Gmail Security Standards Update: Effective October 31st, 2026 – TravelJoy

Starting October 31, Gmail is raising its security standards for links in emails. If you use a custom domain for link branding in your TravelJoy messages, or use our Email campaigns feature, a quick update called Automatic SSL keeps your links working. Here's what it is, who needs it, and how to get it done.

What Automatic SSL Does

Gmail now requires every link in an email to have an extra layer of security. Automatic SSL adds that layer to the links in your TravelJoy emails.

Without it, your clients may see a security warning in Gmail when they click a link in one of your messages. With it, they keep clicking through like they always have.

💡 Note: We recommend completing this update before October 31 to avoid any disruption with your links.

Does this update apply to your account?

This update is for advisors who:

Set up a custom domain for link branding in their TravelJoy emails in their Settings → Messaging
Utilize the Email campaigns tool

💡 Not sure how your email is set up? Here's how connecting a custom domain email address works in TravelJoy.

New to sending campaigns, or want a refresher on how the email campaigns tool is set up? Here's how to send email campaigns through TravelJoy.

Complete the Update for Custom Domains

You'll need access to the place where your domain is managed, like your domain registrar or web host. Head to Settings → Messaging and select the button “Enable Automatic SSL” to get started:

Once clicked, please review the following pop up before proceededing:

💡 If someone else manages your domain for you, no problem. You can send them the instructions right from your Settings → Messaging tab, and they can make the update on your behalf.

From here, click "Enable Automatic SSL" to review all records that need to be updated within your domain's DNS settings:

💡 Note: Please refer to the records within your TravelJoy account. The records shown above will differ from the records you'll need to add to your domain's DNS settings.

Not familiar with how to add records to your domain's DNS settings? We recommend touching base with your domain host's support team to help walk you through the process.

Once these records have been added to your domain's DNS settings, click "Verify DNS Settings" to complete the process:

Complete the Update for Email Marketing

Head to Marketing → Email campaigns and select the button “Enable Automatic SSL” to get started:

Be sure to review the pop up that appears before proceeding:

💡 Important: Once you proceed from this step, email campaign sending will be paused until the verification process is completed.

Once you've selected "Enable automatic SSL", you'll be able to review the DNS records needed for your Email campaigns. While the majority of these records will already have been added when you initially set up your Email campaigns, you'll see up to four new records to add to your domain's DNS settings:

💡 Note: Please refer to the records within your TravelJoy account. The records shown above will differ from the records you'll need to add to your domain's DNS settings.

Not familiar with how to add records to your domain's DNS settings? We recommend touching base with your domain host's support team to help walk you through the process.

Once these records have been added to your domain's DNS settings, click "Verify DNS records" to complete the process:

FAQs

If I use my custom business email for messaging within TravelJoy and email campaigns, do I need to complete these steps for both features?

Yes, If you use a custom domain for both your regular TravelJoy emails and email marketing, you'll need to complete the update in both places. Each one needs its own update so all your links stay secure.

I work on a team whose members all share the same domain for our email addresses. Do records need to be added to the domain's DNS settings for every account?

If you share the same email sending domain as other TravelJoy advisors, only one of you needs to complete this update. Once one person adds the new records with your domain provider and verifies the domain in TravelJoy, it will be verified for everyone using that domain.

I've added my records and still can't verify them - what now?

Ensure that the records are entered exactly as they are shown within TravelJoy. To avoid typos, use the "copy" tool next to each record for accuracy:
Wait 15 minutes and try to complete verification once more