Trending
| 7:17 PM IST
UTM Parameters Explained: How to Know Which Link Brought Your Visitors
Digital Marketing

UTM Parameters Explained: How to Know Which Link Brought Your Visitors

UTM parameters are small tags added to a link so Google Analytics can tell which post, email or ad sent each visitor. What each part means, examples and the naming mistakes to avoid.

By · 6 min read 0 views Rate it 0 comments

UTM parameters are short tags added to the end of a link that tell Google Analytics where a visitor came from, such as which Instagram post, email or WhatsApp message they clicked. Without them, many visits are lumped together, and you cannot tell which promotion actually worked.

Imagine you share your festival offer on Instagram, in an email and on WhatsApp. Sales go up, but which channel deserves the credit? UTM parameters answer that question.

Here is an example link to a sale page, tagged for an email campaign:

https://www.example.com/diwali-sale/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=diwali_sale_2026

Everything after the question mark is extra information. The page itself is the same; the tags simply travel with the click and are recorded by Google Analytics.

What does each UTM parameter mean?

ParameterWhat it describesExample values
utm_sourceWhere the traffic comes frominstagram, newsletter, whatsapp
utm_mediumThe type of channelsocial, email, cpc, referral
utm_campaignThe specific campaign or offerdiwali_sale_2026, new_batch_jan
utm_contentWhich version or link was clickedtop_button, story_link
utm_termThe paid keyword (if relevant)cake_delivery

Google's help page on collecting campaign data with custom URLs says you should always use utm_source, utm_medium and utm_campaign together, and that values are case sensitive: utm_source=google and utm_source=Google are treated as different sources. It also warns that missing UTM parameters lead to "(not set)" values in reports.

Also readBacklinks Explained: What They Are, Why They Matter and Which Ones to Avoid

Where do I see UTM results?

In Google Analytics 4, tagged visits appear in the Acquisition → Traffic acquisition report, where you can view session source, medium and campaign. From there you can compare how many visitors, and how many conversions, each campaign brought in.

What naming mistakes should I avoid?

  • Inconsistent spelling or capitals. "Instagram", "instagram" and "insta" become three separate rows.
  • Spaces in values. Use underscores or hyphens instead.
  • Tagging internal links. Do not add UTMs to links between pages of your own site; it can overwrite the original source of the visit.
  • Forgetting one of the three main tags, which leaves gaps in reports.
  • Putting personal information in UTMs, such as names, phone numbers or email addresses. Never do this.

How can a small business use UTMs simply?

  1. Create a shared sheet with agreed values for source, medium and campaign.
  2. Use Google's Campaign URL Builder or a spreadsheet formula to build links.
  3. Shorten long tagged links before sharing them on WhatsApp or print.
  4. Check results weekly alongside your marketing metrics, so you know which channel brings enquiries, not just clicks.

Google Ads can tag its own links automatically, so you usually do not need manual UTMs on Google Ads if auto-tagging is switched on and linked to Analytics.

Her View

Decide your names once and stick to them. A simple, shared naming list saves hours of confusion when the whole team posts links.

His Insight

Tag every link you control outside your website: social bios, email buttons, QR codes on flyers. Untagged links are the main reason good campaigns look invisible in reports.

Frequently asked questions

Do UTM parameters affect SEO?

They are meant for tracking, not ranking. Use them on links you share outside your site, and keep internal links clean.

Can I use UTMs on WhatsApp and QR codes?

Yes. Any link people click or scan can carry UTM tags. Shorten the link if it looks too long.

Why do I see "(not set)" in my reports?

Often because a link was missing one of the main UTM parameters. Google recommends setting all relevant parameters together.

Sources

Harika Behara

Writes for H View, where every story follows our editorial policy and is reviewed before it is published.

All stories by Harika →

H View stories follow our editorial policy. Spotted an error? Tell us and we will correct it.

Rate this article

One tap is enough. No comment needed.

Your rating
Be the first to rate it.

Was this article helpful?

Your answer goes straight to our editors.

Comments0

Be kind and stay on topic. Comments with links are checked before they appear.

No comments yet. Start the conversation.

The H View Brief

Our best stories, in your inbox.

The week’s best Her View, His Insight reading in one short, useful note.

Free. We only use your email to send The H View Brief. Unsubscribe any time.