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.