You sent an email; so how many people opened it, who was interested? This is exactly what email open tracking measures. Seeing whether the email you sent was opened and whether the links inside it were clicked is the most practical way to understand which content works. In this article we explain how open tracking works, what it measures and how to read the results correctly.

Short answer: Email open tracking works by loading a tiny invisible image (a tracking pixel) placed inside the email when the email is opened. Ulakhane shows the open and click counts on the panel for every campaign; the clearest indicator of real interest, however, is the click.

How does open tracking work?

A very small, invisible image (a tracking pixel) is placed inside the email. When the recipient opens the email and the images load, this pixel loads too, and the system records it as an "open". With click tracking, the links in the email first pass through an address that keeps a record and then redirect to the target; this measures which link was clicked.

Does "opened" always mean "read"?

Not exactly. An open is a strong sign that the email was viewed, but it does not always guarantee it was read from start to finish. That is why you should evaluate the two metrics together:

  • Open rate: How many people opened your email? It gives an idea about interest and the success of the subject line.
  • Click rate: How many people clicked a link inside? It is the clearest indicator of real interest.

For ways to raise the open rate you can see how to increase the email open rate.

The limits of open tracking

The open count can look different from reality in some cases:

  • Automatic preloading: Some email apps load images in the background before the email is even opened; this can produce fake "opens".
  • Turning off images: Some users never load images; even if the email is read, the open may not be counted.

That is why Ulakhane does not count as opens the automatic preloads and known browser requests that arrive in the first seconds right after sending; this makes your report closer to reality.

How should you use open data?

  1. Test the subject line: A low open rate is most often related to the subject line.
  2. Try the sending time: For the effect of different hours, see the best time to send email.
  3. Focus on clicks: The real goal is to direct the reader to an action; track the click rate.

Conclusion: Email open tracking takes your sends from being done blindly to being measurable. If you want to see opens and clicks on a single panel for every campaign and send from your own Gmail account, you can start for free with Ulakhane.

Frequently asked questions

What is email open tracking?
Email open tracking measures whether the email you sent was opened by the recipient. An invisible tracking image placed inside the email loads when the email is opened and is recorded as an open.
Can I see whether the email was read?
With open tracking you can see that the email was opened; however, "opened" does not always mean "read from start to finish". A stronger indicator of interest is the clicks on the links in the email.
Why is the open rate sometimes misleading?
Some email apps automatically preload images or do not load them at all. That is why the open count can sometimes look higher than it is and sometimes lower. Ulakhane offers a more realistic rate by not counting the automatic preloads in the first seconds after sending.
How does Ulakhane show opens and clicks?
For each campaign you see in real time from the panel how many people opened and which links were clicked; this lets you measure which content draws interest.

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