Tag: tracking

Conversion tracking: Best tools, tips, and tricks

Manahil
10 minutes

What good is all the effort you put into creating engaging content and driving traffic to your website if it doesn’t result in meaningful actions?

Therefore, having a powerful tool at your disposal can help you not only boost your conversion rates but also understand exactly how and why your audience is taking action.

And if you’re not using those advanced conversion tracking tools or not following the smart tips you’re probably missing out on a lot of revenue.

That’s why we are here with a quick guide just for you guys. So you can get your hands on some of the top-notch conversion tracking tools, tips, and much more… 

Conversion tracking tools at a glance

ToolDescriptionPricing
Branded link management & analytics
ReplugAll in one branded link management solution, from conversion tracking to link retargeting, A/B testing to custom CTA’s and more.Pricing starts from $19 / month
LinklyLinkly simplifies link tracking, allowing users to monitor click activity on specific links. Utilize your own domain to generate custom branded short-links and promote your business with every click, making it an ideal tool for conversion tracking and marketing.Pricing starts from $29 / month
SniplySniply is a powerful marketing tool that allows users to add custom CTAs to any link they share. With Sniply, you can drive traffic back to your own website or landing pages.Pricing plan of Sniply starts from $9 / month
Website & product analytics
UsermavenBest for detailed link analytics and capture UTM parameters, setting up conversion goals, analyzing user journeys, UTM attributions etc. It gives you 100% data ownership, ensuring full control over your analytics data.Pricing plan starts from $14 / month
MixpanelMixpanel provides powerful conversion tracking tools for businesses, enabling better decision-making and growth monitoring. With Mixpanel, you can track user engagement and compare current trends to past performance, helping you optimize conversions and drive business success.Pricing starts from $20 / month
KissmetricsKissmetrics provides powerful conversion tracking tools for businesses. With its advanced analytics platform, businesses can track customer behavior across their websites and campaigns, allowing for targeted optimization and increased conversions.Pricing starts from $25.99 / month
MatomoMatomo is a comprehensive conversion tracking tool that offers detailed insights into user behavior and website performance.Pricing starts from 22EUR / month
Social media analytics
ContentStudioMonitor and analyze performance of your social media channels with multi-channel social analysis.Pricing starts at $25 /month
SprinklrSprinklr offers advanced conversion tracking featuires to optimize your social media presence. Monitor and enhance performance across platforms for improved engagement and increased conversions.Pricing starts at $249 per seat / month

Let’s get going. So if you’re new and don’t know

What is conversion tracking?”

Conversion tracking is the process of monitoring specific actions users take on your website, app, or elsewhere, signifying that they’ve interacted with your brand in a way that’s valuable to your business.

But conversions go beyond just sales. They bring in a variety of valuable actions, such as:

  • Purchases (of course!)
  • Email signups
  • Phone call initiates
  • Live chat engagements
  • Social media engagements
  • Form submissions (e.g., contact forms, download requests)
  • App downloads (if you have an app)
  • And much more…

Importance of conversion tracking

By tracking conversions, you gain valuable insights into how well your marketing campaigns are performing and where you can optimize for better results.

Today, conversion tracking is not just a luxury but a necessity for any business looking to thrive in the competitive online landscape.

According to a study, conversion rate is the 4th most important metric for marketers. These numbers highlight the pivotal role that conversion tracking plays in modern marketing strategies. It’s not just about tracking sales; it’s about understanding customer behavior, optimizing campaigns, and maximizing ROI.

What are the benefits of conversion tracking?

url-tracking- analytics

When you start keeping track of your conversions, you open up a world of benefits. Here are some of the best ones:

  1. Improved return on investment (ROI) – By understanding what’s working and what’s not, you can allocate your resources more effectively and maximize your return on investment (ROI).
  2. Making smarter choices with data – Conversion tracking provides you with valuable data that you can use to make data-driven decisions about your marketing strategy. This data can help you identify trends, understand your target audience better, and create more effective marketing campaigns.
  3. Fine-tuning your website and landing pages – Identify areas on your website or landing pages that are hindering conversions.
  4. List out top content – You can use conversion tracking data to see which pieces of content are most effective at driving conversions. This information can be used to create more content that is likely to convert visitors into leads or customers.
  5. Seeing which campaigns do the most – See which campaigns (paid ads, social media posts, email marketing) are driving the most conversions, allowing you to focus your budget and efforts on the most successful ones.
  6. Gain customer insights – Conversion tracking data can reveal valuable insights into your customer behavior, helping you tailor your marketing messages and offerings to better meet their needs.
  7. Smarter budget allocation – With conversion data in hand, you can allocate your marketing budget more effectively. You can invest more in the channels that are driving the most conversions and less in the channels that are not performing well.

Best conversion tracking tools

1. Replug

Link Management Made Easy

Your go to link management tool for CTAs, branded and bio links, QR Codes, tracking and retargeting.

Get Started for FREE!
link management made easy

Replug is a complete link management platform that allows brands to track a multitude of URL parameters such as clicks, conversions, and unique visitors to make informed decisions on doubling down on profitable streams.

With this conversion rate optimization tool, you can set goals for your campaigns to track and analyze how many conversions you have achieved for certain campaigns. Examine traffic parameters such as device type, browser, country, and IP to create targeted campaigns.

Real-time Analytics

In easier words, Replug’s click analytics help you track where users click on your website or within links you’ve shortened. This provides insights into user behavior, such as which buttons or CTAs (calls to action) are most effective and where users navigate after clicking a link.

Pricing starts from $19 / month

2. Linkly

Linkly conversion analytics tool

Linkly is another link management tool for marketers, as the platform provides shortened and branded links. With features like A/B testing and retargeting, it also helps one to optimize link performance. Besides that Linkly does help in conversion tracking. It provides insights into how many clicks on your links lead to desired actions, such as purchases or sign-ups. Depending on your needs, Linkly’s pricing might not be the most competitive. It’s always best to compare pricing plans of different tools before making a decision.

Pricing starts from $29 / month

3. Sniply

Sniply stands out for its unparalleled ability to track and analyze user behavior, empowering marketers to refine their content curation strategies based on genuine audience engagement.

