Tracking domains
A tracking domain makes the open- and click-tracking links in your emails use your own domain instead of a shared one. EmailFlow AI sets one up for you automatically when you add a sending domain — publishing a single CNAME record is all it takes to activate it.
What tracking links are
To measure opens and clicks, EmailFlow AI wraps the links in your email and includes a tracking pixel. When a recipient clicks, the request passes through a tracking URL before redirecting them to the real destination — that's how your reports know what was clicked. By default these URLs use EmailFlow AI's shared tracking domain; with a tracking domain of your own, every link carries your brand instead.
Why use your own
- Branding — links show your domain, which looks more trustworthy to recipients.
- Deliverability — a self-branded tracking domain aligns with your authenticated sending domain.
- Reputation — your link reputation is tied to your own domain rather than a shared one.
How it works
When you add and verify a sending domain (say, yourbrand.com), EmailFlow AI automatically reserves the tracking hostname track.yourbrand.com for you. You'll find it as the Click tracking (recommended) record alongside your domain's other DNS records.
- In your DNS host, add a CNAME record:
track.yourbrand.com→track.emailflow.ai. - Click Verify on the domain records page (or wait — we re-check automatically).
- Once verified, HTTPS is provisioned automatically and campaigns sent from that domain brand their links with it — no further action needed.
track.emailflow.ai. If your DNS host offers a proxy or CDN toggle (for example Cloudflare's orange cloud), turn it off for this record — proxying intercepts the secure connection and prevents the certificate from being issued.HTTPS, handled
You never upload a certificate or run a server. The first time a tracking link on your domain is opened, EmailFlow AI's edge issues a TLS certificate for it automatically and renews it from then on. Your links are served over HTTPS from day one.
At send time
Once track.yourbrand.com is verified, any campaign sent from an address at yourbrand.com uses it automatically — the campaign wizard's tracking-domain setting defaults to Automatic. You can still pick a specific tracking domain per campaign under the wizard's advanced settings if you prefer.
Where it fits
A tracking domain complements sending-domain authentication and verified senders. None of these require you to run a server — they're all DNS records you publish while EmailFlow AI handles the infrastructure. Together they present a fully-branded, trustworthy sender to mailbox providers.
Frequently asked questions
Is a tracking domain required? No — tracking works out of the box, and the CNAME record never blocks your domain verification or your sending. It's a recommended polish for brands that want every link to carry their name.
Do I have to create it somewhere? No. The track. hostname is provisioned for you the moment you add a sending domain. You only publish the CNAME record at your DNS host.
What about the certificate? Issued and renewed automatically — there is nothing to configure, upload, or renew.
My record won't verify. Check that the CNAME points exactly at track.emailflow.ai and that any proxy/CDN toggle on the record is disabled (DNS-only). DNS changes can take a little while to publish.