Summary
This article explains how to use UTMs with Bitly to track link performance and allow multiple Bitly links to go to the same destination URL.
Other Information
What are UTMs?
UTMs (Urchin Tracking Modules) are parameters added to URLs to help track visitors who come to your website. There are different types of UTM parameters, each with a specific purpose:
- utm_source: Identifies the source of your traffic to help understand where your visitors are coming from (e.g. Facebook, Google, Twitter).
- utm_medium: Describes the medium or channel used. Helps identify the type of marketing channel (e.g. Social, Email, CPC).
- utm_campaign: Specifies the campaign name or identifier to help track the performance of specific campaigns (e.g. Spring Sale, Summer Promo).
- utm_term: Identifies the keywords for your ad, particularly useful for paid search campaigns.
- utm_content: Differentiates similar content or links within the same ad.
How to Create a Bitly Link with UTM Parameters?
- Log in to Bitly and select Create New > Link.
- Add the Destination URL and enable Add UTMs to track web traffic in analytics tools.
- Enter the information for the Source, Medium, and Campaign parameters.
- If you want to create multiple Bitly links to go to the same destination URL, select Add custom URL parameter.
- Set the custom URL parameter and its associated value. In this example, we will set the parameter to link with a value of 1.
- To create another Bitly link going to the same destination URL, repeat steps 1-4. Then, set the parameter link with a value of 2.
- To create more Bitly links going to the same destination URL, follow the same process as above.
- Notice how the destination link for each Bitly link starts the same but has UTM parameters added to the end of each link. The custom URL parameter is what differentiates the three Bitly links going to the same destination URL. Original destination URL: https://www.ucf.edu/college/graduate-studies/.
- Bitly Link 1: https://go.ucf.edu/3ztSSHa
- Bitly Link 2: https://go.ucf.edu/4dsyTX9
- Bitly Link 3: https://go.ucf.edu/3ZM4ikf