Sniply conversion tracking

While monitoring click-through rates on your call-to-action (CTA) provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of your content curation efforts, Sniply goes further.

Sniply CTA conversion tracking tool

It’s essential to recognize that while Sniply offers robust analytics features, its primary function remains centered around content marketing and enhancing engagement through strategically placed CTAs.

Pricing plan of Sniply starts from $9 / month

4. Usermaven

An affordable yet advanced alternative to Google Analytics. It automatically captures most user actions on your website or app without any developer dependency. 

Some of the key metrics you will see on the web analytics dashboard include total visitors, page views, covered events, bounce rate, scroll depth, time spent on the page, top traffic channels/sources, devices, locations, and top-performing keywords, etc.

Besides that with the multi-touch attribution feature, one can even capture UTM parameters (tags used to track campaign performance) and backfill data even if a user signs up later.

Or segment users based on various criteria like demographics or behavior. This lets you analyze conversion rates for specific user groups. You can also visualize conversion funnels to pinpoint drop-off points where users abandon the conversion process. 

Pricing plan starts from $14 / month

5. Mixpanel

Now let’s get back to our traditional analytics tools. Just like Usermaven, this powerful analytics platform allows you to track user behavior across platforms and devices. 

conversion analytics tool

Mixpanel excels at creating custom funnels and reports, enabling you to analyze the entire conversion journey and identify bottlenecks. By understanding user behavior, you can identify areas for improvement and optimize your product or website to drive engagement and conversions. Other than that the platform offers clear visualizations and insightful reports, which allows you to make data-driven decisions to achieve your marketing goals.

However, keep in mind that setting up and configuring Mixpanel can require some technical knowledge, especially for complex tracking needs. 

Pricing starts from $20 / month

6. Kissmetrics

Another user behavior analytics platform with a focus on customer journey analysis, Kissmetrics helps you understand the “why” behind user actions. By analyzing user behavior patterns, you can identify drop-off points to personalize the experience and improve conversion rates. 

conversion analytics tool

However, there are some drawbacks to using kissmetrics as well. Take for example the platform lacks a free tier and has a starting price point that might be steep for small businesses or startups.

Besides that when compared to some competitors, the conversion tracking platform platform might have fewer out-of-the-box integrations with other platforms. This might require additional development work for certain setups. 

Pricing starts from $25.99 / month

7. Matomo

Matomo prioritizes privacy and data ownership. Unlike some analytics tools, it keeps your website visitor data on your own server, giving you complete control. You can customize what data is collected and avoid relying on third-party servers. 

Matomo analytics

However, this self-hosted approach requires some technical setup compared to hosted solutions. Additionally, the user interface might feel less intuitive for beginners, and some advanced features require paid plans. Despite these drawbacks, Matomo’s focus on privacy and data security makes it a strong choice for businesses prioritizing user data control.

Pricing starts from 22EUR / month

8. ContentStudio

ContentStudio-Scheduling

ContentStudio helps you manage your social media campaigns all in one place. This lets you see how different pieces of content are performing within a campaign, which can help you identify what types of content are most effective at bringing in conversions.

social media analytics

Overall, this all-in-one content marketing platform offers built-in conversion tracking functionalities. For example, you might create a campaign to promote a new product launch. By tracking the performance of different social media posts within that campaign in CS you can see which posts are generating the most interest and conversions.

social analytics

Pricing starts at $25 /month

9. Sprinklr

Sprinklr

Sprinklr is a comprehensive social media management platform used by businesses worldwide. It offers tools for scheduling posts, engaging with audiences, and analyzing performance across various social media channels. Its advanced analytics provide valuable insights into audience behavior and campaign effectiveness, conversion tracking helping brands make data-driven decisions.

Pricing starts at $249 per seat / month

Best conversion tracking tool

Our top pick as the best conversion tracking tool is a high-end analytics tool known as Usermaven.

Brands can gain a deeper understanding of user behavior throughout the conversion funnel by utilizing Usermaven. 

Key features of Usermaven

  • UTM campaign and event tracking
  • User journey insights
  • Advanced segmentation
  • AI assistant
  • Pixel white-label
  • Session recording 
  • Actionable insights
  • Activity heatmaps 
  • Data retention
  • Funnel analysis

While if you require a tool that can do more than analytics then Replug should be your first choice.

Book a demo

Schedule a meeting to see how Usermaven can help you grow product-led.

Key features of Replug

  • Link analytics 
  • Retargeting pixels 
  • A/B testing
  • Custom CTA
  • Trackable shortened links
  • Deep links 
  • Bio links

Book a demo

Kindly choose a slot that suits your schedule from the available options below.

Top tips for effective conversion tracking

Link Management Made Easy

Your go to link management tool for CTAs, branded and bio links, QR Codes, tracking and retargeting.

Get Started for FREE!
link management made easy
  • Define clear conversion goals: What actions do you want users to take on your website or app? Be specific and measurable.
  • Set up conversion tracking correctly: Ensure your tracking code is implemented accurately to capture all conversion data.
  • Track multiple conversion points: Don’t just focus on sales; track other valuable actions like sign-ups, downloads, or video views.
  • Segment your data: Analyze your conversion data by different segments (e.g., traffic source, device type) to gain deeper insights.
  • Regularly review and optimize: Monitor your conversion data and make adjustments to your marketing campaigns and website based on your findings.

As we wrap up, it’s clear that conversion tracking isn’t just a trend—it’s a necessity for businesses aiming to thrive in the digital age. By utilizing the right tools and following smart tips, businesses can gain valuable insights, optimize their marketing efforts, and ultimately drive more revenue.

FAQs about conversion tracking

Why do I need conversion tracking?

Conversion tracking shows how well your marketing efforts drive sales or desired actions (sign-ups, downloads). Optimize campaigns to get more results for your investment.

How do you track customer conversion?

Use website tags, and UTM codes, or track specific actions like purchases or form submissions to see how customers convert.

What is the goal of conversion tracking?

To understand which channels (social media, email) bring in the most valuable customers by tracking conversions.

What is conversion rate tracking?

Conversion rate tracking calculates the percentage of visitors who take a desired action (e.g., buy something).

What is conversion tracking protocol?

Conversion tracking protocols ensure consistent and accurate data collection across different platforms.

