SendGrid tracking links, while including a necessary long string for unique identification, can be significantly enhanced in appearance and professionalism through custom link branding. This key process involves replacing the default sendgrid.net domain with your own custom domain or a dedicated, concise subdomain, such as links.yourdomain.com. Although the unique alphanumeric tracking hash itself cannot be shortened or altered, branding the domain portion makes the links visually cleaner, more trustworthy, and seamlessly aligned with your brand. This strategic move not only improves recipient perception and can increase click-through rates but also positively impacts email deliverability by fostering trust. It is critical to avoid generic third-party link shorteners, as they will disrupt SendGrid's native click tracking and can severely jeopardize your sender reputation. SendGrid also offers a 'Short Links' feature that can reduce link length by approximately 40%, but it comes with a 60-day data retention window for click tracking.
10 marketer opinions
Addressing the visual length of SendGrid's tracking links primarily involves implementing custom link branding. While the unique alphanumeric hash within these links, crucial for accurate click tracking and analytics, cannot be altered or shortened, replacing the default sendgrid.net domain with your own custom domain or a concise subdomain like go.yourdomain.com makes the links appear significantly cleaner and more professional. This strategic approach enhances recipient trust and positively influences email deliverability by presenting a consistent, branded experience. It is vital to avoid generic third-party link shorteners, as they disable SendGrid's native tracking capabilities and can severely jeopardize sender reputation due to their association with spam. SendGrid also offers a 'Short Links' feature which can reduce overall link length by about 40%, though it comes with a 60-day data retention period for click tracking.
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks explains that SendGrid offers a 'Short Links' feature to reduce the link length by about 40%. This feature, however, has a data retention window of only 60 days for click tracking. She advises contacting SendGrid support to enable this feature.
6 Oct 2023 - Email Geeks
Marketer view
Email marketer from Mailtrap Blog explains that implementing a custom tracking domain is the primary method to 'shorten' and professionalize SendGrid branded tracking links. Replacing generic domains with your own branded subdomain not only improves deliverability and recipient trust but also presents a cleaner, more concise URL appearance, making the links less intimidating despite their underlying technical length.
12 Jan 2023 - Mailtrap Blog
0 expert opinions
To effectively shorten the visual appearance of long SendGrid branded tracking links, the most impactful strategy involves applying custom link branding. This process entails replacing the standard sendgrid.net domain with your own brand's domain or a specific, shorter subdomain, like clicks.yourcompany.com. While the unique alphanumeric string appended for tracking purposes cannot be altered, this domain customization significantly enhances the link's professionalism and trustworthiness. Such branded links not only align better with your company's identity but also contribute positively to recipient confidence and overall email deliverability. Conversely, using generic third-party link shorteners is strongly advised against, as they disable SendGrid's native tracking and can severely jeopardize your sender reputation due to their association with suspicious activity. SendGrid also offers a 'Short Links' feature that can reduce length by approximately 40%, but it comes with a 60-day data retention limit for click analytics.
3 technical articles
Shortening SendGrid's branded tracking links primarily involves leveraging custom link branding capabilities. This process allows you to replace the default sendgrid.net domain with your own custom domain or a dedicated, concise subdomain, such as links.yourdomain.com. It's important to note that while the specific alphanumeric hash appended for tracking purposes remains unchangeable-as it's critical for accurate analytics-personalizing the domain greatly enhances the link's professional appearance and trustworthiness to recipients. Furthermore, using a dedicated subdomain helps preserve your primary domain's sending reputation, contributing to overall better email deliverability.
Technical article
Documentation from SendGrid explains that you can set up custom link branding to replace the default sendgrid.net domain in your tracking links with your own custom domain or subdomain. This makes the links appear shorter and more professional to recipients, as they bear your brand's name, requiring a CNAME record configuration.
22 Sep 2022 - SendGrid Documentation
Technical article
Documentation from SendGrid clarifies that while custom link branding allows you to modify the domain portion of your tracking links, the unique alphanumeric string, or hash, that SendGrid appends for tracking purposes cannot be shortened, altered, or customized. This hash is essential for capturing unique click data and ensuring accurate analytics.
15 Mar 2023 - SendGrid Documentation
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