Tagging URLs.md

Below are some suggestions on how to use the plugin:

Adwords

With the new Upgraded URLs of Adwords (July 2015), it is very easy to implement utm-alternative. What you should do is add to the src value to the "URL options". For example, if you want the new cookie to have the keyword that triggered the ad from which the converted user arrived, then I suggest the following:

{lpurl}?src=aw-{keyword}

The aw tells you this lead came from an Adwords campaign, followed by the keyword that is generated automatically. If you want to add to the campaign id of Adwords, you can use:

{lpurl}?src={campaignid}

If using remarketing and want this data directly in the lead source, then you can use:

{lpurl}?src={campaignid}-remarketing

You can theoretically add any value you want (and remember to adhere to your privacy statement).

You can find all the parameters of adwords here: https://support.google.com/adwords/answer/2375447?hl=en

Adwords Auto-tagging

If you use the utm_alternative (version 2.0) using "utm_campaign" as the tracking parameter, you might encounter difficulties with adwords autotagging, which omits the utm_campaign and does everything for you very conveniently. If you want to keep on using utm_alternative with "utm_campaign", while keep using Adwords' autotagging, the best way is to adjust utm-alternative in such a way that it will always take the utm_campaign, unless there is a custom parameter in the url as well. In other words, keep all your campaigns using the utm_campaign, but for the adwords campaigns you can add the "src" custom parameter (or any other) to popular the new traffic_source cookie.

To do so, replace the following line:

var urlParamSRC = getURLParameter(tracking_parameter); //get value of the query string parameter (if any)

With:

if  (isNotNullOrEmpty(getURLParameter(tracking_parameter))) {
			var urlParamSRC = getURLParameter(tracking_parameter); //get value of traffic source query string parameter
		} else {
			var urlParamSRC = getURLParameter("utm_campaign"); //get value of utm_campaign query string parameter (if any)
		}

Just to highlight what I mentioned above, from marketing point of view, using your own parameter will allow you to use {keyword} parameter, which will be the most informative data for your tracking. So I don't think that sticking to the utm_campaign cookie with Adwords is smart. Again, with Upgraded URLs and Adwords Editor, it's very easy to use utm_alternative with your custom query string parameter.

Linkedin and others

With linkedin and other platform, you will have to tag your target URLs manually, therefore you can easily add the src parameter in the following way:

www.example.com/?utm_source=Linkedin&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=XXX&utm_campaign=YOURCAMPAIGN&src=YOURCAMPAIGN

What you can also do, that will add value to your tracking, is to add ad creative to the src (the utm_campaign stays intact):

www.example.com/?utm_source=Linkedin&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=XXX&utm_campaign=YOURCAMPAIGN&src=YOURCAMPAIGN-01

You can always see which ads generated conversions on google analytics, but in simple implementations og Analytics you cannot associate it with specific users, since GA data is anonymous. This approach will help you to do that. But note that it is hard to manage when you have a lot of ads - you have to keep track on creatives and their numbers. You can also add the whole ad content to the src if you would like.

Navigation inside the site

The plugin can be also used to track navigation inside the site. What you have to do is to add src parameter to your own internal links. Important note: if you do that, remember to tell search engines that this parameter does not affect page content. Otherwise, search engines will show your website urls with the src in it - this will mess up your tracking completely. In Google Webmstertools, go to Crawl-->URL Parameters-->Add parameter. (From my experience, google doesn't always follow this directive, and the tracking parameter still appeared on search results. Make your own tests to be sure).

Adjust Google Analytics and Webmastertools

You might finds that adding a query string parameter makes the Google Analytics a bit dirty. Also, if you use external links to use your custom parameters, Google might think this parameter is a part of the page's url. To tackle those issues:

In Google Analytics - Make a new "view" on Google Analytics, and under "settings", add "src" (or your renamed parameter) under Exclude URL Query Parameters . I suggest to do it on a new View and not on existing view - always better to have a view with raw data - it will also help you to analyze your campaigns better.

In Google's Search Console, go to Crawl-->URL Parameters-->Add parameter. There you can add the "src" paramter so google will ignore it. From my experience, google doesn't always follow this directive, and the tracking parameter still appeared on search results. Make your own tests to be sure.