🔍 Overview
When you publish a landing page on a custom subdomain (for example, hailstorm.mdmland.com), Search Atlas needs the subdomain's DNS records to be correctly configured before an SSL certificate can be generated. If the DNS records are missing or pointed elsewhere, the certificate will fail to generate and visitors may see a security warning.
This article explains what DNS change is required and how to get set up correctly. If you need the specific CNAME target value for your subdomain or guidance on where to find it in your account, please contact our support team as described below.
📋 Prerequisites
- Access to your domain registrar or DNS provider (for example, GoDaddy, Cloudflare, Namecheap, or Route 53).
- The exact subdomain you entered in Search Atlas when creating your landing page.
- The Search Atlas CNAME target value for your landing page — contact our support team if you are unsure where to find this.
🛠️ Step-by-Step DNS Configuration
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Log in to your DNS provider and navigate to the DNS management section for your root domain (for example, mdmland.com).
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Create a new CNAME record using the following values:
- Type: CNAME
- Host / Name: the subdomain prefix only (for example, enter hailstorm, not the full domain)
- Value / Points to: the CNAME target provided by Search Atlas for your landing page subdomain
- TTL: set to the lowest value your provider allows, for faster propagation
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Save the record and allow time for DNS propagation to complete. Propagation times vary depending on your DNS provider and your previous TTL settings.
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Once propagation is complete, Search Atlas should be able to generate the SSL certificate for your subdomain. If the certificate does not appear after propagation, contact our support team with your subdomain name so we can investigate.
✅ How to Confirm Your DNS Is Set Up Correctly
Before expecting the certificate to generate, confirm the CNAME record is live. You can use a free tool such as dnschecker.org — enter your full subdomain, select CNAME, and confirm it resolves to the Search Atlas target value. Once the CNAME is resolving correctly, reach out to support if the SSL certificate has not yet been issued.
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.