Customizing your portal brand

Your help center is often the first place customers go for answers, so it should feel like a natural extension of your brand. Deskwoot's portal branding options let you align the look, feel, and URL of your help center with the rest of your online presence. Below you'll find step-by-step guidance on customizing your brand color, setting up a custom domain, and tips to get the best results.

Brand color

Set a primary color that matches your brand. This color is used for links, buttons, and accent elements throughout your help center portal.

How to set your brand color

Navigate to your Portal Settings in the Deskwoot dashboard.
Locate the Brand Color field.
Enter your brand's hex color code (e.g., #1A73E8) or use the color picker to select the desired shade.
Preview the changes to make sure links, buttons, and accent elements look consistent.
Save your settings.

Best practices for brand color

Contrast matters: Choose a color that provides sufficient contrast against white or light backgrounds so links and buttons remain easy to read and click.
Stay consistent: Use the same hex value you use on your website and other customer-facing assets for a unified experience.
Test on mobile: Colors can render slightly differently on various screens, so preview your portal on both desktop and mobile devices.

Custom domain

By default, your help center is hosted on a Deskwoot subdomain. To use your own domain (e.g., help.yourcompany.com), add a CNAME record and configure the custom domain in portal settings.

How to configure a custom domain

Decide on the subdomain you want to use, such as help.yourcompany.com or support.yourcompany.com.
Log in to your DNS provider and create a CNAME record pointing your chosen subdomain to the target provided in your Deskwoot portal settings.
Return to Deskwoot, open Portal Settings, and enter your custom domain in the designated field.
Save and allow up to 24,48 hours for DNS propagation, although changes often take effect much sooner.

Troubleshooting custom domains

Domain not resolving: Double-check that the CNAME record is correctly pointed and that there are no typos. Use a tool like dig or an online DNS checker to verify propagation.
SSL certificate errors: After adding your domain, it may take a few minutes for the SSL certificate to be provisioned. If you see a security warning, wait and try again shortly.
Conflicting DNS records: Ensure there is no existing A record for the same subdomain, as it can conflict with the CNAME entry.

Tips for a polished help center

Keep your branding minimal and clean. A consistent color and recognizable domain go a long way in building customer trust.
Revisit your portal settings whenever you refresh your brand identity so everything stays in sync.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use a root domain instead of a subdomain?

CNAME records typically work with subdomains (e.g., help.yourcompany.com). Using a root domain may not be supported by all DNS providers. A subdomain like help or support is the recommended approach.

Will changing the brand color affect the live chat widget as well?

The brand color setting in portal settings applies to your help center portal. Widget appearance may be managed separately in your Deskwoot widget configuration.

How long does it take for DNS changes to go live?

DNS propagation can take anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours, depending on your DNS provider and TTL settings. Most changes are visible within an hour.