UTM Parameter Standards

Standardized values for campaign tracking with UTM parameters

Version 1.0.0Updated Jan 21, 2025
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Values

{
  "utm_source": {
    "description": "The referrer source (e.g., google, facebook, newsletter)",
    "values": [
      {
        "value": "google",
        "description": "Google search or display",
        "when_to_use": "Any Google-based traffic",
        "examples": [
          "google",
          "google_ads"
        ]
      },
      {
        "value": "linkedin",
        "description": "LinkedIn organic or paid",
        "when_to_use": "LinkedIn posts, ads, sponsored content",
        "examples": [
          "linkedin",
          "linkedin_ads"
        ]
      },
      {
        "value": "facebook",
        "description": "Facebook organic or paid",
        "when_to_use": "Facebook posts, ads, sponsored content",
        "examples": [
          "facebook",
          "facebook_ads"
        ]
      },
      {
        "value": "twitter",
        "description": "Twitter/X organic or paid",
        "when_to_use": "Twitter posts, promoted tweets",
        "examples": [
          "twitter",
          "twitter_ads"
        ]
      },
      {
        "value": "email",
        "description": "Email campaigns",
        "when_to_use": "Newsletters, email marketing campaigns",
        "examples": [
          "email",
          "newsletter"
        ]
      },
      {
        "value": "direct",
        "description": "Direct traffic",
        "when_to_use": "Direct URL entry, bookmarks",
        "examples": [
          "direct"
        ]
      },
      {
        "value": "organic",
        "description": "Organic search",
        "when_to_use": "Non-paid search results",
        "examples": [
          "organic"
        ]
      },
      {
        "value": "referral",
        "description": "Referral from another website",
        "when_to_use": "Links from external websites",
        "examples": [
          "referral"
        ]
      },
      {
        "value": "partner",
        "description": "Partner or affiliate traffic",
        "when_to_use": "Partner websites, affiliate links",
        "examples": [
          "partner",
          "affiliate"
        ]
      },
      {
        "value": "webinar",
        "description": "Webinar registration or attendance",
        "when_to_use": "Webinar landing pages, registration links",
        "examples": [
          "webinar"
        ]
      },
      {
        "value": "podcast",
        "description": "Podcast promotion",
        "when_to_use": "Podcast show notes, mentions",
        "examples": [
          "podcast"
        ]
      },
      {
        "value": "youtube",
        "description": "YouTube videos",
        "when_to_use": "YouTube video descriptions, cards",
        "examples": [
          "youtube"
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "utm_medium": {
    "description": "The marketing medium (e.g., cpc, email, social)",
    "values": [
      {
        "value": "cpc",
        "description": "Cost per click (paid search)",
        "when_to_use": "Google Ads, Bing Ads, paid search",
        "examples": [
          "cpc"
        ]
      },
      {
        "value": "cpm",
        "description": "Cost per mille (display advertising)",
        "when_to_use": "Display ads, banner ads",
        "examples": [
          "cpm"
        ]
      },
      {
        "value": "email",
        "description": "Email marketing",
        "when_to_use": "Email campaigns, newsletters",
        "examples": [
          "email"
        ]
      },
      {
        "value": "social",
        "description": "Social media (organic)",
        "when_to_use": "Organic social media posts",
        "examples": [
          "social"
        ]
      },
      {
        "value": "social-paid",
        "description": "Paid social media",
        "when_to_use": "Paid social media ads",
        "examples": [
          "social-paid"
        ]
      },
      {
        "value": "referral",
        "description": "Referral traffic",
        "when_to_use": "Links from other websites",
        "examples": [
          "referral"
        ]
      },
      {
        "value": "affiliate",
        "description": "Affiliate marketing",
        "when_to_use": "Affiliate partner links",
        "examples": [
          "affiliate"
        ]
      },
      {
        "value": "organic",
        "description": "Organic search",
        "when_to_use": "Organic search results",
        "examples": [
          "organic"
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "utm_campaign": {
    "description": "Campaign naming conventions",
    "rules": [
      {
        "rule": "Use lowercase with hyphens",
        "description": "Format: campaign-name-2025-01",
        "example": "product-launch-2025-01"
      },
      {
        "rule": "Include date for time-bound campaigns",
        "description": "Add year-month for campaigns with end dates",
        "example": "summer-sale-2025-06"
      },
      {
        "rule": "Be descriptive but concise",
        "description": "Use clear, specific names",
        "example": "webinar-lead-gen-q1"
      },
      {
        "rule": "Avoid special characters",
        "description": "No spaces, underscores (except in source/medium), or special chars",
        "example": "campaign-name-2025"
      },
      {
        "rule": "Use consistent naming across channels",
        "description": "Same campaign name across all channels for same campaign",
        "example": "product-launch-2025-01"
      }
    ]
  },
  "utm_term": {
    "description": "Search terms (for paid search)",
    "guidelines": [
      "Use for paid search campaigns",
      "Include actual search terms",
      "Use lowercase with hyphens",
      "Example: 'email-marketing-software'"
    ]
  },
  "utm_content": {
    "description": "Content identifier (for A/B testing)",
    "guidelines": [
      "Use to differentiate similar links",
      "Use for A/B testing",
      "Use descriptive identifiers",
      "Example: 'cta-button-red' or 'email-header-v2'"
    ]
  }
}