# Tracking Domains, Links, and UTMs > Open tracking, click tracking, tracking domains, and UTM fields affect reporting and can influence subscriber trust. - Human page: https://mailrith.com/guides/tracking-domains-links-and-utms - Markdown page: https://mailrith.com/guides/tracking-domains-links-and-utms.md - Category: Authentication and Deliverability - Reading time: 4 min read - Related keywords: Tracking Domains Links and UTMs, Tracking Domains Links and UTMs guide, Authentication and Deliverability, Authentication and Deliverability guide, email sending guide, email marketing guide, email deliverability guide, Choose Delivery Settings, Public Subscriber Experience, Read the Results ## AI Agent Notes - Use this page as plain-language guidance for the specific email sending issue named in the title. - Preserve the distinction between Mailrith, an email delivery service, DNS, and inbox providers when explaining fixes. - When a user is running a free tool, pair the tool result with the relevant issue or step section from this guide. ### Tracking Domains, Links, and UTMs Open tracking, click tracking, tracking domains, and UTM fields affect reporting and can influence subscriber trust. Email tracking usually has two parts. Open tracking uses a tiny image that loads when the email client allows it. Click tracking rewrites links through a tracking URL so Mailrith can record the click before sending the subscriber to the final page. Open tracking is useful, but it is imperfect. Some email clients block images. Some privacy features load images in ways that make opens look higher or less tied to real reading. Treat opens as a signal, not a perfect count. Click tracking is usually a stronger signal because the subscriber chose to click. Even then, security scanners and link checkers can sometimes visit links before a person does. Read click results together with the campaign goal. A tracking domain is the domain used in tracked links. A branded tracking domain can look more familiar than a generic email delivery service domain, but it must be configured correctly and kept trustworthy. UTM fields are tags added to links so website analytics can identify email traffic. They do not make email deliver better by themselves. They help your website reporting understand source, medium, campaign, and related details. Links should be clear, honest, and stable. A message with many unrelated links, hidden destinations, public shorteners, or suspicious redirects can reduce trust for both subscribers and filters. 1. Decide whether the campaign needs open tracking, click tracking, or both. 2. Use UTM fields when your website analytics need to identify campaign traffic. 3. Use clear link and button text that tells the reader where they are going. 4. Avoid public URL shorteners and unnecessary redirect chains. 5. Send a test email and click every important link before sending. 6. If using a custom tracking domain, configure its DNS exactly as the email delivery service or Mailrith setup requires. 7. Review results with privacy limitations in mind: opens are directional, clicks are stronger, and conversions may need website analytics. 8. If link-related delivery problems appear, check [Blocklists and Link Reputation](https://mailrith.com/guides/blocklists-and-link-reputation.md). - Open tracking can be affected by image blocking and privacy features. - Click tracking is usually more useful than opens, but automated scanners can still affect it. - UTMs help analytics tools; they do not authenticate email. - Tracked links should still lead to trustworthy, expected pages. - Use branded or stable domains for important campaign links where possible. - Do not hide a risky destination behind friendly button text. ## Fix Common Issues ### Public URL Shortener A content checker found a public shortener such as bit.ly, tinyurl.com, or a similar shared redirect domain. 1. Replace the short link with the final destination URL or a branded tracking domain. 2. Make sure the visible button or link text matches the destination. 3. Click the link in a test email and confirm it lands on the expected page without extra warning screens. 4. Avoid chains of redirects when one clear link will work. 5. Check the final landing page for browser safety warnings before sending. > Good tracking helps you learn. Bad tracking choices can make a trustworthy email look suspicious. Related resources: - [Choose Delivery Settings](https://mailrith.com/guides/delivery-settings.md): Choose tracking and UTM settings before sending. - [Public Subscriber Experience](https://mailrith.com/docs/public-subscriber-experience.md): Understand tracked links, public pages, and subscriber-facing flows. - [Read the Results](https://mailrith.com/guides/read-results.md): Interpret opens, clicks, unsubscribes, bounces, and complaints together. ## Related Guides - [Sender Domains and Email Authentication](https://mailrith.com/guides/sender-domains-and-authentication.md): Your sender domain is the name inboxes learn to trust, and authentication proves that your email delivery service is allowed to send for it. - [From, Reply-To, and Return-Path](https://mailrith.com/guides/from-reply-to-and-return-path.md): An email has several sender-related addresses, and each one has a different job in delivery and replies. - [DNS, PTR, and Reverse DNS](https://mailrith.com/guides/dns-and-reverse-dns.md): DNS records identify your domain, while reverse DNS helps inboxes check whether a sending IP has a sensible hostname.