UTM Parameters Explained: A Beginner’s Guide

Learn how UTM parameters help track marketing performance across campaigns.

What Are UTM Parameters?

UTM parameters are small bits of text added to the end of a URL that help you track where your website traffic is coming from.

Why Use UTM Parameters?

They allow you to see which marketing efforts (ads, emails, social posts) are bringing in visitors.

Example of a UTM-tagged Link:

https://yourdomain.com/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=summer_sale

Key UTM Elements:

  • utm_source: Where the traffic is coming from (e.g., google, facebook)
  • utm_medium: The type of channel (e.g., email, social, cpc)
  • utm_campaign: The campaign name (e.g., spring_launch)

Bonus Tip: Use a URL shortener like Bitly to make these links cleaner and trackable.

Top 5 Free Link Tracking Tools Compared (2025 Edition)

Compare the best free link tracking tools of 2025.

1. Bitly

Best for: Simple link shortening and analytics
Features: Dashboard analytics, branded links (with custom domain)

2. Rebrandly

Best for: Branding-focused marketers
Features: Custom branded short URLs, team collaboration

3. Google UTM Builder

Best for: Manual campaign tagging
Features: Easily create UTM links to use in Google Analytics

4. T2M

Best for: Basic tracking without a learning curve
Features: Simple dashboard, QR code generation

5. ClickMeter

Best for: Affiliate marketers
Features: Conversion tracking, A/B testing, geotargeting

Conclusion: Choose based on your needs — from branding to affiliate metrics. You can even combine tools (e.g., Rebrandly + Google Analytics) for better insights.