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1)Sign Up for aBinom License
-Sign up through this link for the STM-exclusive deal: https://binom.org/signup?from=stm
When you sign up with this link, you get a free month and a 60% discount for the second month.
2)Sign Up for a Server
-Here you'll need to decide which server you want to sign up to. If you're not sure, you can't go wrong by picking one of the ones recommended by Binom: https://docs.binom.org/faq.php#6
If you really don't want to think, just go with DigitalOcean's 4GB/2CPU plan, which should support up to 500k clicks per day or 15 million clicks per month - more than enough for a vastly majority of beginners.
Don't forget to sign up with Binom's link for Digital Ocean to get $100 for free: https://m.do.co/c/3d132ba253fa
When you're at Digital Ocean, click on "Pricing", find the 4GB/2CPU plan, click "Sign up" and complete the rest of the sign up process:
If you'd like to use other hosting, make sure it meets the minimum server requirements as suggested by Binom:
(Reference: https://docs.binom.org/install.php#p1)
Note: Please don't try to look for free hosting unless you REALLY know what you're doing. I don't personally know of any free hosting that has the required performance and resources to run this tracker.
-After signing up to a server, you should receive an email from the webhost (e.g. Digital Ocean), that has your server information in it. Here are the 3 pieces of information you'll be needing: Server IP, server login, and server password. If you can't find this information in an email, try logging into your webhost account and look for it. If you still can't find it, file a support ticket with your webhost to request for this information.
3)Install Binom
-Binom has instructions on how to install the tracker on your server. If your server is new - i.e. you don't have anything else on the server - you can follow their step-by-step instructions for "Automatic Installation". Go to this page: https://docs.binom.org/install.php#0
Click on "Connecting to the server" > click on either "If you have Windows" or "If you have a Mac OS" depending on your machine.
Follow the step-by-step on that page to connect to your new server.
Next you'll need to actually install Binom. You can find instructions on the same page as above: https://docs.binom.org/install.php#0
Look for and click on this:
Optional: To see these instructions in action, here's the youtube video.
IMPORTANT: At the end of the installation, you'll see the login info to your tracker. Be sure to save this somewhere before closing the terminal!!
-If for some reason you want to install Binom manually instead of going the automatic installation route described above, you can find instructions here: https://docs.binom.org/install.php#p3
-If you need help with installation, or need someone to install Binom for you, or have any questions about Binom in general - here's where you can hit up their support: https://cp.binom.org/page/support
-Try to log into your tracker via your browser, using the login info you saved above. If you're able to log in, your installation was likely successful - congratulations! If not, contact Binom support and they'll help you get set up.
4)Register a Tracking Domain
Next you'll need to register for a domain to use for your tracking links, so that instead of https://12.34.56.789/whatever your tracking links would look like https://mytrackingdomain.com/whatever.
It's important to use your own custom tracking domain so that if it gets banned by google, you can just register another domain, instead of having to change your server's IP.
You can register this domain with any registrar. The instructions below are for Namecheap, which is my registrar of choice.
-Register an account on Namecheap.com if you don't yet have one.
-Sign in, click on "Domains" > "Domain Name Search".
-Pick a domain name for your tracker. It's not really important what the name is really, because nobody except the traffic source reviewers and possibly the owners of the website your ads will be appearing at will see this link. I mean don't include any swear words or something that will scream "this is spam" for google, but other than that, it can be anything.
Enter your desired domain name into the search field and press ENTER to check and make sure it's not already registered. Domain names that have already been taken will say "TAKEN" and show a "make offer" icon at the end of the row. Domain names that are available will show an "add to cart" icon.
Although it doesn't have to be a .com domain, some people believe that .com domains are less likely to be flagged/banned by google. Also, word has it that .com domains are faster (https://stmforum.com/forum/showthrea...ns-For-Landers). So I'd recommend getting a .com if you're not sure.
-Once you've decided on a domain name, click on "Add to cart". Then put your cursor on the cart icon at the upper right and click on "View Cart" where you'll need to complete the purchase.
No need to buy any of their additional services:
Regarding Auto-Revew - you have two choices:
a)Toggle "AUTO-RENEW" to ON for now, then if the domain gets flagged by google, come back to turn it off.
b)Leave "AUTO-RENEW" at OFF (should be by default). Then pay for another year one year from now if the domain isn't flagged by google by then.
Either approach would be fine - it depends on your habit and preference.
Leave WhoisGuard at "ENABLE" (now "FREE FOREVER!" on Namecheap) to be safe - I don't know what you'll be running, but it would probably be safer to not have your name associated with the campaigns you run.
No need to get Premium DNS.
Click on "Confirm Order" and make your payment to complete the purchase process.
5)Add the Tracking Domain to Binom
-Log into Binom, click on the "Domains" tab at the top. Enter your domain name into the empty field and click "+ Add new".
-Log into namecheap, from the left menu click "Domain List", find your domain and click on "Manage". Click on the "Domain" tab, find the "NAMESERVERS" section, and make sure it's set to "Namecheap BasicDNS". (In case it isn't, change it to make sure that it is, and click on the green checkmark to save.)
-Click on the "Advanced DNS" tab and find the "HOST RECORDS" section. Find the "URL Redirect Record" row and click on the trash can to delete it.
-Click on the value "parkingpage.namecheap.com." and replace by typing your domain name (don't delete the period at the end). Change "TTL" to "Automatic". Click on the checkmark to save.
-Click "+ ADD NEW RECORD". Set "Type" to "A Record", "Host" to "@", "Value" to your server IP, "TTL" to "Automatic", and click on checkmark to save.
6)Install SSL
Next, you'll need to install SSL for your tracking domain. You'll find a step-by-step here:
https://docs.binom.org/domains-ssl.php
Again, if you experience any issues, contact Binom support.
Important: Don't forget to turn on SSL for the domain in Binom. To do this, go into Binom > Domains tab > toggle "SSL" to ON for your domain.
7)Set Stats to Your Timezone
Lastly, you probably want all your Binom stats to be shown in your local timezone. To do this:
-Go to "Settings" > "User info" > specify the "Timezone":
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Wasn't too painful now was it? Congratulations - your Binom tracker is now ready for action!
Amy
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