Why Tracking Matters During Black Friday
Black Friday is the biggest sales season of the year. Brands run ads everywhere, Google, Facebook, Instagram, emails, and even influencer shoutouts. But with so many campaigns running at once, how do you know which one is actually bringing traffic and sales?
That’s where UTM tracking comes in. With simple tags added to your URLs, you can track the performance of every ad, post, or email inside Google Analytics. It’s the easiest way to see what’s working and what’s wasting money.
What Are UTM Parameters? (In Simple Words)
UTM parameters are short pieces of text you add to your links to track where visitors are coming from.
They look like this:
https://yourstore.com/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=ads&utm_campaign=blackfriday2025
Let’s break it down:
- utm_source – where the traffic comes from (e.g., Facebook, Google, email)
- utm_medium – the type of marketing (e.g., ads, cpc, newsletter)
- utm_campaign – the campaign name (e.g., blackfriday2025)
- utm_content (optional) – used to test multiple ad versions
- utm_term (optional) – used for paid keywords (mostly in Google Ads)
When someone clicks on a UTM link, Google Analytics automatically records all this information, showing you exactly which campaign and platform generated that visit or sale.
Step-by-Step Guide to Create UTM Links for Black Friday Ads
Step 1: Plan Your Campaigns
Before you start tagging, list out your Black Friday marketing channels.
For example:
- Facebook Ads
- Google Search Ads
- Email Newsletter
- Instagram Stories
Each will need a unique UTM link so you can track them separately.
Step 2: Use a UTM Builder Tool
Manually adding UTM parameters can be messy. Instead, use a UTM builder like linkutm.com to generate perfect tracking links in seconds.
Here’s how:
- Go to free UTM Builder
- Enter your website URL
- Add the campaign details:
- Source:
facebook - Medium:
ads - Campaign:
blackfriday2025
- Source:
- Click Generate Link
- Copy and use this new URL in your ad or post
No guesswork. No typos. Just clean, trackable links.
Step 3: Use Different UTMs for Each Platform
Let’s look at some quick examples.
Example 1: Facebook Ad
https://yourstore.com/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=ads&utm_campaign=blackfriday&utm_content=video1
Example 2: Google Ads
https://yourstore.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=blackfriday&utm_term=discount+diamond+rings
Example 3: Email Newsletter
https://yourstore.com/?utm_source=email&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=blackfriday&utm_content=cta_button
Each of these links will show up in Google Analytics under Acquisition → Campaigns, letting you compare performance by channel.
How linkutm.com Makes Campaign Tracking Faster
When you’re managing multiple Black Friday campaigns, creating hundreds of UTM links manually can take hours.
That’s why linkutm.com is built to make tracking simple and efficient.
Here’s what it offers:
- Quick Link Generator: Create and copy UTM links instantly.
- Predefined Templates: Save your campaign settings to reuse across ads.
- Short Links: Turn long UTM URLs into short, shareable links.
- Analytics View: See which UTM links bring the most visitors and conversions.
- Team Collaboration: Manage UTM links for multiple team members and campaigns.
It’s perfect for marketers running large-scale seasonal promotions like Black Friday or Cyber Monday.
Why UTM Tracking Is Essential for ROI Measurement
Running ads without tracking is like flying blind.
With UTM tracking, you can:
- Identify the best-performing channels: Know whether Facebook, Google, or email drives more conversions.
- Optimise your ad spend: Stop wasting money on low-performing ads.
- Understand customer journeys: See how users interact with multiple campaigns.
- Measure ROI accurately: Know exactly how much you earned from each campaign.
During Black Friday, every click and conversion counts. Proper tracking ensures you’re spending on what works.
Bonus Tips for Better Campaign Tracking
- Keep your UTM naming consistent (e.g., use lowercase for all parameters).
- Avoid spaces or special characters; use hyphens or underscores instead.
- Use easy-to-remember campaign names for later identification (e.g., blackfriday2025, not bf-sale).
- Always test your UTM links before launching your campaign.
- Store all your campaign links in one place. linkutm.com helps you do this easily.
Final Thoughts
Tracking your Black Friday campaigns with UTM links is one of the smartest things you can do as a marketer.
It takes just a few minutes to set up, but it gives you clear visibility into what’s driving your traffic and sales.
Instead of guessing, let your data guide your next move.
Use linkutm.com to create, manage, and track all your UTM links in one place and make this Black Friday your best-performing campaign yet.