Short Links Settings

By default, Yespo uses the domain esclick.me to shorten links in messages. However, you can make communication with subscribers more recognizable and build the reputation of your own campaigns without the influence of other companies using a common domain. To do this, add your own domain for shortening links, for example, yourbrandname.link.

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Note

A custom short link domain is used only for tracked and shortened links in messages. It does not authenticate the sender domain, replace SPF, DKIM, or DMARC setup, or warm up the sender domain used in the From address.

To use a custom short link domain, add a domain or subdomain that you control and create the DNS CNAME record generated in Yespo. The subdomain does not have to host a website, but it must be configured in DNS and point to the target shown in your account.

A link built dynamically at send time with Velocity (for example, from an event parameter) is not shortened, because its final value isn't known until the message is sent. See Short Links and Dynamic URLs for workarounds.

For email, tracked URLs are shortened in both the HTML content and the automatically generated text/plain part. This keeps click tracking consistent when an email client displays the plain-text version instead of HTML.

Adding a Custom Domain

  1. Go to your account settings → Links → Short links tab and click + New custom domain.
Short links tab with the New custom domain button and account menu Settings option highlighted
  1. Enter your domain name and click Done. The type, host, target, and SSL certificate are generated automatically; you only need to set up a DNS CNAME record pointing to our secure server.
Customize your links' domain dialog showing the subdomain field and CNAME DNS record details with the Done button highlighted
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Note

The default short-link subdomain label suggested here is generated from the account/workspace Name field set at registration, and it can't be changed from account settings — set up your own custom domain if you need a different label.

If the Domain Doesn't Verify

DNS changes are not instant — they can take up to 48 hours to propagate. After that, return to Yespo and click Update/Verify domain.

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Cloudflare

Records that must point directly to Yespo must not sit behind Cloudflare's HTTP proxy. Set the relevant CNAME record to DNS only (the grey cloud icon), not Proxied (the orange cloud).

Verify the public DNS answer through an external resolver rather than relying on the DNS provider's own UI.

Adding a Destination Domain (Deep Links)

If you need the links to direct users to specific content in the app, create a destination domain.

  1. Click New destination domain.
Short links tab with the New destination domain button highlighted
  1. Enter the domain name and upload the associated files:
  • For iOS: a TXT file (no larger than 128 KB) containing data in JSON format.
  • For Android: a JSON file (no larger than 128 KB).
Destination domain creation dialog with the subdomain field and iOS and Android Upload file buttons highlighted

Defining Paths to Open Links in a Browser/App

The paths specified in links allow you to determine where to open them, in a browser or in a mobile app.

The paths in links are processed in the following channels:

In channels such as Mobile Push and In-App, links to Android apps require special processing settings.

Paths for opening links in Android apps must be added in the association file that you upload to Yespo, as such settings are made in the AndroidManifest.xml file.

Paths for opening links in iOS applications can also be added to the association file, or specified directly in the Yespo settings:

Destination domain creation dialog with the Paths section highlighted

Paths examples

You can use the ***** symbol instead of the domain name — then the path will work for all destination domains created in your account.

ExampleDescription
NOT /unsubscribe*Links starting with /unsubscribe (e.g., /unsubscribe, /unsubscribe-now) always open in the browser.
/faq/*Links that start with /faq/ (e.g., /faq/123, /faq/general) always open in the app.
/aboutThe specific path /about opens in the application. This rule does not affect other paths, such as /about/team.
/contact*Links that start with /contact (e.g., /contact, /contact-us) always open in the app.
NOT /*/external*Links that start with /contact (e.g., /contact, /contact-us) always open in the app.
/products/*/detailsLinks that match the pattern /products/[any path]/details (e.g., /products/123/details, /products/toys/details) always open in the app.
NOT /promo*Links starting with /promo (e.g., /promo, /promo/offer) always open in a browser.
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Note

The examples above do not work in the system by default — you must specify similar paths in the association files or in the Yespo settings.

Other features of the functioning of the paths:

  • Any other links that do not meet the rules specified in the paths will open in the app.
  • An associated file that does not have a path specified cannot be downloaded.
  • At least one path must be specified in the account settings.
  • The letter u is added to links that open in the application, for example, https://click.example.com/u/jh3kkj3kl.

Domain Activating, Deactivating and Deleting

Only one custom domain can be active. One URL-shortening domain is used per account and applies to all senders in that account; separate shortening domains for different senders are not supported. If several domains are registered in the account, the last one created will be added to the top of the list and activated. You can deactivate a domain and activate any of the listed ones instead.

Custom domain list with the Deactivate and Activate buttons highlighted for two domains
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Note

Links wrapped in the esclick.me domain that were sent earlier will continue to work. Deactivating or switching away from a custom domain, however, does affect messages that were already sent: links using a domain that's no longer active stop working once you switch to a different one. If you need links in previously sent messages to keep working, keep the original domain active instead of switching to a new one.

To delete a custom domain, click on the three dots opposite its name and choose the corresponding option.

Custom domain list with the three-dot menu open showing the Delete custom domain option highlighted

Note that links using this domain in already sent messages will stop working after it is deleted.


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