UTM parameters explained
- Source: the origin, such as a newsletter, partner, or search engine.
- Medium: the channel, such as email, social, or cpc.
- Campaign: a shared name for a particular initiative.
- Term: optional keyword or other campaign detail.
- Content: optional distinction between links or creative variations.
Use a consistent naming convention, including case. For example, source=newsletter, medium=email, and campaign=autumn_launch identify the origin, channel, and initiative separately.
Build the complete URL before shortening it. Open the shortened result to check that all intended query parameters survive. Use campaign tags for inbound links; tagging internal navigation can confuse acquisition analysis.
Google’s campaign URL documentation explains how these parameters feed acquisition reporting. Your destination’s analytics and consent settings determine what is actually recorded.