Custom Domains for Email Tracking

title: Custom Domains for Email Tracking
description: >-
Use your own branded domain for email tracking links to improve
deliverability.

Overview

Replace default tracking URLs with your branded domain to improve deliverability and trust.

Warning: Tracking email opens and link clicks is not a good practice and should not be done. These tracking mechanisms are red flags to spam filters and email providers. Our internal tests show that enabling open or click tracking can reduce inbox placement by up to 70%, even when using a custom tracking domain.

If you understand the risks and still want to proceed, follow the steps below. For more details on how tracking works and why we advise against it, read How Are Opens, Link Clicks, and Replies Tracked?. We also recommend reviewing our Email Deliverability Best Practices, which include guidance on disabling tracking for better results.

⚠️ Important: If you have a live website on your root domain, use a subdomain (e.g., track.yourdomain.com) instead. Adding A records to a root domain with an existing site will break your website.

Prerequisites

• Access to your domain's DNS settings
• Email sender already connected in SalesBlink

Add Your Tracking Domain

1. Click your Profile icon in the top-right corner.

2. Click your Name in the dropdown.

3. Click Other Settings in the Left Sidebar.

4. Scroll to Custom Domains.
5. Click Add +.

6. Select Domain Type:
7. Enter your Domain/Subdomain.
8. Click Create.

Configure DNS Records

Add the required DNS record at your domain provider.

For Root Domains (A Record)

For Subdomains (CNAME Record)

Note: DNS changes can take up to 24 hours to propagate.

Why DNS Takes Time to Propagate

When you add or update a DNS record, the change must spread across DNS servers worldwide. This process is called propagation. While most DNS changes are visible within a few minutes, some providers and resolvers cache records for up to 24 hours.

How to Check If Your DNS Record Has Propagated

You can verify your DNS record before SalesBlink confirms it:

1. Go to dnschecker.org
2. Select the record type (A for root domains, CNAME for subdomains)
3. Enter your domain or subdomain
4. Click Search

If the record shows correctly on dnschecker but SalesBlink still says "Not Verified":

• Wait a few more minutes and click Verify Record again
• Try a hard refresh (Ctrl+Shift+R or Cmd+Shift+R)
• Ensure you saved the sender settings after selecting the custom tracking domain

Tip: Cloudflare users should disable the orange cloud (proxy) for the tracking subdomain record. Proxied CNAME records can cause verification issues.

Verify Your Domain

1. Return to Profile → Your Name → Other Settings → Custom Domains.
2. Click Verify Record next to your domain.

Connect Domain to Email Sender

1. Navigate to Email Senders.

2. Click the Edit icon next to your sender.

3. Click Next.

4. Click View More Settings.

5. Check Use Custom Tracking Domain.
6. Select your Domain from the dropdown.
7. Click Save.

All emails from this sender now use your branded tracking domain for opens and clicks.

Frequently Asked Questions

In Domain Setup Report, it is asking me to add a custom domain for tracking. Should I do it or not?

Domain Setup Report score is not really affected by custom tracking domain at all, so you should only add it if you plan to send links or track opens, which is discouraged as it impacts email deliverability negatively.

My tracking domain says "Not Verified" even though I added the DNS record. What should I do?

1. Wait at least 1 hour after adding the DNS record
2. Check your record on dnschecker.org to confirm it propagated
3. In SalesBlink, go to Profile → Other Settings → Custom Domains and click Verify Record
4. If using Cloudflare, make sure the proxy (orange cloud) is disabled for the tracking subdomain
5. If using a root domain with a live website, switch to a subdomain instead
6. Re-save your sender settings after the domain shows as verified

Updated on: 03/07/2026