Listrak Phases Out URL Branding Feature
At the end of this year, Listrak’s email marketing solution will no longer include the URL Branding feature. URL Branding is a legacy feature originally created to allow Listrak customers the ability to brand tracking links in their emails by creating a scripted web page with code provided by Listrak. This technique for branding tracking links is an older method and, while effective, it has limitations. Also, it is becoming increasingly more difficult for Listrak to support the old code used by the URL Branding feature.
Listrak has added an alternate feature to its solution based on DNS (domain name) lookups as opposed to running an external code page. The feature, Domain Alias, has been in place since 2005 and is already the more popular choice between the two methods as it has several advantages:
- Domain Alias is a more complete branding solution. The URL Branding code does not brand the domain in Listrak’s default tracking link, but Domain Alias does.
- Domain Alias is more flexible. Because it is DNS-based, users have more control over the look and feel of the tracking link. For agencies and other customers that send emails on behalf of multiple clients, this gives them the added flexibility to brand tracking links for each individual domain with a simple DNS update.
- Domain Alias is more reliable. Unlike URL Branding, it is not dependant on the availability of a web server to serve up the branding code.
Listrak customers that are still using URL Branding have until the end of 2007 to change their tracking links to Domain Alias.
A Domain Alias is a CNAME in your DNS record that points to Listrak’s tracking server – customers.listrak.com. Customers may choose their CNAME and it may be any word they like. For example:
enew.acme.com INCNAME customers.listrak.com.
After the CNAME is created in the DNS record, the branding section of each list’s List Setting must be updated accordingly
It may also be added to the Account Settings so that each new list will inherit the setting going forward.
More information on the Domain Alias may be found in Listrak’s online Help Manual, or you may contact Listrak’s technical support at 717.627.4528 x 1 or support@listrak.com.
