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Custom Tracking Domain: What is it and How to setup? [in 5 min]

Iga Wójtowicz

September 26, 2024

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7 min read

A custom tracking domain might sound like a technical headache, right? Especially if you're a new sales or marketing rep diving into cold outreach.

But here’s the deal: Using a custom tracking domain can totally transform your email outreach.

You might be asking, "What even is a custom tracking domain?" or "How does it work, and why should I care?"

Don’t worry—I’ve got you covered.

In this blog, we’ll walk through everything you need to know about {{primary_keyword}}:

What exactly is a custom tracking domain?
Why is it important in cold outreach?
How can you set one up, step by step, without breaking a sweat?

By the end, you’ll not only know what a custom tracking domain is, but how to use it effectively in your outreach strategy.

Plus, I’ll share some best practices to make sure your domain keeps running smoothly and boosts your results.

Now, you don’t want to miss this info, trust me. Skip this, and you could be losing out on a tool that could change how you do cold outreach forever.

So, let’s dive right into it.

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What is a Custom Tracking Domain?

A custom tracking domain is a personalized domain used to track links in your emails. Instead of using a generic domain provided by your email service provider, a custom tracking domain allows you to use your own branded domain.

This makes your emails look more trustworthy and professional, improving email deliverability and increasing the chances of your emails being opened.

For cold outreach, a custom tracking domain helps keep your emails out of the spam folder while allowing you to track who clicks on your links.

Setting it up involves configuring your domain’s DNS settings to redirect tracking links through your own domain.

In short, a custom tracking domain enhances the credibility of your emails and improves tracking accuracy, making it an essential tool for effective email outreach.

How does a Custom Tracking Domain work?

When you send out emails, especially in cold outreach, every link in your email is tracked. Normally, your email service provider (ESP) handles this with its own tracking domain, which might look unfamiliar or even suspicious to your recipients.

But when you use a custom tracking domain, the links in your emails will show your domain, not some generic one. This adds a layer of trust.

Here’s an example: Say you’re sending a cold email from your company, GreatBiz. Instead of your links looking like “track.emailservice.com,” they would look like “track.greatbiz.com.” It’s still tracking the clicks, but now it looks like part of your brand, which makes people more likely to trust the email and click the link.

So, how does it work?

When you set up a custom tracking domain, you’re essentially telling your ESP to route all your tracking links through your domain.

This is done by adjusting your domain's DNS settings (don’t worry, your ESP usually guides you through this). Once that’s done, every time you send an email, your links are branded and trackable.

The best part?

It’s a win-win. You get better engagement because people trust the links, and you still collect all the data you need on who clicked what. That’s how a custom tracking domain works in a nutshell.

How to add a Custom Tracking Domain? Step-By-Step Guide

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Here’s how you can set up a custom tracking domain on Salesforge to improve your email deliverability step by step.

Step 1: Log In to Your Domain Registrar

To begin, you’ll need access to the DNS settings of the domain you want to use. Head to your domain registrar, like GoDaddy or Namecheap, and log into your account.

Step 2: Create a CNAME Record

Now, let’s set up a CNAME record. This connects your domain to Salesforge’s tracking system.

Here’s what to do:

Go to the DNS management section for your domain.
Select “Add New Record” and choose CNAME as the type.
Enter the following information:
- Host (name): sf
- Type: CNAME
- Value: p.tracktickle.com
Save the record.

Creating-CNAME-record-in-Godaddy — *This image shows how you can create CNAME record in Godaddy*

This step essentially creates a link between your custom domain and Salesforge's tracking system.

Step 3: Verify Your CNAME Record

Before moving forward, you’ll want to check that the CNAME record has been correctly set up. You can use MxToolbox.com for this:

Go to MxToolbox.com.
In the CNAME Lookup box, type sf.yourdomain.com (replace "yourdomain" with your actual domain name).
Hit “Lookup.”

If everything is set up correctly, you should see the Canonical Name as p.tracktickle.com. If not, give it a bit more time to propagate, or double-check your settings.

Verify-CNAME-record-in-MXTool — *This image shows how you can Verify CNAME record in MXTool*

Step 4: Add Your Custom Tracking Domain to Salesforge

Once your DNS is configured, it’s time to integrate it with Salesforge:

Log into your Salesforge account.
Select the mailbox you want to add the custom tracking domain to.
Go to the Settings tab.
Enable custom domain tracking.
Insert your custom domain (e.g., sf.yourdomain.com).
Check the status—Salesforge will show if your custom domain is active.

Custom-Tracking-Domina-in-Salesforge — *This image shows the Custom Tracking Domina in Salesforge*

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Example:

Let’s say your domain is bestdeals.com. You’ll create a CNAME record for sf.bestdeals.com that points to p.tracktickle.com.

Once that’s done, add this domain to Salesforge, and all your tracked links will appear under sf.bestdeals.com, giving your emails a professional and trusted look.

By following these steps, you’ll improve your email deliverability and ensure your emails maintain a good reputation.

Now let’s take a look at some of the best practices to follow while setting custom tracking domains.

Best Practices for Custom Tracking Domains

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Let’s talk about some of the best practices for custom tracking domains to make sure you’re getting the most out of them. I’ll break it down so it’s easy to follow.

Maintaining Domain Reputation

One of the most important things with custom tracking domains is maintaining your domain’s reputation. Why? Because your domain’s reputation directly impacts email deliverability. If your domain has a bad reputation, your emails are more likely to land in the spam folder.

Here’s what you should do:

Use a subdomain for tracking. This keeps your main domain separate from the tracking activity and protects its reputation.

Example: If your main domain is bestdeals.com, create a subdomain like track.bestdeals.com for your tracking links. This way, if anything goes wrong with the tracking domain, your main domain stays safe.

Regular Monitoring and Updates

Once your custom tracking domain is set up, you can’t just forget about it. Regular monitoring and updates are key to keeping things running smoothly.

Monitor DNS settings regularly to make sure everything is pointing to the correct servers.
Check domain health with tools like MxToolbox to ensure your custom tracking domain isn’t being flagged or blacklisted.

Example: Let’s say you’re using track.bestdeals.com for tracking emails. You should regularly check that the DNS settings are still correct and that the domain hasn’t been marked as suspicious by email servers. This ensures your email deliverability remains high.

Testing and Optimization Strategies

It’s always a good idea to test and optimize your custom tracking domain to make sure it’s working effectively.

Test your emails. Send test emails to yourself or a colleague to see if the links are being tracked properly.
Optimize link structure. Make sure your links are short, clean, and branded to build trust with your recipients.

Example: Before sending a large campaign, send a test email from track.bestdeals.com to a test inbox. Check if the links track clicks correctly and ensure they don’t look too long or suspicious to the recipient.

By following these best practices, you’ll maintain a healthy domain reputation, ensure everything is running smoothly, and optimize your custom tracking domain for the best results.

Conclusion

In this article, we’ve covered everything you need to know about custom tracking domains—from what they are, to how they work, and best practices for setting them up.

Summary of Key Points

A custom tracking domain allows you to use your own domain for email link tracking, improving credibility and deliverability.
Setting it up involves choosing a domain, configuring DNS settings, and integrating it with your email platform.
Regular monitoring and best practices like maintaining domain reputation and testing links ensure optimal results.

Ready to improve your email outreach? Start setting up your custom tracking domain today and take control of your email reputation!

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