Re: UTM codes and landing pages

Anonymous
Not applicable

UTM codes and landing pages

As I streamline our Marketo processes, I am creating listening programs and using a single landing page for each asset. I am building custom urls with UTM codes for each of my programs (multiple programs using one landing page). I see people are finding the custom urls I build for various programs via search and not going to the original landing page on our website. Please let me know how I can prevent the custom urls from being visible in search. Thanks!

8 REPLIES 8
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: UTM codes and landing pages

If you have the LP robot(txt) set to index, you cannot say only index some cases of this page. Why not create one indexed(for search) and one not(for your utm tracking)?

SanfordWhiteman
Level 10 - Community Moderator

Re: UTM codes and landing pages

You should add a <link rel=canonical> header pointing to the undecorated ("primary") URL.

That's how you ensure that query strings do not create unique search resources.

Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: UTM codes and landing pages

Hey Sanford, using canonical tag(the correct way to do it) wouldn't Sherin's existing pages with utm params still show in search? Or would they disappear as the page gets crawled? Or just lower in search results?

SanfordWhiteman
Level 10 - Community Moderator

Re: UTM codes and landing pages

Shouldn't appear in search results by themselves at all, but contribute to rank as appropriate. Although as you point out, completely removing the decorated URLs and only indexing the primary URL is another method.

Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: UTM codes and landing pages

Great. Thanks for your help! I appreciate it.

Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: UTM codes and landing pages

Would adding rel=canonical keep them from showing up as separate entries in Google Analytics also?

SanfordWhiteman
Level 10 - Community Moderator

Re: UTM codes and landing pages

You still have to set those query params as being unimportant (non-distinguishing) in Webmaster Tools.

Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: UTM codes and landing pages

Thanks!