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Why your store needs its own domain (and how to set it up)

5 July 2026 · ANOC Team

Your free store link vs. a custom domain

When you start your store, you get a free link: yourstore.anoc.pk

That's good for starting. But after your first 20 sales, you want your own domain: yourstore.com or yourstore.pk

Why the difference?

Free link (yourstore.anoc.pk):

  • Easy to set up, zero cost to start
  • Customers see "ANOC" in the URL, not your name
  • If you ever move to another platform, you lose the link
  • Ranks lower in Google, which treats it as a subdomain

Custom domain (yourstore.pk):

  • Your brand is in the URL, not someone else's
  • Customers see it as a real business, not a hobbyist
  • You own it. Move it anywhere, it stays yours
  • Ranks better in Google for "yourstore" searches
  • In customer emails and invoices, it looks professional
  • Costs 1,500-3,000 rupees per year for the domain itself, plus a small monthly add-on on your store plan

A custom domain takes 15 minutes to set up and doubles how seriously customers take you.

How to buy a domain

A domain is a name you rent from a registrar. Popular ones in Pakistan:

  • Dotpk.com: Pakistan-based, cheap (.pk domains), customer service in Urdu
  • Namecheap: International, supports many extensions, easy interface
  • Fiverr (Domain section): Quick, but more expensive

Pick a name that matches your business. If you're selling "Aisha's Scarves," buy aishascarves.pk or aishascarf.pk

Search for the name. If it's available, buy it for one year. Pay 1,500-2,500 rupees. Done.

Connect your domain to your store (DNS pointing)

You bought the domain, but it doesn't point anywhere yet. It's like owning a street address with no building. You need to tell the domain where to go.

This is called DNS pointing. Here's the plain version:

When someone types yourstore.pk into their browser, their computer asks: "Where is this?" The DNS (Domain Name System) is the phone book that answers. You tell the registrar: "Direct people to my store on ANOC."

Step 1: Get your store's DNS records from ANOC

Log into your ANOC store settings. Look for a section called "Domain" or "Custom Domain." You'll see two things:

  • A DNS record (looks like: 12.345.67.89 or a text string starting with "v=")
  • Instructions for your registrar

Copy these records.

Step 2: Go to your registrar and add the DNS records

Log into your registrar (Dotpk, Namecheap, etc.). Find "DNS Settings" or "Manage DNS."

Paste the records ANOC gave you. Save. It looks confusing but you're just copying and pasting. Follow the steps ANOC shows you.

Step 3: Wait 24 hours

DNS changes take time to spread across the internet. Usually 1-24 hours. Your domain might work in 5 minutes or take until tomorrow. Be patient.

Step 4: Test it

After a few hours, type yourstore.pk into your browser. Does it show your ANOC store? If yes, you're done. If not, wait another few hours or check that you pasted the records correctly.

What changes after you connect your domain

For customers: They see yourstore.pk in the address bar instead of yourstore.anoc.pk. Your brand looks bigger. In Google searches, your store shows under your domain name, not ANOC's.

For you: Your ownership of the store is now tied to the domain. If you ever want to move your store or sell it, the domain goes with you. It's an asset.

Can you change your domain later?

Yes. You can connect a domain, disconnect it, connect a different one. ANOC handles this in settings.

Just remember: once customers and Google know your domain, keep using it. Changing it later confuses people and hurts your search rank.

Do I need a domain to start?

No. Start with yourstore.anoc.pk. Make your first 20 sales. Get real feedback that customers want what you're selling. Then buy a domain.

If you're serious about scaling from the start, meaning you have 100 products ready or you're already marketing offline, buy the domain first.

Common domain mistakes

  • Buying a domain that's too long or hard to spell: "aishascarves.pk" is better than "aishaamarascarves123.pk", because people will mistype the long one.
  • Buying a domain that's a misspelling of a bigger brand: A domain like "amazom.pk" looks sketchy even if it's intentional. Pick something original.
  • Forgetting to renew: Domains expire after one year. Set a reminder to renew it in month 11. If it expires, someone else can buy it.
  • Pointing it to the wrong place: Double-check the DNS records. If you point yourstore.pk to someone else's server, your store won't load.

One more thing

A domain is one of the best investments you'll make. For 1,500-2,500 rupees a year, you get customer trust, better Google ranking, and proof that you're a real business. Worth it.