Zones: Global vs User

In Snipzr, zones are containers that hold your short links. Each zone is associated with a domain, and understanding the difference between Global and User zones helps you choose the right option for your needs.

What's a Zone?

Think of a zone as a domain for short links - it's both:

• The domain used in your short URLs (snipzr.com or go.yourbrand.com)
• A workspace for organizing and managing those links

The Two Types

Type	What It Is	Example Domain	Who Can Use
Global Zone	Snipzr's default domains	snipzr.com, zor.fi	Everyone (Free, Basic, Pro)
User Zone	Your custom domain	go.yourbrand.com	Basic & Professional plans

Global Zones (Snipzr Default Domains)

What They Are

Global zones are Snipzr's built-in short domains that all users can use immediately.

Available domains:

• snipzr.com (primary)
• zor.fi
• Other Snipzr domains

Characteristics

✅ Instant Access

• No setup required
• Available immediately after signup
• Free on all plans

✅ Shared Infrastructure

• All users can create links on these domains
• Snipzr manages DNS and SSL
• Links format: snipzr.com/your-slug

✅ Slug Uniqueness

• Each slug must be unique per domain
• Example: snipzr.com/sale can only exist once
• But zor.fi/sale is a different link (different domain)

When to Use Global Zones

Perfect for:

• 🎯 Personal projects
• 🧪 Testing and development
• 💬 Quick sharing
• 👥 Internal team links
• 🚀 Getting started with Snipzr

Example links:

https://snipzr.com/my-blog
https://zor.fi/docs
https://snipzr.com/promo-2026

User Zones (Custom Domains)

What They Are

User zones are created when you connect your own domain to Snipzr.

Examples:

• go.yourbrand.com
• link.company.com
• get.product.io

Characteristics

✅ Your Brand

• Use your own domain name
• Full control over branding
• Builds trust with your audience

✅ Dedicated Space

• Your own zone/workspace
• Separate analytics
• Independent slug namespace

✅ Professional Features

• Custom SSL certificate (automatic)
• Full analytics and tracking
• API access

How User Zones Are Created

User zones are automatically created when you Connect a custom domain in Snipzr "Zones" dashboard.

Once active, your custom domain becomes a User Zone.

When to Use User Zones

Perfect for:

• 🎨 Brand visibility and trust
• 📢 Professional marketing campaigns
• 👔 Client-facing materials
• 🏢 Company-wide link shortening
• 💼 White-label solutions

Example links:

https://go.yourbrand.com/summer-sale
https://link.company.com/onboarding
https://get.product.io/demo

Requirements

• Plan: Basic or Professional
• Domain: Own a domain or subdomain
• DNS Access: Ability to add DNS records
• Time: 5 minutes - 24 hours for setup

Comparison

Feature Comparison

Feature	Global Zones	User Zones
Use Cases	Personal, testing	Professional, marketing
Setup Time	Instant	5 min - 24 hours
Cost	Free (all plans)	Basic/Pro plan + domain
Branding	Snipzr branding	Your branding
Domain Control	Snipzr managed	You manage
Slug Space	Shared (must be unique)	Private (your slugs only)
SSL/HTTPS	Included	Included (auto)
Analytics	Full analytics	Full analytics
API Access	Yes	Yes

Trust & Credibility

Global Zones:

• ✅ Quick and easy
• ⚠️ Generic appearance
• ⚠️ Users see "snipzr.com" domain

User Zones:

• ✅ Professional appearance
• ✅ Your brand reinforced
• ✅ Higher click-through rates
• ✅ Builds trust

Working with Both Types

Multiple Zones

You can use both global and user zones simultaneously:

• Global zones: For internal testing
• User zone: For public campaigns

Choosing Per Link

When creating a link, you select which zone (domain) to use:

1. Click "Create New" from "Links" dashboard
2. Select zone (domain) from dropdown:
   • snipzr.com (global)
   • zor.fi (global)
   • go.yourbrand.com (your user zone)
3. Create link

Setting a Default

Choose which zone is used by default for new links:

1. From the header dropdown, choose Zones to visit "Zones" dashboard
2. For the desired zone, click the ︙ icon (next to the zone) → Set as Default

Slug Uniqueness

Understanding how slugs work in different zones:

Global Zones

Since all users share global zones, slugs must be globally unique:

✅ You: snipzr.com/summer-sale
❌ Other user: snipzr.com/summer-sale (already taken)
✅ You: zor.fi/summer-sale (different domain, allowed)

User Zones

Your user zone has its own slug namespace - only you control it:

✅ You: go.yourbrand.com/sale
✅ Other user: go.otherbrand.com/sale (different domain)
✅ Even if: snipzr.com/sale exists (different zone)

Organization

Use zones to organize campaigns:

Global zones:

snipzr.com/test-promo-1
snipzr.com/test-promo-2

User zones:

go.brand.com/spring-campaign
go.brand.com/summer-campaign

Migration Path

Starting Out

Phase 1: Learn with Global Zones

1. Sign up (Free plan)
2. Create links with snipzr.com
3. Learn the platform
4. Test features

Phase 2: Add Branding

1. Upgrade to Basic/Pro
2. Connect custom domain
3. Create user zone
4. Start using branded links

Phase 3: Professional Setup

1. All public links use custom domain
2. Global zones for internal testing
3. Multiple user zones for different brands

Common Questions

Can I have multiple user zones?

Yes! Professional plan supports multiple custom domains:

• go.brand-a.com
• link.brand-b.com
• get.product.com

Each becomes a separate user zone.

What happens to my global zone links if I upgrade?

Nothing! Your snipzr.com links continue working. You can:

• Keep using them
• Migrate to custom domain
• Use both simultaneously

Do user zones cost extra?

The user zone itself is free with Basic/Pro plans. You pay for:

• Snipzr plan (Basic or Professional)
• Domain registration (~$12/year if purchasing new)

Can I delete a user zone?

Yes, but:

• All links in that zone will stop working
• You'll need to migrate them to an active zone first

Which should I choose?

Choose Global Zones if:

• Just starting out
• Personal use
• Testing features
• Budget constraints

Choose User Zones if:

• Professional branding needed
• Marketing campaigns
• Client-facing materials
• Building brand trust

Technical Details

How Zones Work

1. Link Creation

   • You choose a zone (domain)
   • Enter a slug
   • Snipzr creates: [domain]/[slug]

2. DNS Resolution

   • Someone clicks your link
   • DNS resolves to Snipzr servers
   • Snipzr looks up the destination
   • Redirects to final URL

3. Tracking

   • Snipzr logs the click
   • Records analytics data
   • Updates your dashboard

Zone Data Structure

Each zone stores:

• Domain configuration
• DNS verification status
• SSL certificate and status
• Default settings
• All links in that zone

Next Steps

Using Global Zones

• Use Snipzr Default Domains
• Create your first link

Setting Up User Zones

• Connect a Custom Domain
• Buy a domain (if needed)

Learn More

• What is a Branded Domain?
• Domain Basics

Need Help?

• Troubleshooting Zones
• Contact Support

Understanding zones helps you make the most of Snipzr!