# Insert a tracking opt-out link

Source: https://yamm.com/help/usage/create-campaign/insert-tracking-opt-out-link/

Add a **tracking opt-out link** to your email so recipients can ask not to be tracked. Recipients who click it are excluded from open and click tracking in all future campaigns you send. They will still receive your emails as usual. This can help you comply with data protection guidance on tracking pixels, such as from the CNIL (France) or the Garante/GPDP (Italy).

Warning: Third-party email tracking tools may interfere with YAMM's tracking opt-out. Disable them before inserting the tracking opt-out link into your Gmail draft.

Both steps below are required. The tracking opt-out link only works if tracking is also enabled when you send.

## 1. Insert the tracking opt-out link

1. Open your template in [Gmail](https://yamm.com/help/usage/create-campaign/draft-template/index.md#start-from-gmail) or [Google Docs](https://yamm.com/help/usage/create-campaign/draft-template/index.md#start-from-google-docs).

2. Copy the following tracking opt-out link:

   ```text
   https://app.yamm.com/do-not-track
   ```

3. Insert the copied link at the end of your template.

   ![Gmail draft with a tracking opt-out link pointing to the YAMM do-not-track URL](https://yamm.com/help/images/docs/usage/create-campaign/insert-tracking-opt-out-link/insert-tracking-opt-out-link-in-email-1.png)

   Warning: Copy the link exactly as shown above. Don't copy it from a previously sent email: once sent, the link is re-encoded for that specific recipient.

## 2. Activate tracking

Before sending your mail merge, make sure to [activate tracking](https://yamm.com/help/usage/track-campaign/about-tracking/index.md#track-and-measure-your-mail-merge-results) to enable the tracking opt-out link.

1. Open your [contact list spreadsheet](https://yamm.com/help/usage/create-campaign/build-contact-list/index.md) in Google Sheets.

2. Select **Extensions** > **Yet Another Mail Merge: Mail Merge for Gmail** > **Start Mail Merge**.

   ![Start Mail Merge in the Extensions > Yet Another Mail Merge menu](https://yamm.com/help/images/docs/usage/create-campaign/send-test-email/email-preview-receive-test-email-before-starting-mail-merge-1.png)

3. Select the template containing the tracking opt-out link.

4. Select **Track emails opened, clicked or bounced**.

   ![Start Mail Merge window with the Track emails opened, clicked or bounced option checked](https://yamm.com/help/images/docs/usage/create-campaign/insert-unsubscribe-link/insert-unsubscribe-link-in-email-to-reduce-spam-issues-2.png)

5. Click **Send emails**.

## What happens when a recipient opts out

The recipient is redirected to a confirmation page asking them to confirm that they no longer want their opens and clicks tracked.

![Tracking opt-out confirmation page shown to the recipient](https://yamm.com/help/images/docs/usage/create-campaign/insert-tracking-opt-out-link/insert-tracking-opt-out-link-in-email-2.png)

Once they confirm:

- In the campaign you just sent, their `Merge status` changes to `DO_NOT_TRACK`. For more information about merge statuses, see [What the tracking stats mean](https://yamm.com/help/usage/track-campaign/about-tracking/index.md#what-the-tracking-stats-mean).

  ![DO_NOT_TRACK status shown in the Merge status column](https://yamm.com/help/images/docs/usage/create-campaign/insert-tracking-opt-out-link/insert-tracking-opt-out-link-in-email-3.png)

- In every campaign you send afterward, YAMM automatically excludes them from tracking.

Info: Because opted-out recipients are excluded from tracking, they're also excluded from the **Opened** and **Clicked** rates in your tracking report. For more information about these metrics, see [All tracking stats in the tracking report](https://yamm.com/help/usage/track-campaign/about-tracking/index.md#all-tracking-stats-in-the-tracking-report).

## Manage your tracking opt-out list

Go to the [**Tracking opt-outs**](https://app.yamm.com/tracking-opt-outs) page in the YAMM web app to view and manage the list of recipients who opted out. The list is specific to your account and isn't shared with other members of your space.

![Tracking opt-outs page in the YAMM web app](https://yamm.com/help/images/docs/usage/create-campaign/insert-tracking-opt-out-link/insert-tracking-opt-out-link-in-email-4.png)

## What's next

- [Start your mail merge.](https://yamm.com/help/usage/launch-campaign/start-mail-merge/index.md)
- [Manage your tracking opt-out list.](#manage-your-tracking-opt-out-list)
- [Check the tracking report.](https://yamm.com/help/usage/track-campaign/about-tracking/index.md)