Tagging links with Googles UTM

icon1 Posted by Geoserv in Featured Articles, Hacks on 12 20th, 2009 | View Comments | 3,217 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 have read this article twice and u written very well and thank for sharing


    Jacob
  • In this tutorial I will show you how to start integrating your Wordpress blog into your Pligg install by displaying your recent blog posts in your Pligg sidebar. One way to add to your Pligg install is to add a Wordpress blog. The blog can be used...
  • Always a joy to read your articles, and always learn something new! thumbs up!
  • 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? I'm also curious why people use UTM anymore! Can't you make the variable anything? Why is UTM so popular?
  • Very good article. It always come down to good content that people are interested in. Thank you for the guidelines.
  • I even don't know about this idea. But should try once.
  • Millions of people use Google Analytic, It's very help ful for us..

    Jacob lee
  • This will really help webmasters keep track of the number of clicks falling on their site.
  • A couple of years ago I was attempting to count manually how many clicks were made on links to external pages by firing an ajax call when a link was clicked.
  • This is a great way to see which links were clicked and which one gets the most traffic. Thanks for sharing this tip with us.
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