How do you keep track of the conversion rate?

Divide the number of conversions by total visitors and multiply by 100% to find your conversion rate.

What is the recommended way to track conversions?

Use conversion tracking tools like Replug for simplified setup, tracking, and analysis of your conversion data.

What is the difference between a micro conversion and a macro conversion?

Micro: Smaller actions like adding items to a cart.

Macro: Bigger goals like completing a purchase or signing up for a service.

Are tracking pixels illegal?

Tracking pixels is not illegal, but respecting user privacy and getting consent for data collection is crucial.

Who uses pixel tracking?

Marketers or product owners use pixel tracking to understand ad performance and website visitor behavior.

What is the difference between tracking pixels and cookies?

Pixel: Tiny image that sends data when loaded, works even with cookie blocking.

Cookie: Small data file stored on the user’s device, privacy concerns exist.

Manahil
Meet Manahil – A B2B & B2C writer with 4 + years of experience, known for turning insights into impactful content. Her words engage, inform, and drive real results.

What is a Tracking Pixel and How Does it Work?

Arslan Jadoon
6 minutes

Hey there, tech enthusiasts! Ever wondered what a tracking pixel is, and how it actually works? Well, get ready to have your mind blown!

Picture this: you’re browsing the web, scrolling through your favorite online store, when suddenly, an ad pops up showcasing the exact pair of sneakers you were eyeing just moments ago. How did they know? Well, my friend, the answer lies in the tiny but mighty tracking pixel.

They’re tiny, invisible images or codes that websites use to track your every move, collecting data on what you click, view, and even buy. Sounds a bit sneaky, right? But fear not, we’re here to unveil the secrets behind this digital wizardry. 

Let’s explore the captivating world of tracking pixels and discover the hidden forces shaping your digital life!

What is a tracking pixel?

A tracking pixel is a small piece of code or an image embedded in a website or email. It serves as a hidden observer, allowing businesses to track user behavior and interactions. When a webpage or email containing a tracking pixel is accessed, the pixel is loaded, and it starts collecting data on actions such as page visits, clicks, or purchases. This information provides valuable insights into consumer interactions with advertising and marketing efforts.  

In simple terms, a tracking pixel is a behind-the-scenes mechanism that helps gather data about how users engage with online content.

what-is-a-tracking-pixel

Also read: Ultimate Guide: Create Tracking Links for Success

Here are some types of tracking pixels:

There are several types of tracking pixels commonly used in digital marketing. Here are a few of them:

Conversion Pixels: 

Conversion pixels track specific actions or events that indicate a conversion or desired outcome, such as making a purchase, filling out a form, or completing a registration. They provide valuable data about the effectiveness of advertising campaigns and help measure return on investment (ROI).

Impression Pixels: 

Impression pixels track the number of times an ad is displayed or “impressed” on a user’s screen. They help measure the reach and visibility of an ad campaign by providing data on how many times an ad was viewed, regardless of whether the user took any further action.

Retargeting Pixels: 

Retargeting pixels are used to track and target users who have previously visited a website or interacted with specific content. They allow advertisers to display tailored ads to these users as they continue to browse the internet, reminding them of products or services they have shown interest in before.

Also read: Google Retargeting: The Ultimate Guide For 2023

Click Tracking Pixels: 

Click tracking pixels monitor and record the number of clicks on a particular link, URL, or advertisement. They provide insights into user engagement and help determine the effectiveness of different marketing channels or campaigns.

Each type of tracking pixel serves a specific purpose in capturing and analyzing user interactions, enabling marketers to optimize their strategies and deliver more relevant content to their target audience.

Also read: 60 Best Call To Action Phrases To Increase Click-Through Rates

How does a tracking pixel work?

Tracking pixels work by leveraging a few simple steps to gather information about user behavior. Here’s an overview of how they operate:

1. Integration: 

A tracking pixel is added to a website’s HTML code or included in an email. It can be a small piece of JavaScript code or an image tag that is virtually invisible to the user.

2. Loading: 

When a user visits a webpage or opens an email containing the tracking pixel, their web browser retrieves and loads the pixel along with the rest of the content.

3. Activation: 

Once the tracking pixel is loaded, it initiates a request to the server or a third-party tracking system, usually through a unique URL. This request notifies the server that the pixel has been accessed.

4. Data Collection: 

As the pixel is activated, it can gather various details about the user’s activity, such as the pages visited, specific actions taken, or items viewed. This data is typically sent back to the server or tracking system for analysis.

5. Analysis and Utilization: 

The collected data is then processed, analyzed, and utilized by the website owner, advertiser, or marketer. They can gain insights into user behavior patterns, measure the effectiveness of campaigns, and make informed decisions based on the gathered information.

It’s important to note that tracking pixels often work in conjunction with cookies, which are small text files stored on the user’s device. Cookies help identify and track unique users across multiple visits or sessions, enhancing the accuracy of the collected data.

Also read: How To Utilize Replug for Facebook Retargeting Ads?

Did you know?

With Replug’s link tracking and analytics features, you can accurately measure the effectiveness of your marketing campaigns, gain deeper insights into audience preferences, and make data-driven decisions to optimize your strategies.

By combining Replug’s capabilities with tracking pixels, you can enhance your understanding of user behavior and achieve better results in your marketing endeavors.

Pixel, cookie, and tag: What’s the difference?

While there are similarities between pixels, cookies, and tags, they serve different functions in the realm of tracking and capturing user information. Here’s a breakdown of their key differences:

Pixel: 

A pixel is a snippet of code or an image embedded in a website or email. It allows tracking of user behavior and actions, such as page visits, clicks, or conversions. Pixels are used to collect data and provide insights into user engagement. They do not rely on an individual’s browser and are not easily disabled by users.

Also read: Getting Started with Meta Pixel: The Key to Successful Retargeting

Cookie: 

A cookie is a small text file stored on a user’s device (typically within their browser) when they visit a website. Cookies enable websites to remember user preferences, track activity across multiple sessions, and provide personalized experiences. Unlike pixels, users can control or disable cookies in their browser settings.

