Disclaimer:
The setup steps might vary depending on your specific CDN provider. Please consult with your provider's support team for detailed instructions tailored to your CDN.

What is SSL Click Tracking, and Why It Matters?

SSL Click Tracking is a process that uses SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) to track and secure user interactions with links in emails.
SSL creates an encrypted link between a web server and a browser, ensuring that all data passed between them remains private.

Implementing SSL for link tracking is recommended because:

• Prevents Security Warnings:
  Modern browsers like Chrome may show privacy warnings without an SSL certificate, causing trust issues and potential drop-offs.

• Ensures Link Security:
  HTTPS is becoming the standard for links, especially for secure domains and CTAs. Links might break or show errors if your tracking domain isn't secured.

• Protects Subscriber Data:
  SSL helps secure sensitive data transmitted through links, supporting compliance and security best practices.

Enabling SSL click tracking ensures that every link interaction is properly tracked and secured for Optimove users leveraging SendGrid, reducing friction for end-users and maintaining high trust levels in your email communications.

There are two primary methods to add an SSL certificate for click tracking:

• Using a CDN (Content Delivery Network), or
• Setting up a custom configuration on your own server.

Choose the method that best suits your infrastructure and technical needs.

Using a CDN to Manage SSL Certificates

This method leverages a CDN provider (e.g., Cloudflare, Fastly, or KeyCDN) to manage SSL certificates.
It is an efficient solution for scalability and ease of use.

Steps:

• Create an SSL Certificate:

  • Work with your CDN provider to request and manage an SSL certificate for your email link domain (e.g., link.yourdomain.com).
  • Avoid wildcard certificates, as they may cause instability with click tracking.

• Update DNS Configuration:

  • Point your white-label link domain to your CDN-managed SSL certificate.
    Example: link.yourbrand.com → cdm.link.yourbrand.com

• Forward Traffic to SendGrid:

  • Configure your CDN to forward traffic through the SSL certificate and route it to SendGrid.
    Example: https://cdm.link.yourbrand.com → sendgrid.net

• Confirm with Optimove Team:

  • Once DNS changes are propagated, confirm with the Optimove team to enable SSL click tracking.

Custom SSL Configuration on Your Server

If you prefer more control, you can configure SSL click tracking directly on your own web server.
This method requires more technical setup but allows full customization.

Steps:

• Prepare Your Server:

  • Configure your web server (e.g., NGINX, Apache) to handle traffic for your branded link domain (e.g., link.yourdomain.com).

• Create and Add SSL Certificate:

  • Obtain an SSL certificate for your domain and add it to your server configuration file (e.g., nginx-example.conf for NGINX).

• Configure Proxy Pass:

  • Set up a proxy pass to forward traffic securely to SendGrid using your SSL certificate.
    Example NGINX configuration:

location /link.mydomain.com {
    proxy_pass https://sendgrid.net;
    proxy_set_header Host $host;
}

• Forward the HOST Header
  • Use the proxy_set_header directive to pass necessary headers to SendGrid.
    If any header should be omitted, set it to an empty string.
• Confirm with the Optimove Success Team
  • Once your server and SSL configuration are complete, validate it with the Optimove team to switch to Custom SSL Click Tracking.

By setting up SSL click tracking through a CDN or a custom server configuration, you ensure your email campaigns are secure and compliant with modern standards.
This protects your subscribers' data and builds trust with your audience, creating a seamless and secure email experience.