Want to know which ads work best? UTM tags are like tiny barcodes on your ads. They help track where people found you and how they came to your website. A link shortener is a handy tool that makes these barcodes shorter and easier to remember.
Let’s break down why UTM tags are so important. Every click on your link is a potential customer. But where did they come from? Social media, search engines, or maybe an email newsletter? UTM tags provide the answers to these questions. These are small pieces of text added to the end of a URL that contain information about the traffic source, campaign, ad channel, and more.
What about the link shortener? A shortener is an online tool that turns long, cumbersome URLs into short links. But it’s not just about convenience. Short links are easier to remember and share on social media. Plus, shorteners often offer additional features like click tracking, analytics, and even branding options.
How does this tandem work?
Create UTM tags: You create unique UTM tags for each campaign.
Shorten the link: Add the UTM tag to the original URL and shorten the resulting link using a special service.
Publish the link: Place the shortened link where needed (e.g., social media, email newsletters).
Track the results: When a user clicks the link, the shortener redirects them to your page, and the analytics system collects data about the traffic source specified in the UTM tag.
Did you know UTM tags aren’t just for digital marketing? For example, they can be used to track the effectiveness of print materials by including a short link or QR code with the UTM tag.
The tandem of UTM tags and link shorteners is a powerful tool for any marketer. It not only helps track the effectiveness of ad campaigns but also optimizes marketing budgets, supports data-driven decisions, and increases ROI. Remember, UTM tags are not just a bunch of letters and numbers—they’re the key to understanding what works and what doesn’t. And a link shortener is the convenient tool that helps deliver that key to your audience.