Tag: 

A tag is a broader term that can refer to various elements on a webpage or within a website. It encompasses different tracking codes, including pixels. Tags are typically used to describe keywords or attributes associated with elements on a page, aiding in tracking and organizing data.

Also read: What is a Tracking URL and How Does it Work?

Final words:

In a nutshell, a tracking pixel is a discreet code snippet or image used to track user behavior on websites or emails. It empowers marketers with valuable data to optimize campaigns and make informed decisions. By harnessing the power of tracking pixels, businesses can gain insights into their audience and enhance their marketing strategies.

FAQs

Why are tracking pixels important in digital marketing?

Tracking pixels provide valuable data on user behavior, allowing marketers to measure and optimize their campaigns. They help in understanding audience interactions, tracking conversions, and making data-driven decisions to enhance marketing strategies.

How can tracking pixels help optimize marketing campaigns?

Tracking pixels provide insights into user engagement, click-through rates, and conversions. This data helps marketers identify successful strategies, target specific audiences, personalize content, and refine campaigns for better performance and results.

What are the different types of tracking pixels and their uses?

There are various types of tracking pixels, including conversion pixels, impression pixels, retargeting pixels, and click-tracking pixels. Conversion pixels track user actions after interacting with ads, impression pixels measure ad visibility, retargeting pixels track previous visitors, and click tracking pixels monitor the number of clicks on URLs or ads.

How do I implement tracking pixels on my website or in emails?

To implement tracking pixels, you need to insert the pixel code provided by your advertising platform into the HTML code of your website or email template. This code will be triggered when users visit the site or open the email, allowing the pixel to collect data.

Are tracking pixels compliant with user privacy regulations?

Adherence to user privacy regulations is crucial when using tracking pixels. It is important to ensure proper disclosure and obtain user consent when collecting and using personal data. Following privacy guidelines, such as providing opt-out options, is essential to maintain compliance.

What are the benefits of using tracking pixels for audience targeting?

Tracking pixels enable precise audience targeting by collecting data on user behavior and interests. This data can be used to segment audiences, deliver personalized content, and create more effective marketing campaigns that resonate with specific user groups.

How can I measure the effectiveness of my ads using tracking pixels?

Tracking pixels provide valuable metrics for measuring ad effectiveness. They can track clicks, conversions, and other key performance indicators, allowing you to assess the success of your ads, identify areas for improvement, and optimize your marketing efforts accordingly.

Can I use tracking pixels to track conversions and sales?

Yes, tracking pixels are widely used to track conversions and sales. By implementing conversion pixels, you can monitor actions such as purchases, form submissions, or other desired outcomes. This data helps evaluate the effectiveness of your marketing campaigns and optimize for better conversions

You may also like:

How To Optimize Your Retargeting Efforts To Win Back Online Customers

A Comprehensive Guide to Generate Leads With Social Media

What is RSS Feed and Why Should I Create One?

How LinkedIn Retargeting Ads Work – A Complete Guide

Arslan Jadoon
Arslan is a SaaS content marketer who crafts clear, engaging content that drives results. He simplifies complex ideas into easily understandable blog posts, landing pages, and emails, helping SaaS companies connect with their audience and grow.

What Are Tracking Pixels & How Do They Work?

Hassaan Khan
9 minutes

What is a tracking pixel?

A tracking pixel is a pixel tag or code snippet that triggers the tracking system when a visitor lands on a website page after clicking on a specific link or CTA.

A tracking pixel works by placing it on a website or in an email and tracking the data that helps the marketer or advertiser analyze and track the campaign performances.

Have you ever noticed how quickly you land on a “thank you” page when you finish the checkout process on an e-commerce site?

Do you know that the largest websites, such as e-commerce platforms, social media platforms, and web portals, track their website visitors?

Websites and apps track their users because it helps them navigate in the right direction or understand what they need to accomplish.

In some cases, a tiny image file is added to the website or app, which usually goes unnoticed by the naked eye. While in some instances, a tracking pixel could also be a piece of code that goes into the website page URL and helps marketers track performance through clickability.

Adding a tracking pixel on any web or app property is to collect user data to understand their behaviors, actions, and choices.

Furthermore, it is used to track the activity of users on a website or email campaign to determine the success of the campaign.

Let’s do this. Shall we?

Why do you need tracking pixels?

 

TrackingPixel_Info-
Source: https://blog.shareasale.com/2016/01/25/tracking-pixels-101/

Tracking performance is the essence of any marketing campaign, as it helps marketers understand how their marketing efforts will pan out.

Here are four areas where tracking pixels comes in handy:

i. Analyzing website traffic: Tracking pixels can gather data on how users interact with a website. This can help website owners understand which pages are most popular, how users navigate through the site, and where they are coming from.

ii. Measuring the effectiveness of online advertising: Tracking pixels can measure the success of online advertising campaigns by tracking how many users click on an advertisement and then go on to make a purchase or complete some other desired action.

iii. Targeting users with relevant advertisements: Tracking pixels can be used to track user behavior and interests, which can be used to show targeted advertisements to users that are more likely to be interested in them.

iv, Email marketing campaign: Tracking pixels can be used to track the success of email marketing campaigns by measuring how many users open the email and click on links within it.

No doubt, tracking pixels are important for businesses and marketers, as they allow them to gather data on how users interact with their websites and emails regardless of the platform.

Moreover, it enables marketers and advertisers to use this information to improve their marketing efforts and relaunch their advertising campaigns more effectively.

What are the different types of tracking pixels?

There are two main types of tracking pixels used in digital marketing:

Conversion Pixels

Conversion pixels play a vital role in tracking conversions on websites and apps. For example, you may have seen “thank you” or “also check these” pages while buying products online. Such pages trigger or direct visitors to specific pages when they notice a conversion. And conversion pixels help perform this action.

Now a product sale isn’t the only conversion. In fact, a generated lead or downloaded file is also a conversion. It depends on the campaign type and what the marketer or advertiser wants from the audience.

Retargeting Pixels

retargeting-pixel

One of the most popular tracking pixels is the retargeting pixels. It’s used in retargeting campaigns in the digital marketing field. Retargeting is a marketing strategy of targeting the audience that has visited their website or landing page to convert visitors into subscribers or paid users.

