Tagging links with Googles UTM

icon1 Posted by Geoserv in Featured Articles, Hacks on 12 20th, 2009 | Comments | 1,223 views

I am currently testing a new way to get your traffic to links posted on your Pligg install noticed better.

Most bloggers use Google Analytics, as it is by far the best FREE analytics service today.

Google Analytics and Pligg

Google Analytics uses a UTM (Urchin Tracking Module) tag so users can add information to the end of their links so they know better where their traffic is coming from. This is typically used for tracking banner ads or text links, but it can be used for cases.

Why not add it the links added to your Pligg install?

To add it, simply open link_summary.tpl:

<a href="{$url}" {if $open_in_new_window eq true} target="_blank"{/if} {if $story_status neq "published"}rel="nofollow"{/if}>{$title_short}</a>
 

and change it to,

<a href="{$url}?utm_source=YOURDOMAIN.com" {if $open_in_new_window eq true} target="_blank"{/if} {if $story_status neq "published"}rel="nofollow"{/if}>{$title_short}</a>
 

This will change the normal outbound link:

http://www.shoutmeloud.com/10-best-way-to-check-your-internet-speed.html

to

http://www.shoutmeloud.com/10-best-way-to-check-your-internet-speed.html?utm_source=YOURDOMAIN.com

In the Analytic panel for that site, if they use Google, they will see your Pligg install listed as a traffic referral much easier.

I have only been using this method for a week, so I am not sure if it will help with getting more traffic or not, but I will do a followup post in a week or two.

What do you think of the idea?

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  • I am using Google Analytics for lat 2 year and google provide the free analytics tool to track your visitors or traffic
  • however you are missing a vital piece of information, you need to know what UTM Zone your coordinates are in first. Without this your coordinates are meaningless.
  • The UTM Sensor is a small amount of JavaScript code that accomplishes two important functions. First, the Sensor negates the effects of caching by forcing at least one hit to progress to the original web server for each pageview
  • If you own a Web site, the Web site building software should have included SEO. Otherwise, using the software is a waste of time; the Web site building software is useless. SEO includes Internet marketing and while articles posting, etc. is important, the most important thing is to select the right keywords that people use to find your Web site. You need to do keyword analysis to find the best keywords for your Web site.
  • Fortunally we used the utm-tags only to track the success of our e-mail marketing campaigns. But we will switch to the described method… just to be on the totally safe site.
  • There are certain links that you don't need to tag, and many times will not be able to tag. You should not attempt to tag organic unpaid keyword links from search engines and it isn't necessary to tag links that come from referral sites, such as portals and affiliate sites. Google Analytics automatically detects the name of the search engine and the keyword from organic unpaid keyword referrals.
  • I am swimming upstream at the moment with my new project, the last thing I need is a new problem with google. thanks for the great tip.
  • I haven't done paid in a while, but I heard the beauty of Google Analytics now is that you don't need any special tagging from Adwords. Is this correct? I assume you still have to tag Yahoo/MSN?
  • Very Nice Information
  • Recently i added my blog with google analytics, after that my revenue has reduced drastically very low. I do not know the reason. I would like to the differences between the two.
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