We recently had a client ask about the best method to track the effectiveness of various marketing channels. This is a common question among our clients for good reason. They want to know what works! So we have built a quick and easy guide below.
🧠1. Use UTM Parameters (Most Essential)
This is the core method every marketer uses.
How it works:
You append UTM tags to each link you share — e.g.:
https://yourwebsite.com/article?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=october_launchTools:
Google Campaign URL Builder
Chrome extensions like “UTM.io” or “Campaign URL Builder by Effin Amazing”
Benefits:
Tracks exactly which source, medium, and campaign sent each visitor.
Automatically integrates with Google Analytics (GA4).
Pro Tip:
Use a consistent UTM naming convention — e.g.
source=facebook, medium=social, campaign=fall_campaign.
đź“Š 2. View in Google Analytics 4 (GA4)
Once UTM links are set, GA4 automatically shows where visitors came from.
Go to:
Reports → Acquisition → Traffic acquisition
You’ll see breakdowns by:
Source / Medium
Campaign
Landing Page
You can filter by specific article URLs or export to Google Sheets.
⚙️ 3. Use a Dashboard for Quick Insights
If you want to see results at a glance (without opening GA4):
Options:
Google Looker Studio (free) → Connect GA4, visualize UTM data.
Fathom Analytics or Plausible.io → simple dashboards for channel attribution.
Notion or Airtable tracking sheet → manual but visual.
You can set up charts showing:
Sessions per source
Conversions or time on page by campaign
🔍 4. Automate with Link Shorteners (Optional)
If you want fast link-level reporting without going into GA4:
Tools:
Bitly, Rebrandly, or Short.io
Let you create short links with UTM tags and show click stats directly.
🚀 5. Combine with CRM or Lead Tracking (Advanced)
If your goal is not just traffic but leads or sales:
Pass UTM parameters through your site’s forms or checkout (Shopify supports this).
🧩 TL;DR Setup Summary
Tools like HubSpot, Pipedrive, or Google Tag Manager can attribute leads or sales to marketing sources.
Step Tool Purpose Time to Set Up
1 UTM builder Tag links from each channel 5 mins
2 Google Analytics 4 View traffic source breakdown 15 mins
3 Looker Studio or Fathom See quick visual dashboards 10–20 mins
4 Bitly (optional) Track link clicks easily 5 mins
5 CRM or GTM (optional) Attribute conversions/leads 30–60 mins
If you need any help getting this setup feel free to reach out and we would be happy to assist.