Retargeting is usually done through paid advertising. However, the targeting process begins earlier by adding a tracking parameter to the URL or the website code. Hence, the retargeting pixel collects visitor data and helps marketers reach the same audience through paid ads.

How does tracking pixels work?

Tracking pixels are used to track the users’ online behavior, such as the pages they visit, the links they click on, and the products they purchase.

A tracking pixel is a piece of code that embeds into the website code or URL to track the performance of the page or link.

In some cases, tracking pixels are tiny, transparent images placed on web pages or emails to track user behavior.

Advertisers often use tracking pixels to track the effectiveness of their online advertising campaigns. They can also be used by website owners to track the traffic to their sites and to understand the demographics of their users.

The way tracking pixels works is that they are often placed in the HTML code of a web page or in the body of an email. They can be implemented using JavaScript or iFrame.

Example: Suppose a user visits a website or opens an email that contains a tracking pixel; the pixel sends a request to the server that hosts the pixel.

This request includes information about the user’s browser, such as the user’s IP address, the type of device they are using, and the type of browser they are using.

The server then records this information and stores it in a database. This information can be used by the webmaster or by the sender of the email to analyze the user’s behavior and tailor their marketing efforts.

How to Set Up a Tracking Pixel Using Replug?

Replug is a powerful URL shortener tool that allows brands and marketers to create short, branded URLs for marketing such as for social media, email marketing, and online advertising.

Since Replug is a URL shortener that offers UTM embedding, URL tracking, branded URLs, deep links, and other services, it opens up the opportunity to retarget the audience.

As Replug records data of the users’ behavior on the short links, it makes it possible for marketers and brands to retarget those people through different advertising channels.

Replug plays an anchor role in setting up a retargeting campaign for brands and advertisers using pixel tracking.

Here’s how you can set up tracking pixels using Replug:

Step #1: Create a Replug account

log-in-to-your-account

To get started with Replug, you must first create a Replug account. Then, you just need to visit the Replug website and sign-up for a free trial account to start the process.

Once you’ve created your Replug account, log in to your account to explore the features this URL-shortening tool has to offer.

After the successful login to your Replug account, you’ll see the Replug dashboard, where the process begins.

Pay close attention to all the steps for setting up a tracking pixel using Replug before jumping the gun. And more importantly, don’t create a short link right after landing on the dashboard area because you’d have missed out on a few steps.

Step: #2: Setup your brand in the Replug account

All the steps are crucial to setting up the retargeting pixel using Replug. Now select the appropriate brand or create a new one, just in case.

Creating a brand on Replug would only take a few seconds. It’s highly unlikely that most readers have already set up their brands on Replug since most would be new users.

To create a brand:

Create a Brand

  1. Go to the “Manage” page from the dashboard header menu and click “Brands.”
  2. Option.”
  3. Click on the “Add Brand” button to get started with creating a brand.

Once it’s done, click the “next” button to proceed.

Step #3: Make a new campaign

The next up is creating a new Replug campaign in line with your retargeting campaign. But first, ensure you’ve set up the brand on Replug properly.

click campaign

Now go to the “Manage” drop-down from the top menu and click on the “Campaigns” button, and then select “New Campaign” to get started.

new campaign

At this point, you’d have to select an already existing brand or create a new brand. Since you have just created a new brand, continue with the created brand in the Replug account.

Step #4: Select retargeting as the campaign type

select-campaign-type

It’s one of the most important steps in the retargeting campaign because it sets the direction of the campaign. This is the part where you name your campaign and choose its type.

Provide a name for your campaign and select the custom domain if required in the campaign. Otherwise, you can skip the custom domain section.

However, make sure that you check the retargeting pixel option before moving on to the next step. Once you choose the retargeting pixel, it becomes crystal clear to the Replug platform that it’s a retargeting campaign.
Also read: Retargeting Ad Examples That Convert & Drive Growth

Step #5: Add your retargeting code

Everything seems quite easy until this point, and I’ll ensure the last step goes as smoothly as possible.

Now, this is the part where you select the social media platform to run your retargeting ad campaign.

add-retargeting-pixel

The way it works is that marketers choose the social media platform, give the pixel a name, and finally enter the pixel ID from the respective social media platform such as Facebook pixel id.

Once everything is done, you’re all set to launch your retargeting campaign using Replug.

Also read: How to find my Twitter Pixel ID?

What are the key differences between a pixel and cookie?

A pixel is a small piece of code placed on a website or in an email. It is often used to track a user’s activity on the website or email and to send this information back to the company or organization that placed the pixel.

Pixels are typically used to track website visitors and to understand how they interact with the website.

A cookie is a tiny chunk of data that is stored on the visitor’s computer by a website. It is used to remember certain information about the user, such as their preferences or login information. In addition, cookies are often used to personalize the user experience and to track a user’s activity on a website.

There are some key differences between pixels and cookies:

Purpose/Goal: Pixels are primarily used for tracking and analytics, while cookies are used for personalization and tracking.

Placement: Pixels are placed on websites or in emails, while cookies are stored on a user’s computer.

Size: Pixels are typically very small (a few hundred bytes), while cookies can be larger (up to 4KB).

Duration: Pixels are usually short-lived and expire after a certain period. At the same time, cookies can persist for extended periods, depending on how they are configured.

Privacy: Pixels can be used to track users across different websites and devices, which has raised privacy concerns. Cookies are generally less controversial, but they can also be used to track users and their activity.

Also read: How To Utilize Replug for Facebook Retargeting Ads?

FAQs about tracking pixels

Is tracking pixel legal?

Tracking pixels are legal as long as they comply with relevant laws and regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union. Therefore, once the users comply with all the legal requirements, there shouldn’t be any problem regarding using tracking pixels.

Is a tracking pixel a cookie?

A tracking pixel is a small, transparent image file that is placed on a website or in an email. It is often used for tracking and analysis purposes. A tracking pixel is not the same as a cookie, a small piece of data stored on a user’s device and used for tracking and personalization targeting.

Does pixel track steps?

A tracking pixel does not track steps, but it can be used to track a user’s actions on a website or in an email. For example, a tracking pixel can be used to track how many people opened an email or clicked on a link.

Is tracking pixel free?

