# Tracking domains

> Your own subdomain for ad links: adding it, the CNAME record, and what each status means.
> Source: https://www.eventsiq.io/docs/tracking-domains


A tracking domain is a subdomain of yours, like `track.yoursite.com`, that sits in front of your
campaign links. Your ads point at it, EventsIQ records the click there, and the visitor is sent on
to your landing page. Visitors and ad networks see your name, not ours.

You'll find them under **Settings → Domains**.

:::tip{title="Where it fits"}
A campaign needs a Live tracking domain to send clicks **Through your link domain**. Without one,
campaigns still work by sending clicks **Straight to your page**, but there is no extra step to run
rules or split tests. See [Campaigns](https://www.eventsiq.io/docs/campaigns).
:::

## The list

![The Domains list](https://www.eventsiq.io/docs-media/tracking-domains/01-list.png "Settings, Domains, with at least one domain listed and its status showing.")

| Column           | What it tells you                                     |
| ---------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- |
| **Domain**       | The hostname. Click the row to see its DNS record     |
| **Status**       | Where it is in setup. See the table below             |
| **Last checked** | When EventsIQ last asked whether the record is right  |
| **Added**        | When it was added                                     |

Each row has two actions: **Check again** and **Remove**.

## Adding a domain

1. Click **Add domain**.
2. Type a subdomain, for example `track.yoursite.com`. You can paste a full address like
   `https://track.yoursite.com/` and EventsIQ cleans it up.
3. Click the new row to open it. Under **Add this record at your DNS provider** you will see one
   record:

| Type      | Name                          | Value                         |
| --------- | ----------------------------- | ----------------------------- |
| **CNAME** | your subdomain, with a copy button | EventsIQ's address, with a copy button |

4. Add that record at your DNS provider.
5. Come back and click **Check again** until the status says **Live**.

![The DNS record to add](https://www.eventsiq.io/docs-media/tracking-domains/02-dns-record.png "Settings, Domains, with one domain expanded showing the CNAME record and the Namecheap note.")

:::warning{title="Use a subdomain"}
A bare domain like `yoursite.com` is refused, because pointing it at EventsIQ would take over your
whole website. Email addresses, ports and EventsIQ's own addresses are refused too.
:::

:::tip{title="Namecheap, GoDaddy and similar"}
Some providers add your domain to the Name for you. If yours shows `yoursite.com` beside the Name
field, enter just `track` rather than the whole thing. The row reminds you when this applies.
:::

## What each status means

| Status                  | What is happening                                                                 | What to do                                  |
| ----------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------- |
| **Waiting for DNS**     | EventsIQ cannot see the CNAME record yet                                          | Add the record, wait, click **Check again** |
| **Issuing certificate** | The record is right and the security certificate is being made. Usually minutes  | Wait, click **Check again**                 |
| **Live**                | Ready. Campaigns can use it                                                       | Nothing                                     |
| **DNS record gone**     | It was Live, but the record no longer points at EventsIQ. Links have stopped     | Put the record back, click **Check again**  |
| **Not working**         | Setup failed                                                                      | Check the record, remove the domain and add it again |

:::note{title="The status updates when you check"}
Most DNS records are picked up within minutes, some take an hour. The status on screen refreshes
when you click **Check again**, so click it again after a few minutes rather than waiting.
:::

The certificate is made and renewed for you. You never need to upload one.

## Removing a domain

Click **Remove** on the row. Every campaign link on that domain stops working straight away, so
move your campaigns to another domain first if their ads are still running.

## Related

-   [Campaigns](https://www.eventsiq.io/docs/campaigns): choosing the domain a campaign's link uses.
-   [How click tracking works](https://www.eventsiq.io/docs/click-tracking): what happens on the domain when someone clicks.