- What are UTM Parameters and Why Use Them?
- Best Practices for UTM Parameters
How to Add UTM Parameters to Your Links
Learn how to add UTM parameters to your links in Short Menu to track where your traffic comes from and measure the success of your marketing campaigns.
What are UTM Parameters and Why Use Them?
UTM parameters are tags you add to a URL to track specific details about your web traffic, which then appear in your website analytics. This helps you measure campaign performance, refine strategies, and improve ROI. They consist of five key components:
- Source: Identifies where the traffic is coming from, such as youtube or newsletter.
- Medium: Specifies the type of traffic, like social or email.
- Campaign: Used to track the performance of a marketing campaign, such as blackfriday.
- Term: Primarily used for paid search to identify keywords, e.g., headphones.
- Content: Differentiates similar content or links within the same ad, such as banner or textlink.
Required vs. Optional UTM Parameters
When creating UTM parameters, the Source and Medium are required to effectively track where your traffic originates and the type of traffic it is. The Campaign parameter is also highly recommended, as it allows you to distinguish between different marketing efforts. The Term and Content parameters are optional and are generally used for more granular tracking, such as identifying specific keywords in paid search campaigns or differentiating between multiple links within the same content.
How to Add UTM Parameters to Links in Short Menu
Adding UTM parameters to your links in Short Menu is straightforward. Follow these steps:
Step 1: Creating a New Link
- Enter the Destination URL: In the "Create New Link" dialog, input the URL you want to shorten.
- Select the Short Domain: Choose your preferred domain from the dropdown menu.
- Create a Custom Slug (Optional): If you want a custom URL ending, enter it here.
Short Menu's Link Editor
Step 2: Adding UTM Parameters
- Click on "+ UTM Parameters": This will open the fields where you can add the UTM tags.
- Fill in the UTM Fields you want to use:
- Source: Enter the source, e.g., youtube.
- Medium: Specify the medium, e.g., social.
- Campaign: Name your campaign, e.g., blackfriday.
- Term: Enter the keyword, if applicable, e.g., headphones.
- Content: Differentiate similar content, e.g., video.
Short Menu's UTM Builder
Pro Tip: Use consistent naming conventions for your UTM parameters to make analysis easier.
Best Practices for UTM Parameters
- Consistency: Use the same names for your sources, mediums, and campaigns across different links to ensure clean data.
- Keep It Simple: Only use the UTM parameters you need. Overcomplicating your tags can make analysis more difficult.