Tracking pixels may or may not be free to use. Some tracking pixels are provided by third-party vendors and may require a subscription or fee to use. However, social media platforms provide pixels for retargeting purposes that are free to use for advertisers.

How to block tracking pixels?

You can use a browser extension that blocks tracking systems set by websites to block tracking pixels. Furthermore, you can also adjust your browser settings to block or limit the use of cookies.

Will users know if I’m using a tracking pixel?

In most cases, users will not know if a tracking pixel is being used on a website or in an email. This is because tracking pixels are typically small and transparent, and they do not interact with the user in any way. However, as described above, users can use tools to detect and block tracking pixels.

Hassaan Khan
Hassaan Khan is a freelance writer for SAAS companies, e-commerce stores, and niche websites. He has contributed to SEMrush, ThriveGlobal, BloggingCage, AllBloggingTips, and several other publications. He builds niche websites, publishes e-books, and helps website investors with his done-for-you niche site-building service.

Campaign Tracking: Data-Driven Tools for Marketers

Hassaan Khan
9 minutes

What is campaign tracking?

Campaign tracking is a process of monitoring the performance of the URLs with tracking parameters for marketing campaigns. Marketers use campaign tracking as a tool to evaluate the success of their efforts. It comprises gathering data from several sources, such as website analytics, email campaigns, and social media posts. And then analyzing it to assess the campaign’s effectiveness.

Digital marketers and SEO experts track campaigns to analyze the quality of the marketing channels, traffic sources, and content strategies.

Conversion optimization is a vast area to manage and campaign tracking is an important part of it. To track marketing campaigns, most marketers use URL shortening tools with URL tracking and analytics features.

Why should a company set up campaign tracking?

Campaign tracking is a vital analytics tool. It allows marketers to see which campaigns are performing well and which ones need improvement. Without campaign tracking, it would be difficult to know which marketing strategies are working and which ones are not. There are several aspects of campaign tracking to consider when tracking URLs that an average Joe doesn’t come across every day. Campaign tracking is a URL tracking system to analyze marketing efforts by keeping an eye on the website traffic through specific URLs. Here are the reasons why a company should set up campaign tracking:

  • To track the clickability and conversion rate of a marketing campaign. When brands and marketers run ad campaigns, they usually add a UTM parameter to the call-to-action button to track clickability and conversion from the specific campaign.
  • To measure the effectiveness of the channel, meaning campaign tracking comes in handy when the user wants to analyze the performance of a traffic medium, for instance, a banner ad on a popular blog.
  • To A/B split test two marketing channels. A/B Testing is crucial to finding the best solution in digital marketing. Therefore, marketers compare different tactics to see what works best for them.
  • To assess the ROI of the marketing campaign, it’s vital to have campaign tracking. It gives brands a deep dive into the quality of the traffic sources.

Also read: Boost your Advertising ROI using Post Click Optimization

What are campaign parameters?

Campaign parameters are URL slugs that add to the website page URL to track, identify, and analyze the traffic sources and campaign performance.

A lot of brands start advertising and promotions during the holiday season. Most of these brands use campaign tracking to see where most buyers are coming from during the campaign.

These campaign parameters help them figure out:

  • The impact of the marketing campaign
  • What are the number of visitors that the campaign brought?
  • How engaged those visitors were?
  • How many visitors converted into paying customers?

Why are campaign tracking parameters important?

Most first-timers wonder why campaign parameters are important when they’re setting up a retargeting campaign or an ad campaign on social media.

The answer is that campaign parameters provide marketers with crucial campaign information that helps them make important decisions going forward.

Brands usually track their CTAs on the landing pages or short URLs shared on social media to see what’s working for them.

Here are four reasons why campaign tracking is important in digital marketing:

  • Help track campaign results – whether it’s a social media post that contains a short URL with a slug or an online ad, campaign parameters are included to track campaign results.
  • Separate multiple campaigns and make them identifiable. Otherwise, it won’t be possible to differentiate multiple campaigns in a dashboard.
  • Gather clicks and conversion data, which is crucial to the campaign analysis. It’s impossible to figure out whether or not the campaign was successful if there are clicks and conversion data available.
  • Make performance reporting possible for brands and marketers. A lot of experts use URL shorteners to generate short URLs for social media to ensure that performance reporting becomes possible. Replug is a powerful URL-shortening tool for creating, managing, and tracking vanity URLs for social media, online advertising, and email newsletters.

Also read: How to add UTM code to the URL using a link shortener?

Set up campaign tracking URLs with Replug

Replug is an all-in-one link management tool for marketers, social media experts, influencers, and bloggers. It helps users with URL shortening, branded short links, UTM tracking, bio links, retargeting, and lead generation. You can track various campaigns using it, i.e. :

  • URL campaign tracking
  • UTM tracking
  • CTA campaign tracking
  • Retargeting pixel campaign tracking

Here’s how you can create a tracking URL with Replug:

Step #1: Log in to your Replug account

Sign-in-ReplugGo to the Replug website and log in to your account. If you haven’t created your Replug account, sign-up for a free trial account and see how this tool works.

Step #2: Create a brand and campaign

After logging in to your Replug account, you’ll need to create a brand and then also create a campaign for tracking.

Step #3: Create a short branded URL 
Shortener-campaignPaste the URL, you want to shorten afterward and click on the create button.

edit urlA new window will open where you can edit your URL slug and save the link.

Step #4: Track URL performance in Replug Analytics

Real-time AnalyticsCreating a short URL is incomplete with tracking it. Replug allows users to generate and track short URLs.To track your short URLs, go to the Measure section from your Replug dashboard and click on the Analytics option.

detailed-viewSelect the Replug links and click on the appropriate campaign to find your link analytics. Or you can also click on detail analytics to get a detailed view. For a detailed overview, you need to select the brand, campaign and replug link.
Detail view highlights click and conversion performance. Furthermore, it shows visitors by country, operating systems, browsers and source.
You won’t see the metrics such as clicks, conversion, and conversion rate right away since the link is brand new.

