By using branded Link Tracking domains, not only do you create a trustworthy impression on your SMS recipients, but you also isolate yourself from commonly used tracking domains that run the risk of being misused by spammers, thereby causing a domain to be blacklisted.
Managing SMS Link Tracking Domains
You can set up and manage the custom domains on the SMS Link Tracking Domains page. To access this page, click your username on the top-right corner of the application, and then from the profile drop-down menu, select Settings. Then, on the Settings page, Click on SMS Link Tracking Domains.
On this page, you can see all the previously added SMS link-tracking domains. Every listed domain shows its verification status. From the Actions drop-down menu, you can verify an unverified domain, delete a domain, and set a domain as the default domain for your account.
Note: A Domain that is set as default will be used as a primary source of tracking domain for your SMS messages.
Setting Up SMS Link Tracking Domain
In order to have a working SMS Link Tracking Domain, you must add the domain in your Marketing Cloud account and then perform a one-time verification.
Adding a Domain
- Click your username on the top-right corner of the application, and then from the profile drop-down menu, select Settings.
- On the Settings page, Click on SMS Link Tracking Domains.
- On the SMS Link Tracking Domains page, click NEW DOMAIN.
- Add a unique SMS domain and click on Next to proceed ahead.
- Now, to complete the link setup, you’ll need to verify the domain. You may verify the domain now or do it later.
- Click DONE.
Verifying a Domain
Domain verification is mandatory and helps preserve the integrity of the site and the brand. As part of verifying the domain, you must ensure that your domain is pointing to the correct CNAME.
What is a CNAME?
CNAME (canonical name) is a DNS record that points from an alias (falsely named) domain to a canonical (official) domain. A CNAME record is normally used instead of an A record when a domain or subdomain is an alias of another domain.
Follow the below steps to verify the CNAME records of your SMS Link Tracking domain:
- Go to your domain’s DNS record section.
- Under DNS Settings, add a record with CNAME as a record type.
- Copy the CNAME Hostname from the Domain verification page of your Marketing Cloud account and paste it into the Label or Host field of the DNS record. Next, copy the CNAME value from the Domain verification page of your Maropost account and paste it into the Destination or Target field of the DNS record.
- Now go back to your domain verification page on Marketing Cloud and finish verification by clicking VERIFY CNAME.
