Question 1

What are UTM parameters and why are they important?

Accepted Answer

UTM (Urchin Tracking Module) parameters are tags added to URLs to track the source and performance of your marketing campaigns. They help you understand which channels, campaigns, and content drive the most traffic and conversions in Google Analytics.

Question 2

What are the 5 UTM parameters?

Accepted Answer

utm_source (traffic source: google, facebook, newsletter), utm_medium (marketing medium: cpc, email, social), utm_campaign (campaign name: summer_sale, product_launch), utm_term (paid keywords - optional), utm_content (content variation for A/B testing - optional). The first 3 are required.

Question 3

How do I track UTM parameters?

Accepted Answer

UTM parameters are automatically tracked in Google Analytics. Go to Acquisition > Campaigns > All Campaigns to see detailed reports. You can analyze which sources, mediums, and campaigns perform best.

Question 4

Can I use UTM parameters with shortened links?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely! This is a best practice. First create your UTM-tagged URL, then shorten it with our URL shortener. This gives you both clean links and detailed tracking. You can track clicks in both our dashboard and Google Analytics.

Question 5

What should I write in UTM parameters?

Accepted Answer

Use clear, consistent naming: lowercase letters, underscores instead of spaces, descriptive names. Example: utm_source=facebook, utm_medium=paid_social, utm_campaign=spring_sale_2024. Consistency is key for accurate reporting.

Question 6

Do UTM parameters affect SEO?

Accepted Answer

No, UTM parameters do not negatively affect SEO. Google treats URLs with different UTM parameters as the same page. However, use canonical tags on your website to prevent duplicate content issues.

Question 7

Can I edit UTM parameters after creating them?

Accepted Answer

You cannot edit UTM parameters in an existing URL, but you can create a new URL with updated parameters. If you used a shortened link, you can update the destination URL in your dashboard (Pro feature).

Question 8

What is the difference between utm_term and utm_content?

Accepted Answer

utm_term is used to track paid search keywords (Google Ads, Bing Ads). utm_content is used to differentiate similar content or A/B test variations (e.g., blue_button vs red_button, header_link vs footer_link).

Free UTM Builder - Track Your Marketing Campaigns

UTM Parameter Examples

Facebook Ad Campaign

Email Newsletter

Instagram Bio Link

Google Ads

UTM Best Practices

Use Lowercase

Use Underscores

Be Consistent

Be Descriptive

Document Everything

Shorten URLs

Frequently Asked Questions