Campaign tracking in Usermaven

Usermaven-homepage-Marketing campaigns are only beneficial when they are producing the results you aimed for. With Usermaven’s campaign tracking, you can stop guessing your campaigns’ performance and start analyzing it through data to increase ROI. All you have to do is use UTM tags to analyze which source, content or campaign is producing results and then tweak your marketing campaigns to increase conversion and reach your business goals.
Here’s a preview UTM traffic in Usermaven
utm tracking

What are Google UTM campaign tracking parameters?

Google has provided advertisers and publishers with loads of information on running ads and monetizing websites.

As far as campaign tracking is concerned, Google recommends a tool called Google Analytics Campaign URL Builder. You can also check out Google’s support thread on this topic.

The benefit of using this tool is that users can add campaign parameters to URLs and measure custom campaigns in Google Analytics.

The following are the parameters to be entered to generate a campaign tracking URL:

    • UTM-InformationWebsite URL: The website or page URL that needs to be tracked. Provide the full URL address including HTTPS.
    • Campaign ID: This is where the ad campaign ID goes. Most ad networks provide advertisers with campaign IDs to track or identify certain campaigns.
    • Campaign source: Enter the referral platform, such as a Facebook ad or newsletter.
    • Campaign medium: Provide the campaign medium, meaning what the marketing medium is for the campaign, for instance, direct ad, sponsored email, or PPC ads.
    • Campaign name: Give your campaign a name for identification purposes, for instance, holiday-sales or Christmas-offer, etc.
    • Campaign term: Mostly used for paid search.
    • Campaign content: It’s used for A/B testing and content-targeted ads.

Let’s look at the steps involved in tracking a custom campaign through Google Analytics.

How to track a custom campaign using the Campaign Builder tool?

Go to the campaign URL builder
Search-for-Campaign-Builder
Access the Campaign URL builder to generate the campaign tracking URL. Make sure you have selected the web version instead of the play. Don’t panic if you haven’t done this before because it’s quite a simple process.

Opt for the GA4

Toggle from UA or GA4 using the button on the (left) sidebar. Don’t opt for UA (older Google Analytics edition) will no longer be available after July 2023.

Fill in the campaign builder form

Newyear-blog-campaignFill out the form. Go through the explanation of the parameters written in the previous sub-heading of this very article.

Grab the generated URL

Copy the generated codeWhen you fill up the form, the custom campaign tracking URL will be ready to use. You could also shorten the URL using the shortener button at the bottom.

Track via Google Analytics

The last step is to track the campaign URL in Google Analytics. Start with logging in to your Google Analytics account. Go to the Reports > Acquisition > Traffic Acquisition > Source/Medium.

A screen like this would appear:

Now you should look out for the campaign after selecting the session source/medium. The campaign source would be a referral, since the traffic would be clicking on your campaign URL and landing on the website.

How to view your URL campaigns in Google Analytics?

google-analytics4Creating any link or CTA is worthless if there is no tracking available to find out the number of clicks and the conversion.

No wonder all major URL shorteners or email marketing services have analytics sections for users to analyze the data.
Also read: Create a Perfect Call-To-Action (CTA) for Maximum Conversion

If you have been playing around with custom short URLs, then you must have thought about viewing the URL campaigns in Google Analytics at some point.

There is a possibility that some marketers have no idea how to capitalize on URL tracking. Therefore, it’s our duty to put some light on every aspect of short-link management and campaign tracking.

Here are the steps involved in retrieving the URL campaigns in Google Analytics to see how they’re doing:
Log in to your Google Analytics account

GA4First things first, log in to your Google Analytics account to get started with the viewing process. Make sure that you’re logging in to the correct Google Analytics account.

Go to the reports section

Once you’ve logged in, go to the reports section. It is the area where you see the site performance through reports. If you can’t find the reports option, hover your cursor on the left sidebar or click on the second option from the left – you’ll find the report button.

Open the acquisition area

Go to the Acquisition section from the reports area in the Google Analytics dashboard. It’s the section that provides users with all the information about how a site acquires visitors. The next step will further explain the process.

Access the traffic acquisition

After clicking on the Acquisition option, look out for the Traffic Acquisition option underneath the Acquisition option. It’s the third one under the Acquisition.

Select the campaign source

The source selection is crucial to the whole process. Click on the session drop-down menu right above the data table on the Traffic Acquisition page and choose source/medium.

Search the campaign URL

Provide the campaign URL in the search section right above the session drop-down menu. Once you paste the campaign URL, hit enter and let Google Analytics process your request. It’ll only take a couple of seconds to retrieve the data.

This is how you can view campaign URLs in your Google Analytics account.

Also Read: UTM Tracking Through Replug

Let’s conclude: URL campaign tracking summary

This article is written around the importance of campaign tracking, which is essential in digital marketing.

If you haven’t had a chance to learn about campaign tracking, then here’s a quick recap for you: it’s a process of analyzing the performance of the URLs using the tracking parameters that are added to the URLs.

UTM tracking system plays a vital role in tracking URL performance. Replug is a URL shortener and my go-to tool for link tracking along with generating short URLs.

Furthermore, this article goes deep into converting website or blog post URLs into traceable URLs using Campaign URL builder. Plus, I also covered how you can track those campaign URLs using Google Analytics.

Moreover, I cracked open how you can utilize Replug to create tracking URLs for your marketing campaigns. The step-by-step process of creating tracking URLs using Replug would help many readers, especially the beginners.

Digital marketers, social media experts, and content marketers rely heavily on organic traffic, email marketing, and social media marketing.

Therefore, it is essential for them to track campaigns to figure out what is working for them.

Campaign tracking could be a game-changer for gurus and experts trying to understand which medium is getting the most attention. That is why campaign tracking is crucial to the conversion optimization process.

FAQs

How do you track campaign performance?

Tracking campaign performance involves monitoring and analyzing the key performance indicators (KPIs) that are relevant to the specific campaign goals.

What are campaign tracking codes?/h3>

Campaign tracking codes, also known as UTM parameters or tags, are snippets of code that you add to the end of a URL to help you track the performance of a specific marketing campaign. These codes can provide you with information about where your traffic is coming from, which campaigns are driving the most clicks or conversions,

What is UTM campaign term?

UTM (Urchin Tracking Module) campaign term is one of the parameters used in UTM tracking codes to identify the specific keywords or terms associated with a marketing campaign.

