With the help of this guide, you'll learn how to set up your custom tracking domain and connect it to Snov.io. A custom tracking domain (CTD) is a unique domain or subdomain that you can use exclusively for tracking opens, clicks, and unsubscribes in your emails.
You can add a custom tracking domain for tracking email opens with any plan, including the free trial. Click tracking is exclusively available on premium plans. Upgrade to any paid plan to track clicks through your custom domain.
Snov.io allows you to add a CTD to your email account and replace the default (shared) tracking domain with your branded domain for better deliverability in your cold email campaigns.
Benefits of using a custom tracking domain include:
- looks more secure for your recipients and ESP's
- a branded tracking domain instead of a generic domain
- your sender reputation isn't affected by other users
- potentially grants up to 20% improvement in deliverability
Step. 1: Create a tracking subdomain
The best practice for setting up a CTD is to create a subdomain on the primary domain you use to send campaigns. To create a subdomain, you need to add a new CNAME record in your domain's DNS panel, also known as a domain registrar.
Before you proceed, please note that you will require admin (owner) access to add new records to the DNS.
DNS settings are usually located where you purchased your domain name, such as GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Cloudflare. Domain management systems differ in their interfaces for each domain provider, but the basic steps to add a CNAME are similar.
Browse help resources for adding a CNAME record at some of the most popular domain providers:
If you don't find your provider in the list above, search for "Create a CNAME record" in their help section.
Below, you will find the information you need for a successful setup. Enter the details into the corresponding fields in the CNAME record settings and save them.
Snov.io supports HTTPS in custom tracking domains to improve deliverability. SSL certificates are generated automatically when you add a tracking domain to your senders—no extra setup required.
| Field | Value | Definition |
| DNS record type | CNAME | CNAME record allows you to set Snov.io tracking domain URL as the destination for your host. |
| Host/Name |
The label for your new subdomain, usually
|
Host name is the part that will be placed at the beginning of your subdomain address (e.g: hostname.yourdomain.com).
If a CNAME record already exists in your DNS, don’t reuse the same hostname—it will cause a conflict. Important: Tracking domain URLs can’t contain extra characters such as underscores, extra dots, or other unsupported symbols. If they do, you’ll see an “invalid tracking domain format” error when adding the domain to Snov.io. |
| Value or Points To | The URL of Snov.io's tracking domain.
must be snov-stream.com |
The value is meant to establish the connection between your subdomain and Snov.io's tracking domain. |
| TTL | Leave as default | Leave this field at whatever value your domain provider uses by default. |
Here's an example of how the CNAME record settings should look like:
Step. 2: Check DNS propagation
After creating a CNAME record, the DNS update typically takes effect within an hour, but it could take up to 72 hours to update globally.
You can check the DNS propagation status at DNS checker website.
- Type in your tracking domain's address in the search field.
- Choose CNAME type.
- Click the Search button.
The custom domain will be ready to use once it is connected to snov-stream.com globally.
Step. 3: Connect your CTD to Snov.io
The final step is to enter the address of your new tracking domain/subdomain into your email account settings.
- Go to your Email Accounts list.
- Click the Edit button next to the required email account.
- Open Custom tracking domain section under Optional settings.
- Enter the URL address into the tracking domain field.
- Click the Set up button, then Save the account settings.
To confirm your custom domain works, open the tracking URL in a browser. If it’s set up correctly, you’ll see a message like this:
FAQs
1. What happens when you delete a custom tracking domain?
As long as your custom domain stays connected to at least one sender account, the SSL certificate is renewed automatically.
If you delete the last custom domain or the last email account using it, we keep your SSL certificate active for 30 more days. This is to ensure tracking for campaigns sent from this domain still works. After 30 days, the SSL will expire and the tracking domain will stop working, meaning open and click tracking will stop working.
To restore tracking for emails sent earlier with this domain, re-add the same tracking URL. Snov.io will issue a new SSL certificate automatically.
2. Is tracking totally safe with a custom domain and SSL?
Even with a custom tracking domain and SSL certificate, tracking can still impact deliverability. Use tracking only when it’s necessary. Read more about the impact on deliverability.
3. What will my recipients see if I add a CTD?
Your custom tracking domain replaces Snov.io’s default tracking domain. Recipients won’t see it in the body of your email, but it appears if they hover over or click a tracked link. This way, links look branded with your company name instead of generic.
4. Do I need to add a CTD for every email account in Snov.io?
Email accounts without a CTD use Snov.io’s default tracking domains. If you have multiple email accounts under the same domain, you can add the same tracking URL and use it across all your senders.
5. Do I need to create a separate subdomain for tracking, or can I use an existing one?
Technically, you can edit an existing CNAME record. However, we recommend creating a new CNAME record for tracking in Snovio.
6. What happens if I remove the CNAME record from my DNS?
Do not remove CNAME from your domain settings. Without the CNAME record, your custom tracking domain will stop working.
7. Does the tracking subdomain have to be on the same domain I use for sending emails?
No, the tracking subdomain doesn’t have to be on the same domain. Any domain you control will work. Use a subdomain of your sending domain for better deliverability.
8. Can I create a CNAME record if I don’t own the domain?
No. You need admin access to the domain’s DNS settings to create or edit CNAME records.
Still have questions? Contact our support team at any time at help@snov.io or live-support chat.
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