How to Create UTM Tracking Links for Google Analytics (The Right Way)

Created on 23 September, 2025 • Generator Tools • 266 views • 2 minutes read

Learn what UTM tracking links are and how to create them to measure your marketing campaign's effectiveness in Google Analytics. Use our free UTM generator for fast, error-free links.

If you're running any kind of digital marketing campaign, you're likely driving traffic from multiple places: a Facebook ad, a link in your email newsletter, a guest post, or a tweet. But when you look at your Google Analytics report, how do you know which of those efforts is actually working?

The answer is UTM tracking links.

Creating custom URLs with UTM parameters is the key to unlocking precise, campaign-level data in Google Analytics. This guide will show you exactly what they are and how to create them effortlessly.

What Are UTM Tracking Links?

A UTM link is simply a standard URL with a few extra pieces of information, called "parameters," added to the end. These parameters don't change the destination of the link, but they tell Google Analytics exactly where the click came from.

For example, instead of just using yourwebsite.com/sale, you would use a link that looks like this:

yourwebsite.com/sale?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=summer_sale_2025

When someone clicks this link, Google Analytics automatically reads those parameters and attributes their visit to your "Summer Sale 2025" campaign, which came from a paid ad ("cpc") on Facebook.

The 5 Key UTM Parameters Explained

There are five standard UTM parameters you can use to tag your links:

  1. utm_source (Required): This identifies the source of your traffic, like google, facebook, or the name of an email newsletter.
  2. utm_medium (Required): This identifies the marketing medium, such as cpc (for paid ads), email, social, or organic.
  3. utm_campaign (Required): This is the specific name of your campaign, like summer_sale_2025 or new_product_launch.
  4. utm_term (Optional): Used mainly for paid search campaigns to identify the specific keywords you're targeting.
  5. utm_content (Optional): Used to differentiate between links that point to the same URL, such as a blue "Buy Now" button versus a red one (A/B testing).

The Easy Way: Using a UTM Link Generator

While you could try to build these URLs by hand, it's a process that's begging for typos and inconsistencies. A single mistake can break your tracking. The most reliable and efficient method is to use a dedicated online tool.

For a fast, simple, and error-free experience, we recommend the UTM Link Generator from Shortus.xyz.

Try the free tool here: https://shortus.xyz/tools/utm-link-generator

This tool provides a simple form that ensures your links are perfectly formatted every single time.

How to Create Your UTM Link in 4 Steps

  1. Enter Your URL: Paste the website address you want your visitors to land on (e.g., https://yourwebsite.com/products/new-item).
  2. Fill in the Campaign Parameters:Campaign Source: facebookCampaign Medium: socialCampaign Name: q4_promo(Fill in optional Term and Content if needed).
  3. Campaign Source: facebook
  4. Campaign Medium: social
  5. Campaign Name: q4_promo
  6. (Fill in optional Term and Content if needed).
  7. Generate Your Link: The tool will instantly generate the full, ready-to-use UTM tracking link as you type.
  8. Copy and Use: Click the "Copy" button and use this new link in your Facebook post, ad, or email.

Now, any traffic that comes from that link will be neatly categorized under the "q4_promo" campaign in your Google Analytics reports, allowing you to accurately measure its ROI.

Stop guessing which marketing efforts are paying off. Start using UTM tracking links to get clear, actionable insights and make data-driven decisions.

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