Hassaan Khan
Hassaan Khan is a freelance writer for SAAS companies, e-commerce stores, and niche websites. He has contributed to SEMrush, ThriveGlobal, BloggingCage, AllBloggingTips, and several other publications. He builds niche websites, publishes e-books, and helps website investors with his done-for-you niche site-building service.

How to add UTM parameters?

Arslan Jadoon
6 minutes

UTM (Urchin Tracking Module) parameters are tags that you can add to the end of a URL to track the effectiveness of your marketing campaigns. When someone clicks on a link with UTM parameters, they are sent back to Google Analytics, allowing you to see how many people clicked on the link and where they came from.

Several common UTM parameters are used to track marketing campaigns in Google Analytics:

utm_source: This parameter specifies the source of the traffic, such as “google,” “Facebook,” or “newsletter.” 

utm_medium: This parameter specifies the medium through which the traffic was acquired, such as “CPC,” “banner,” or “email.”

utm_campaign: This parameter specifies the specific campaign that the traffic is associated with, such as “spring_sale” or “new_product_launch.”

utm_content: This parameter is used to differentiate between different versions of an ad or link, such as “banner_a” and “banner_b.”

utm_term: This parameter tracks the keywords used in paid search campaigns.

How to add UTM parameters using Replug?

There are two simple methods to add UTM parameters in Replug:

  1. Add UTMs while creating a CTA campaign
  2. Add UTMs while creating a Link  

We’ll discuss each method individually.

Method 1:

Add UTM parameters while creating a CTA campaign:

Follow these simple steps to create a UTM through Replug CTA campaign:

Step 1: Create an account or sign in to Replug to access the main dashboard and select campaigns under the manage section. 

Replug campaign

Step 2: In the campaigns section, click create a new campaign. 

new campaign

Step 3: To create a new campaign, you must select a brand first. You may choose an existing brand or create a new one if necessary.

select brand

Step 4: Click the next button once you’ve selected or created a brand. 

brand and next

Step 5: You will now see a page for choosing a campaign type. Choose a name for your call-to-action campaign here. 

campaign name

Step 6: Select the call to action option from the campaign type page and click the next button.

select CTA

Increase your CTR with a Branded Link Now!

Replug Branded CTA

Step 8: Next, select your CTA type; here, we’ve selected a Link CTA.

select link CTA

Step 7: After selecting the CTA type, you need to select the theme for your CTA. 

Your CTA’s appearance depends on your CTA’s purpose. As for this case, we have chosen a Social (classic) CTA theme to appear after clicking the link.

Note: Read more about the use cases for different theme types to understand which CTA theme is perfect for you.

CTA style

Step 8: Enter your URL, upload an image for the CTA, and click Next.

image and url

Step 9: You are now in the CTA message section. 

Write your headline, message, and CTA button text

CTA message

Step 10: Enter the URL of your CTA  in the last block, and this is the stage where you add UTM parameters to your link. Click add UTM to add UTM parameters. 

url and utm

Step 11: Now, the UTM section will open, where you can select from saved UTM parameters or create a new UTM preset. 

Select saved or create new UTM

Step 12: Click create a new UTM preset and fill in the sections you intended to cover in your CTA campaign. 

Once finished filling in, click apply and move to the next step.

Select saved or create new UTM

Step 13: As you can see, your URL now contains UTM parameters, so click next and finish setting up your CTA campaign.

url and utm

You can now share the link, examine who clicked on your link, and more!

Let’s move towards method 2 of creating UTM with Replug.

Method 2:

Add UTMs while creating a Link:

Here’s how to add UTM parameters with Replug links.

Step 1: Sign in to Replug to access the main dashboard and select Replug links under the manage section. 

Replug link

Step 2: Click create new link in the Replug links section.

new link

Step 3:  To create a new link, you’ll need to select a campaign. 

Note: Create a new campaign if you haven’t done so already. 

select campaign

Step 4: Enter the link to which you wish to add UTM parameters.

enter url

Step 5: Now click add UTM to add UTM parameters to your link.

add utm

Step 6: Click select from the saved UTM parameter or create a new UTM preset. 

select or create utm

Step 7: Fill in the UTM parameters you want to track and click Apply. 

fill in and apply

Step 8: You will see UTM parameters at the end of your link; check them and click save.

check added utms and save link

Step 9: Your link will automatically shorten. Edit your link, copy it, and share it directly on given platforms or download your link as a QR code.

copy, share, edit, QR

Your link with UTM parameters is ready to share and track engagements and clicks.

FAQs

How do I add custom UTM parameters for google analytics in the campaign UTM builder?

To add custom UTM parameters using the Google Analytics campaign URL builder, you can follow these steps:

  1. Go to the Google Analytics campaign URL builder page: https://ga-dev-tools.web.app/ga4/campaign-url-builder/
  2. Enter the URL of the page you want to link to in the “Website URL” field.
  3. In the “Campaign Source” field, enter the traffic source (e.g., Google, Facebook). This will be used to populate the utm_source parameter.
  4. In the “Campaign Medium” field, enter the medium of the traffic (e.g. CPC, banner). This will be used to populate the utm_medium parameter.
  5. In the “Campaign Name” field, enter a name for the campaign (e.g. summer_sale). This will be used to populate the utm_campaign parameter.
  6. Click the “Generate URL” button to generate the campaign URL with the UTM parameters included.

You can then use this URL in your marketing campaigns, and the traffic from these campaigns will be tracked in Google Analytics using the UTM parameters you specified.

Can you add a UTM code to a QR code?

Yes, it is possible to add a UTM code to a QR code. A UTM code is a set of parameters that can be added to a URL to track the source, medium, and other marketing campaign details. By adding a UTM code to a QR code, you can track the effectiveness of your marketing campaigns and understand how visitors are interacting with your website through the QR code.

To add a UTM code to a QR code, you will need to create a URL with the UTM parameters included and then generate a QR code using that URL. There are several online QR code generators that allow you to create a QR code by entering a URL, such as QR Code Monkey or QR Code Generator.

 

Arslan Jadoon
Arslan is a SaaS content marketer who crafts clear, engaging content that drives results. He simplifies complex ideas into easily understandable blog posts, landing pages, and emails, helping SaaS companies connect with their audience and grow.

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