Email Tracking FAQ
Understanding Email Open Tracking with CC and BCC Recipients
Email open tracking works by using a tracking pixel that triggers when any recipient opens an email.
This includes:
- The primary recipient
- CC recipients
- BCC recipients
Understanding this behavior is especially important for teams that copy one another on emails.
How Email Open Tracking Works
Levitate uses pixel tracking, the industry-standard method used by virtually all email marketing and engagement platforms.
Here’s how it works:
- A small tracking pixel is embedded in the email.
- When any recipient opens their copy of the email, the pixel “fires.”
- The system cannot distinguish which specific recipient opened the email.
- The first open is recorded.
- Any additional opens update the “last opened” timestamp.
Because tracking occurs at the email level (not the recipient level), it is not possible to determine exactly who opened it first.
CC/BCC Recipients and Open Tracking
CC and BCC recipients can trigger open notifications.
For example:
- If a CC’d team member opens the email before the primary recipient, the open will still be recorded.
- You may receive an “opened” notification even if the intended client or prospect has not opened the message yet.
This behavior is not specific to Levitate. It is a technical limitation of pixel-based tracking used across the email industry.
Is There a Way to Exclude CC or BCC Recipients?
No. There is currently no way to exclude CC or BCC recipients from triggering open tracking.
Pixel-based tracking:
- Works universally
- Cannot differentiate between recipients
- Operates at the email level, not the individual recipient level
- This limitation exists across all email platforms that rely on tracking pixels.
Best Practices
If accurate tracking of the primary recipient is critical, consider the following:
- Be aware that team members opening emails will trigger open notifications
- Use internal notes instead of CC’ing team members when possible.
- Forward the email to teammates after sending, rather than CC’ing them during send.
- Use BCC if you need a record, but understand BCC recipients can still trigger open notifications.
Most importantly:
“Opened” means at least one recipient opened the email — not necessarily the primary recipient.