> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.tracklysms.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Link Tracking Domains

> Set up a custom branded short-link domain for click tracking

When you send messages with link tracking enabled, recipient-facing URLs are rewritten to short URLs on a domain you own — for example `link.yourbrand.com/abc123` instead of a generic shared host. This page walks through pointing a domain you control at our link-tracking service so it can serve those short URLs.

White-label landing pages are configured separately — see [Custom Domains & White-Labeling](/account/custom-domains).

## DNS Setup

### 1. Choose Your Domain

Pick a subdomain dedicated to short links — most customers use something like:

* `link.yourbrand.com`
* `lnk.yourbrand.com`
* A short standalone domain you've registered (e.g. `yourbrand.click`)

A short, memorable subdomain keeps your message text concise.

### 2. Add a CNAME Record

In your DNS provider, create a CNAME record pointing your subdomain at our short-link target:

| Type  | Name   | Value                  |
| ----- | ------ | ---------------------- |
| CNAME | `link` | `links.tracklysms.com` |

(If you're using a different subdomain like `lnk` or `go`, substitute that in the **Name** column.)

<Note>
  If you're on Cloudflare, set the proxy status to **DNS only** (gray cloud). The orange cloud (proxied) replaces real client IPs with Cloudflare edge IPs, which prevents bot detection from working correctly.
</Note>

### 3. Add the Domain in Account Settings

1. Go to **Account Settings → Domains** in the dashboard
2. Click **Add External Domain**
3. Enter your domain (e.g. `link.yourbrand.com`)
4. Either:
   * Use **Automatic Setup** (Entri) — automatically configures DNS for 35+ providers including GoDaddy, Cloudflare, and Namecheap
   * Or follow the manual instructions shown in the dialog

### 4. SSL Certificate

Once your CNAME is in place, an SSL certificate is provisioned automatically — no manual setup needed. Provisioning typically completes within a few minutes of DNS propagation.

### 5. Verify

The Domains page in Account Settings shows the verification status of each domain. Once it shows **Verified**, your short-link domain is ready to assign to a sending list.

## How It Works

```
Recipient clicks link.yourbrand.com/abc123
    → CNAME resolves through links.tracklysms.com → tlrk.us
    → Cloudflare for SaaS terminates SSL using your custom hostname
    → Request forwarded to our link-tracking service
    → Click event recorded, redirect to your destination URL
```

## Existing Customers

If you set up your domain before May 2026 and it's pointing at one of our older targets — `tlrk.us` directly, or `proxy.tracklysms.com` — there's nothing you need to do. Both targets remain supported and your short links will continue working without changes. New customers and new domains should use `links.tracklysms.com`.

## Apex Domains

If you want to use an apex domain (e.g. `yourbrand.click` instead of `link.yourbrand.com`), most modern DNS providers support apex CNAMEs via flattening or ALIAS records. If your provider doesn't, contact support — there are workarounds.

## Related

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Link Tracking Overview" icon="link" href="/guides/link-tracking/overview">
    How link tracking and click attribution work
  </Card>

  <Card title="Bot Detection" icon="robot" href="/guides/link-tracking/bot-detection">
    Filter out automated link scanners
  </Card>

  <Card title="Custom Domains (White-Label)" icon="globe" href="/account/custom-domains">
    Set up a branded landing page on your own domain
  </Card>

  <Card title="Attribution" icon="arrow-right" href="/guides/link-tracking/attribution">
    How clicks are attributed to messages
  </Card>
</CardGroup>