I was creating and testing some UTM links and used two main tools, one to test the link format and one to help me test the analytics.

The analytics I’m interested in are Google Analytics and Plausible.io

Testing the UTM link

I found the utm-validator from Digiguru Analytics a useful first step.

https://www.digiguru.xyz/utm-validator

Paste in your UTM link and it points out the values from the utm params.

It also offers some recommendations based on your URL.

It has a section on general recommendations which help explain what utm parameters are in the first place and it has multiple ways to help you test the campaign:

• a link to click on which opens in a new tab and uses the UTM url you added
• a QR code so you can easily test it from a mobile device

A very simple page, but very useful.

Testing the Plausible Tracking

The next thing I had to do was get the URL registering in Plausible.io so I knew it was working.

Plausible only tracks UTM parameters when the visiting user starts a new session on the site. So if you have already visited your site and have a session active then you won’t see the UTM links appear in your realtime stats view.

I could close everything down and start again, instead I startup epic browser and use the build in VPN to connect to use the UTM url from different GEO regions.

Each VPN session comes from a different IP address and triggers a new Plausible.io session.

I find it useful to have Epic Browser installed specifically for the VPN extension because it allows me to do various GEO testing.

PS: Sometimes if I want screenshots of GEO Testing then I draw upon the free services of:

• https://geotargetly.com/geo-browse
• https://geopeeker.com/