Add custom link tracking parameters to journey text messages

You can add link tracking parameters to all links in journey text messages to help you better track performance and subscriber actions.

In addition to freeform text, you can also use variables like {{message.messageId}} as values in link tracking parameters.

Add link tracking parameters to a text message

Follow these steps to add link tracking parameters to a text message:

1. Create or edit a text message in a journey.
2. Add or edit a shortlink in a journey text message.
3. Click + Add a custom link parameter.
4. Enter a parameter Name and Value. For example, to add a parameter to track an email message for a holiday sale, enter event as its Name and holiday_sale as its Value.
   • In addition to static values, you can also add variables, like {{subscriber.email}}. Click { } to add a variable.
   • If Enable Google Analytics Link Tracking is turned on, a parameter named utm_campaign is automatically created for you. Click the checkbox to turn it on or off. If it’s turned on, be sure to add a value.
   • You can combine freeform text and multiple variables in a value. For example: holiday_sale_{{message.messageId}}_{{message.messageName}}
5. (Optional) Click + Add a custom link parameter to create additional parameters.
6. (Optional) Click the X next to a parameter to remove it.
7. Click Save.

Add variables to link tracking parameters

In addition to static values, you can also add variables to link tracking parameter values. This allows you to track performance of specific messages and by individual subscribers.

The following variables are supported:

For example, a text message is sent with the following link tracking parameters:

If the messageID is 1234567 and the subscriber’s email address is firstname@test.com, then the URL will look like this:

https://www.yoursite.com?utm_medium=sms&utm_source=attentive&event=holiday_sale&id=1234567&email=firstname@test.com

Add link tracking to different links in the same journey message

With custom link tracking at the message level, custom link tracking parameters and values are applied to all links in a message.

For example, if you send a campaign message with two links, and the global default utm_campaign value is spring_campaigns, that value is appended to both links.

If you want to differentiate between multiple links in the same message, you can manually add link tracking parameters and values to those links. Here’s how to manually add link tracking parameters to links in text messages:

• Click on the first link in the message composer.
• In the Link URL field at the top of the Edit short link window, type the parameter and value you want to use at the end of the URL, e.g.: ?utm_term=link1
• Click Update shortlink.
• Repeat steps 1–3 for additional links, using a new link tracking value for each link, e.g.: ?utm_term=link2.

And here’s how to manually add link tracking parameters to links in email messages:

• Open the email message in the email editor.
• Click on the first link in the email.
• Click the link icon.
• In the Url field in the Insert link window, type the parameter and value you want to use at the end of the URL, e.g.: ?utm_term=link1
• Click OK.

Repeat steps 2–5 for additional links, using a new link tracking value for each link, e.g.: ?utm_term=link2.