How to Use UTM Codes to Track Your Online Ads

If you're running ads online—on Google, Facebook, Instagram, or even in email campaigns—it's smart to track where your traffic is coming from. That’s where UTM codes come in. They’re simple tags you add to your links that help you see which ads or campaigns are actually driving results.

What is a UTM Code?

UTM stands for Urchin Tracking Module (yes, it's a weird name). In short, it’s a set of parameters you attach to a URL. When someone clicks your UTM-coded link, those parameters get tracked in tools like Google Analytics.

Here’s an example of a basic UTM-coded link:

https://www.example.com/page/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=ad&utm_campaign=spring_sale

When someone clicks this link, you’ll see their visit in your analytics, tagged with:

• utm_source: Where the traffic came from (like Facebook, Google, Newsletter)
• utm_medium: What type of traffic it is (like ad, email, cpc, banner)
• utm_campaign: Which campaign or promotion it's part of (like spring_sale, july_discount)

How to Build a UTM Link

Use Google’s free Campaign URL Builder. Just enter your destination URL and fill in the fields. It will generate a full link you can copy and use in your ads.

Example:

Let’s say you’re running a Facebook ad promoting your spring sale page. You might fill in:

• Website URL: https://yoursite.com/spring-sale
• Campaign Source: facebook
• Campaign Medium: ad
• Campaign Name: spring_sale

The tool will give you a full link like this:

https://yoursite.com/spring-sale/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=ad&utm_campaign=spring_sale

Where to Use UTM Links

Anywhere you’re linking back to your website in a campaign:

• Facebook or Instagram ads
• Google Ads (paste them into the final URL)
• Email newsletters
• Partner sites or influencer campaigns
• QR codes (great for offline tracking)

Where Do You See the Data?

In Google Analytics, go to:

Reports > Acquisition > Traffic acquisition

You’ll see traffic sources broken down by source, medium, and campaign.

Tips for Using UTM Codes

• Be consistent with naming. Use email or ad, not both in different places.
• Use lowercase to keep tracking clean.
• Don’t use spaces—use underscores _ or dashes -.
• Avoid UTM codes on internal links (it can mess with your analytics).

Final Thoughts

UTM codes are simple but powerful. They help you see what’s working and what’s not in your online marketing. If you need help setting them up, let us know—we’re happy to jump in and assist.

Checklist Download (PDF)

I put together a checklist to help you when you're creating links (no email required):

DOWNLOAD PDF