Help Center/Mailbox Infrastructure/Set up a custom tracking domain
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Set up a custom tracking domain

A custom tracking domain replaces the shared tracking link in your emails with a subdomain you own (for example link.yourdomain.com). Open and click tracking then run through your own domain, which…

A custom tracking domain replaces the shared tracking link in your emails with a subdomain you own (for example link.yourdomain.com). Open and click tracking then run through your own domain, which keeps your links consistent with your sender and avoids sharing a tracking host with other senders.

Prerequisites

  • A domain listed under Domain in OutreachFox.
  • Access to the DNS settings for that domain (your registrar, Cloudflare, or Icemail if the domain was bought there).

Steps

  1. Click Domain in the main menu.

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  1. Select the domain you want to set up.

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  1. Click Settings for that domain, then scroll down to the custom tracking domain section.

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  1. Add the CNAME record shown in the DNS settings wherever your domain is hosted.

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  1. Click Save to confirm your changes.

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  1. Once the CNAME is added and saved, click Verify to complete the setup.

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The tracking domain now shows as verified and is used for tracked links and open pixels sent from mailboxes on that domain.

The CNAME record

**Field****Value**
TypeCNAME
Host / NameThe subdomain shown in OutreachFox (commonly link, track or go)
Target / ValueThe tracking host shown in the custom tracking domain section
TTLAutomatic or 3600

At Cloudflare, set the proxy status to DNS only (grey cloud). A proxied CNAME breaks verification. Registrar-specific steps are in Adding DNS records at Cloudflare, GoDaddy, Namecheap and Porkbun.

Why this matters

  • Shared tracking domains are used by thousands of senders. If any of them get blocklisted, your links inherit the reputation.
  • A link whose host matches your sending domain looks legitimate to spam filters that compare link domains with the From domain.
  • Set one tracking subdomain per sending domain. Do not point several sending domains at one tracking subdomain.

Tips

  • Use a subdomain, never the root domain. The root should keep forwarding to your website.
  • Keep link tracking off in the first 1–2 weeks of a new campaign if placement is shaky; open tracking alone is lower risk. Re-enable once inbox rates are stable.
  • If the domain was bought through Icemail, add the CNAME from the domain's DNS records in Icemail.

Troubleshooting

  • Verify fails immediately. DNS has not propagated. Wait 10–60 minutes (up to 48 hours at some registrars) and click Verify again.
  • Verify still fails after a day. Check the host name: many registrars append the domain automatically, so entering link.yourdomain.com as host becomes link.yourdomain.com.yourdomain.com. Enter only link.
  • Cloudflare domain never verifies. The record is proxied. Switch to DNS only.
  • Links open but show a certificate warning. Wait for the SSL certificate to be issued after verification; this can take a few minutes.

Related articles

  • Adding DNS records at Cloudflare, GoDaddy, Namecheap and Porkbun
  • Domain forwarding and MX records for cold-email domains
  • Deliverability fundamentals for cold email
  • Landing in spam? T

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What is Icemail? OutreachFox's built-in mailbox marketplace→How Icemail automates SPF, DKIM and DMARC — and replaces mailboxes for free→Buy a domain through Icemail from inside OutreachFox→Buy mailboxes through Icemail (Google, Microsoft, IMAP/SMTP, Azure)→Import your Icemail mailboxes into OutreachFox→SPF, DKIM and DMARC: what they are and how to check yours→Adding DNS records at Cloudflare, GoDaddy, Namecheap and Porkbun→Domain forwarding and MX records for cold-email domains→How many mailboxes per domain and domains per campaign (best practice)→Pre-warmed domains and mailboxes explained→