How do link tracking domains affect cold deliverability?

Link tracking domains can significantly impact cold email deliverability.

How tracking works:

Links are rewritten to go through a tracking domain

Clicks are logged, then users are redirected to the original URL

This enables click rate measurement

Problems with tracking domains:

Shared domains: Many cold email tools use shared tracking domains. Poor behavior from any user affects everyone.

Known tracking signatures: Filters recognize common tracking domain patterns

Redirect chains: Multiple redirects raise suspicion

Reputation inheritance: You inherit the tracking domain's reputation

Safer approaches:

Custom tracking domain: Use your own domain (track.yourdomain.com)

Disable tracking: Some cold senders skip click tracking entirely

Limit tracked links: Track only most important links

Monitor tracking domain reputation: Check if it's blocklisted

Tradeoff:

Click tracking provides useful data

But tracking links add deliverability risk

Consider whether the data is worth the risk for cold email specifically

For highest deliverability, minimize or eliminate tracking in cold campaigns.