🔍 Overview
Search Atlas Website Builder hosts your site on our infrastructure and requires DNS records to point directly to our servers. Cloudflare's orange cloud (proxy) mode routes traffic through Cloudflare's network before it reaches your site. This is compatible with Search Atlas Website Builder, but it requires careful configuration to avoid breaking your site's functionality.
This article explains how to set up Cloudflare's orange cloud proxy for a domain connected to Search Atlas Website Builder, using zatrox.com as an example.
⚠️ What You Need to Know Before You Start
Before enabling the orange cloud proxy, be aware of the following:
- SSL/TLS mode matters: Incorrect SSL settings in Cloudflare can cause redirect loops or mixed-content errors on your site.
- Third-party integrations may break: Enabling the proxy on records used by third-party tools (such as HubSpot or other services) can prevent those tools from functioning. Only proxy the records specifically tied to your Website Builder domain.
- DNS propagation takes time: After any DNS change, allow up to 48 hours for full propagation, although changes typically take effect within a few hours.
🛠️ Step 1 — Add Your Domain's DNS Records in Cloudflare
Log in to your Cloudflare account and select the domain you want to configure (for example, zatrox.com). Navigate to DNS → Records.
Your Search Atlas Website Builder will have provided you with a target hostname or IP address to point your domain to. Add or update the following records:
- CNAME record — set the Name to
@(orzatrox.com) and the Target to the hostname provided by Search Atlas Website Builder. If Cloudflare does not allow a root CNAME, use an A record with the IP address provided instead. - CNAME record for www — set the Name to
wwwand the Target to the same Search Atlas hostname.
If you are unsure which hostname or IP address to use, open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform and type human teammate to be connected with a member of our team.
🟠 Step 2 — Enable the Orange Cloud (Proxy) on the Correct Records
Once your DNS records are saved, toggle the Proxy status to Proxied (the orange cloud icon) for your root and www records only.
Do not enable the orange cloud proxy on records used by third-party tools such as email providers, HubSpot, or other marketing integrations. Proxying those records can break their functionality. Leave those records set to DNS only (the grey cloud).
🔒 Step 3 — Configure Cloudflare SSL/TLS Settings
Incorrect SSL settings are the most common cause of errors when using Cloudflare proxy with a hosted website builder. Follow these steps:
- In your Cloudflare dashboard, go to SSL/TLS → Overview.
- Set the encryption mode to Full or Full (Strict). Do not use Flexible — this causes redirect loops with Search Atlas Website Builder because our servers already serve your site over HTTPS.
- Go to SSL/TLS → Edge Certificates and ensure Always Use HTTPS is toggled on.
⚙️ Step 4 — Review Cloudflare Performance and Security Settings
Some default Cloudflare features can interfere with your website. Review the following after enabling the proxy:
- Caching: Cloudflare may cache pages aggressively. If you publish updates to your Search Atlas website and they do not appear, go to Caching → Configuration in Cloudflare and click Purge Everything to clear the cache.
- Rocket Loader: Go to Speed → Optimization → Content Optimization and confirm Rocket Loader is disabled. This feature can delay or break JavaScript loading on third-party hosted sites.
- Minification: Auto-minification of HTML, CSS, or JS in Cloudflare is generally safe to leave on, but if you notice layout issues, disable it under Speed → Optimization → Content Optimization.
✅ Step 5 — Verify Your Setup
After completing the steps above, verify your configuration is working correctly:
- Open a private/incognito browser window and visit your domain (e.g.,
https://zatrox.com) to confirm the site loads correctly. - Check that the padlock icon appears in the browser address bar, confirming HTTPS is active.
- Test the
wwwversion of your domain as well (e.g.,https://www.zatrox.com). - If you use any third-party integrations (forms, chat tools, analytics), confirm they are still functioning correctly.
❓ Troubleshooting Common Issues
- Redirect loop or ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS: Your Cloudflare SSL mode is likely set to Flexible. Change it to Full or Full (Strict) as described in Step 3.
- Site loads but CSS or images are missing: Purge the Cloudflare cache (see Step 4) and confirm Rocket Loader is disabled.
- Third-party tool stopped working after DNS change: Check that the DNS record for that tool is set to DNS only (grey cloud), not proxied.
- Site not loading at all: Confirm your DNS records are pointing to the correct Search Atlas hostname or IP, and allow additional time for DNS propagation.
💬 Need More Help?
If you need further assistance, open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform and type human teammate to be connected with a member of our team.
Additional Notes
For root domains, Cloudflare uses CNAME Flattening, which automatically resolves the CNAME to an IP address at the DNS level, allowing you to proxy your root domain through Cloudflare without breaking DNS standards.
Known compatibility symptoms include broken/blank site, failed pixel or UUID detections, and unexpected DNS behavior. Troubleshooting: switch CNAME records to DNS only (gray cloud), wait 5–10 minutes for propagation, then test site functionality.