Landing Page URL Builder

Redirects + GA4

UTM parameters lost after redirect?

If your ad URL starts with clean UTMs but the final store page loses source, medium, campaign, or creative labels, debug the redirect path before changing every ad or GA4 setting.

Send one broken redirect Build a clean test URL
Campaign URL moving through redirect layers before GA4 Realtime checks

Visible clue

The first URL includes UTMs, but the final loaded page does not keep the query string in the address bar.

Likely layer

Short links, app links, locale redirects, trailing slash rules, landing-page builders, or store apps rebuild the URL.

Next proof

Make one static test URL survive every redirect before checking attribution, ecommerce events, or purchase reports.

Use one control URL

Start with a plain URL that should be easy to read after the redirect finishes. Do not add dynamic macros until this path works.

https://example.com/products/sample?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign=redirect_test&utm_content=control_click

Redirect QA steps

  1. Copy the exact URL from the ad platform, short-link tool, email tool, or landing-page builder.
  2. Open it in a clean browser and let every redirect finish.
  3. Check whether utm_source, utm_medium, utm_campaign, and utm_content remain in the final address bar.
  4. If they disappear, bypass one redirect layer at a time: short link, app link, locale redirect, landing-page builder, then store rule.
  5. After the final URL keeps UTMs, repeat one click while watching GA4 Realtime.
  6. Only then test dynamic platform macros, final URL suffixes, tracking templates, or checkout attribution.

Where UTMs usually disappear

Layer Symptom Check next
Short link UTMs exist before the short link but not on the final product page. Test the raw store URL without the shortener.
Locale or currency redirect The site moves from one country path or currency path and drops the query string. Check whether redirect rules preserve original query parameters.
Trailing slash or canonical rule The URL changes shape and removes everything after ?. Fix the redirect rule or use the canonical final path in the ad URL.
Landing-page builder A campaign page forwards to a product page without the original UTMs. Test the final product or collection URL directly.
GA4 tag UTMs survive the redirect, but GA4 still misses campaign values. Check tag firing, consent, duplicate tags, and the correct GA4 property.

What to send for a cleanup audit

The first pass does not need your ad account password, store admin login, GA4 login, cookies, screenshots with customer data, or customer records.

Original ad URL:
Final page after redirect:
Does the final address bar still contain UTMs:
What GA4 Realtime shows:
Store platform:
Short link, app link, locale redirect, or landing-page builder used:
Recent redirect, theme, consent, checkout, or app changes:

Redirect FAQ

Questions before changing every campaign URL

Why are UTM parameters lost after a redirect?

UTMs can be lost when a short link, app link, locale redirect, trailing slash rule, landing-page builder, checkout app, or server redirect rebuilds the URL without copying the original query string.

How do I test whether a redirect preserves UTMs?

Open one static campaign URL in a clean browser, let every redirect finish, and check whether source, medium, campaign, and content remain in the final address bar. Then check GA4 Realtime.

What should I send for a redirect and UTM cleanup audit?

Send the original ad URL, the final page after redirects, whether the final address bar keeps UTMs, what GA4 Realtime shows, your store platform, and any short link, locale, app, theme, consent, or checkout changes.

Send one redirect that drops UTMs

One real click path is enough to separate a redirect problem from a GA4 tag, consent, checkout, or ecommerce event problem.

Request $99 audit