referrals@yourdomain.comThis is configured in Campaign Settings under the Email Domain Verification section, where you can either connect your own mail server via SMTP/IMAP or verify your domain. It affects how your emails appear in referrers' inboxes — improving brand consistency and deliverability.
Quick comparison
| Referral link domain | Email sending domain | |
|---|---|---|
| What it affects | The URL in shared referral links | The sender address on campaign emails |
| Where to configure | Campaign Settings (domain section at top of page) | Campaign Settings (Email Domain Verification section) |
| DNS change required | Yes (CNAME record) | Depends on method (SMTP credentials or domain verification) |
| Subdomain required | Yes — homepage domain will not work | Recommended |
| Plan required | Pro and above | Check your plan |
If you're not sure which one you need
When someone asks "how do I use my own domain?", they could mean either. Consider:
- Are you trying to change what the shareable link looks like? → Referral link domain
- Are you trying to change where campaign emails come from? → Email sending domain
- Do you want both? Set them up separately — each has its own configuration.