UTM Tracking Code


5 cool examples of UTM tracking
Robert Petković

Google Analytics Specialist

5 URL BUILDER ARGUMENTS

1. Campaign Source (utm_source)

This tag is mandatory, it identifies where exactly did your ad appear. That can be a specific portal name, social network name or similar.

2. Campaign Medium (utm_medium)

Identifies the way your ad appears on the web page (banner, PR) but I suggest you to use the Medium as you would use it within Google Analytics: Social, cpc, email, etc. This tag is also mandatory.

3. Campaign Term (utm_term)

This should be the keyword you use for identifying your ad. It will also appear as “keyword” within Google Analytics report.

4. Campaign Content (utm_content)

This tag is usually used for A/B testing, but it could be used for ad type, market, website language version or any other similar info that will help you distinguish one ad version from another.

5. Campaign Name (utm_campaign)

Surprisingly, that should be the name of your campaign .:) A group of your ads through various mediums (banners, newsletters, articles) that cover the same topic like “Autumn collection 2014” or “Early booking 2015”. This tag is also mandatory.

Most websites use UTM tags but our experience had shown us that many of them use them in the wrong way. You don’t have to be formal while tagging as long as you know where you will use them and where in Google Analytics you will find their data. You can play with terms and content the way you find it most useful, but take care of sources and mediums for better reporting.

Most users don’t tend to think globally and usually tag their ads/posts for one-time only, thus making their Google Analytics reports complicated and non reusable. Also, by creating your own Mediums, you will mess-up Google Analytics default channel grouping (although you can customize it) and you will not find your UTM-tagged Facebook posts under “Social” channel but under “Other”. And please, be aware of capital letters since if you put “Facebook” and “facebook” under utm_source, that would produce two separate “Source” entries in Google Analytics. Simply – use lowercase letters.

UTM CAMPAIGN CUSTOMIZATION EXAMPLES

1. Newsletter link

Always, always, al (wait for it!) ways use UTM tracking parameters in your newsletters!  If you send them regularly, you can name each newsletter as an individual campaign, but you can also use them as a part of some global campaign too. Don’t forget to track each newsletter link separately in order to optimize it later!

UTM parameters can be:
&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Newsletter&utm_campaign=Autumn+Newsletter&utm_content=logo+link
&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Newsletter&utm_campaign=Autumn+Collection&utm_term=Shoes

utm tracking google analytics

2. Website banner

If you don’t tag your banner link, those visits will appear as Referrals, so you will not be able to determine which exact banner or article generated clicks. You can use Banner or Display for Medium, and some banner examples can be:
&utm_medium=display&utm_source=amazon.com&utm_campaign=Autumn+Collection&utm_term=Shoes

3. Social network posts

Same as the previous, if you don’t track your social links they will appear as Referrals (Medium), but thanks to the Google channel grouping they will also appear under Social channel. Still, you won’t be able to know which exact post brought you visits.

Therefore, try using URLs like:
&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=Autumn+Collection&utm_term=Shoes&utm_content=darkpost
&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=Autumn+Collection&utm_term=Shoes

 Your employees probably share your Facebook posts among their friends. Once you prepare the link for all of them, you will know who is your most important influencer by using links such as:
&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=Autumn+Collection&utm_term=Shoes&utm_content=Employee+Name

utm tracking google analytics

4. Mail signatures

I’m sure you have a website link in your e-mail signature, but do you know which employee e-mail generates most visits and whose visits are most valuable? Probably not, because those links are not tagged, so they appear as Direct in your Google Analytics and are therefore wasted.

Here’s how you can track e-mail signatures for all your employees:
&utm_medium=email&utm_source=signature&utm_campaign=email+signature& utm_content=Employee+Name

 But, if you write someone about your “Autumn Collection”, don’t forget to put a website link in your e-mail body as:
&utm_medium=email&utm_source=email+body&utm_campaign=Autumn+Collection& utm_term=Shoes&utm_content=Employee+Name

5. QR codes

You know those odd codes that actually no one uses? Their creators usually put a plain website URL instead of using UTM tracking parameters, so they think that nobody uses them. If you track them properly, you will find they are used sometimes!

Use URL shorteners such as Bit.ly to shorten your UTM-tagged URL, otherwise you will generate QR code that won’t be readable by most QR readers.

Some examples can be:
&utm_medium=qr&utm_source=citilighy&utm_campaign=Autumn+Collection&utm_term=Shoes
&utm_medium=qr&utm_source=Vogue&utm_campaign=Autumn+Collection&utm_term=Shoes&utm_content=full+size

Bonus: Printed ads!

You also advertise your website in paper or on billboards just by writing website URL. Of course, what else? Wrong!

Try using URL shorteners or create domains like www.vogue.mywebsite.com that will make (301) redirect to URL like this:
&utm_medium=offline&utm_source=Vogue&utm_campaign=Autumn+Collection&utm_term=Shoes

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