What’s the difference between a real click and a bot click in email marketing?

A real click happens when a human recipient actively clicks a link in your email with intent—usually leading to engagement, a visit, or a conversion. A bot click, on the other hand, is triggered automatically by email scanners or spam filters that test every link for security purposes. While helpful for protecting users, these bot clicks can mislead marketers by triggering automations, inflating click-through rates, and making reports unreliable. That’s why understanding the difference is crucial for accurate email marketing performance and workflow setup.