Customizing Links with UTM Parameters

Add UTM parameters to your referral links to track which marketing campaigns, channels, and content drive the most conversions.

Quick Answer

UTM parameters are tags added to your referral link that provide detailed tracking information in your Affiliate Portal analytics. Add them through the portal's link builder or manually append them to any referral link to see exactly which promotional efforts generate commissions.

Understanding UTM Parameters

The Five UTM Parameters

Parameter	Purpose	Example
utm_source	Where traffic originates	facebook, newsletter, google
utm_medium	Marketing medium type	social, email, cpc, banner
utm_campaign	Specific campaign name	january_promo, webinar_2025
utm_content	Differentiates similar content	header_link, footer_cta
utm_term	Paid search keywords	lawyer_directory, cpa_leads

Creating Links with UTM Parameters

Method 1: Using the Affiliate Portal Builder

Log into affiliate.heritageweb.com
Navigate to Links & Assets → Create New Link
Fill in the UTM fields:
- Source (required): Where you'll share the link
- Medium (required): Type of marketing channel
- Campaign (optional): Your campaign identifier
- Content (optional): Specific ad or link placement
- Term (optional): For paid search campaigns
Click "Generate Link"
Copy your tagged link

Method 2: Manual Addition

Add UTM parameters to any referral link using this format:

https://heritageweb.com/?ref=YOUR_ID&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=january_2025

Always use:

& to separate parameters
_ or - instead of spaces
Lowercase for consistency

Practical Examples

Social Media Campaign

https://heritageweb.com/?ref=ABC123&utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=professional_services&utm_content=sponsored_post

Email Newsletter

https://heritageweb.com/?ref=ABC123&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=monthly_digest&utm_content=header_banner

Paid Google Ads

https://heritageweb.com/?ref=ABC123&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=lawyer_leads&utm_term=attorney_directory

Tracking Your UTM Performance

View Campaign Analytics

Log into your Affiliate Portal
Navigate to Analytics → Campaign Performance
Filter by date range
See conversions broken down by:
- Source/Medium combinations
- Individual campaigns
- Content variations
- Conversion rates per parameter

What You'll Learn

Which social platforms drive the most sign-ups
Email vs. social media effectiveness
Best-performing content variations
ROI on paid advertising efforts
Seasonal campaign performance

Best Practices

Be Consistent: Use the same naming convention across campaigns
Keep It Simple: Use clear, descriptive names you'll remember
Document Your System: Keep a spreadsheet of your UTM conventions
Test First: Verify links work before launching campaigns
Avoid Special Characters: Stick to letters, numbers, underscores, and hyphens

Important Notes

UTM parameters don't affect your commission rate (still 30%)
Parameters are for your tracking only—customers don't see them
Links work with or without UTM parameters
UTM data is visible only in your Affiliate Portal, not the basic Dashboard

FAQs

Do UTM parameters affect the cookie duration? No. The 60-day cookie window and permanent attribution upon account creation remain the same regardless of UTM parameters.

Can I change UTM parameters after creating a link? Yes. You can create new links with different parameters anytime. Existing links continue working with their original parameters.

Will customers see these parameters? Parameters may appear in the URL bar initially but don't affect the user experience. They're stripped from the URL after tracking.

How many different UTM combinations can I create? Unlimited. Create as many variations as needed for your campaigns.

Can I track offline campaigns with UTM parameters? Yes. Create specific UTM-tagged links for offline materials (e.g., utm_source=business_card or utm_source=conference).