Set up a custom tracking domain

Overview#

A custom tracking domain routes your tracked email links through a subdomain you control, such as clicks.yourdomain.com, instead of Tantra's shared domain. A CNAME is a DNS record that points one hostname at another. You create a CNAME that points your subdomain at Tantra's tracking edge, verify it in Tantra, and set it as your default. After that, tracked links in your cold email carry your own branding.

If you do not set up a custom domain, Tantra automatically routes click tracking through its shared, signed domain. You can switch to a custom domain at any time without re-issuing existing campaigns.

Before you start#

• Access to your DNS provider so you can add a CNAME record.
• A subdomain you control and are willing to dedicate to tracking, such as clicks.yourdomain.com.
• Click tracking is a cold email feature. Review how click tracking works first.

Step-by-step#

1. Open Connectors, then Custom Click-Tracking Domain.
2. In Add a tracking domain, type the subdomain you want to use, for example clicks.yourdomain.com, then click Add domain. Enter only the hostname, with no https:// prefix and no path.
3. The new domain appears under Your tracking domains with a Pending badge and shows the exact CNAME record to create.
4. Click Copy to copy the record. It has the form clicks.yourdomain.com CNAME t-edge.usetantra.com.
5. At your DNS provider, create that CNAME record. Point your subdomain at t-edge.usetantra.com.
6. Wait a few minutes for DNS to propagate.
7. Back in Tantra, click Verify on that domain. Tantra performs a live DNS lookup and compares your CNAME against the expected target.
8. When the badge turns Verified, select the domain's radio button to set it as your default. New campaigns then wrap tracked links with this domain.

Screens and controls#

The Custom Click-Tracking Domain page has four areas.

• Current default. Shows the verified domain new campaigns use, or a note that Tantra is using its shared tracking domain.
• Add a tracking domain. A hostname field and an Add domain button.
• CNAME setup. A first-time preview of the record to create. Once you add a domain, each row shows its own exact record.
• Your tracking domains. One row per domain with a status badge, the copyable CNAME record, a Verify button, a default selector, and a delete button.

Field reference#

Validation#

The add form rejects invalid hostnames before submitting.

• An empty field shows Hostname is required.
• A value with a scheme or path shows Enter only the hostname (no scheme or path).
• A value over the length limit shows Hostname is too long.
• A malformed hostname shows Use only letters, numbers, dots, and hyphens (e.g. clicks.example.com).

Each subdomain can belong to only one account across all of Tantra. If someone else has already registered the exact hostname, the add fails and Tantra reports that the hostname is already registered.

What happens next#

Verification is immediate. Tantra resolves your CNAME live when you click Verify, so the result appears within a few seconds.

• If the record matches, the badge turns Verified and Tantra warms up the connection so the first real recipient click does not stall.
• If the record is missing or points elsewhere, the badge turns Failed and the row shows the reason, such as a DNS lookup code or a note that the CNAME target did not match.

DNS changes can take time to propagate. If verification fails right after you add the record, wait a few minutes and click Verify again. Once a domain is verified and set as default, new campaigns wrap tracked links with it. Existing campaigns are not re-issued.

Best practices#

• Dedicate a subdomain used only for tracking, such as clicks. or links., rather than your main website host.
• Verify the domain before you launch a campaign so tracked links carry your branding from the first send.
• Keep one verified default. You can register more than one domain, but only one is the active default.

Common mistakes#

• Entering a full web address instead of a hostname. Enter clicks.yourdomain.com, not https://clicks.yourdomain.com.
• Clicking Verify before DNS has propagated. Wait a few minutes after creating the CNAME, then retry.
• Pointing the CNAME at the wrong target. It must point at t-edge.usetantra.com.
• Trying to set an unverified domain as default. Verify it first. Tantra blocks this with Verify the domain before setting it as default.

Troubleshooting#

FAQ#

Do I have to use a custom tracking domain? No. Without one, Tantra routes click tracking through its shared, signed domain.

Where do my tracked links point after setup? Through your verified default subdomain, for example clicks.yourdomain.com.

Can I register more than one domain? Yes, but only one can be the active default at a time.

What happens to running campaigns if I delete my domain? They fall back to Tantra's shared tracking domain. Nothing is re-issued.

Does the custom domain affect open tracking? Tantra does not track opens. The domain only affects click redirects and unsubscribe links.

Why did verification succeed but a link still looked like the shared domain? Only campaigns created after you set the domain as default use it. Existing campaigns keep the host they were built with.

Related articles#

• How click tracking works
• Domain health reports (SPF, DKIM, DMARC)