Understanding How Vector Tracks Your Ad Campaigns

Last updated: September 15, 2026

Vector can identify which advertising campaigns are driving traffic to your website in two primary ways:

  1. UTM-based campaign detection

  2. Native ad integrations

These methods power campaign identification and reporting inside Vector.

This article explains how campaign tracking works, what Vector looks for, and what to check if a campaign isn't appearing as expected.

The Two Ways Vector Tracks Campaigns

Path 1: UTM-Based Detection

Vector can detect campaign traffic from your website URLs even without a native ad integration connected.

When someone clicks an ad and lands on your website, Vector looks for standard UTM parameters.

The primary parameters are:

  • utm_source – where the traffic came from
    Examples: google, linkedin, reddit, bing

  • utm_medium – how the traffic was delivered
    Examples: paid, ppc, cpc, display

  • utm_campaign – the campaign identifier or name
    Examples: spring_sale, brand_retargeting, finance_persona

When these parameters are present and use recognisable values, Vector can associate the visit with the appropriate campaign.

This allows campaign traffic from platforms without a native Vector integration to still appear in reporting.

Path 2: Native Ad Integrations

Vector can also pull campaign information directly from supported ad platforms.

For example, connecting Google Ads or LinkedIn Ads allows Vector to identify campaigns using data from the ad platform itself rather than relying entirely on UTM naming.

Native integrations can make campaign detection more reliable when:

  • Your team uses dynamic campaign naming

  • UTMs are generated through templates

  • Naming conventions vary between campaigns

  • You want platform-reported performance metrics inside Vector

Native integrations also allow Vector to combine website engagement with supported metrics from the ad platform.

Required UTM Parameters

For campaign detection based on website traffic, we recommend including:

utm_source
utm_medium
utm_campaign

For example:

https://example.com/demo?utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=paid&utm_campaign=enterprise_abm

In this example:

  • Source: LinkedIn

  • Medium: Paid

  • Campaign: Enterprise ABM

Consistent naming makes it easier for Vector to identify and organise your campaign traffic correctly.

Why UTMs Still Matter

Even when you have a native integration connected, UTMs remain useful.

They provide the connection between:

the campaign → the ad click → the website visit

If UTMs are missing, malformed, or removed before the landing page loads, Vector may have less information available when matching an individual website visit back to its campaign.

Common issues include:

  • Missing utm_campaign

  • Unrecognised utm_source

  • Unusual utm_medium values

  • Redirects stripping URL parameters

  • Tracking templates replacing or changing UTMs

Keeping UTMs consistent helps preserve clean visit-level campaign data.

What Native Integrations Add

When supported ad platforms are connected, Vector can identify campaigns directly through the integration and retrieve additional campaign information.

For supported integrations, Vector may also apply Vector-specific tracking parameters such as:

  • VectorSource – identifies the ad platform

  • VectorCampaign – identifies the campaign

  • VectorID – identifies the campaign using its unique platform ID

These parameters help Vector match campaign traffic reliably even when existing UTM structures vary.

Vector adds its tracking information without replacing the tracking parameters you've already configured.

When Campaigns Appear in Vector

A campaign can appear in Vector when it is discovered through either:

  • Website activity containing recognised campaign parameters

  • A supported native ad integration

For UTM-detected campaigns, Vector needs to observe campaign traffic before it can identify the campaign automatically.

That means a newly launched campaign may not appear immediately if no one has clicked through to your website yet.

Campaigns detected through native integrations may appear independently of website traffic depending on the data available through the connected platform.

Manually Tracking a Campaign

If Vector has not automatically detected a campaign through recent UTM activity, you can manually add the campaign you want to track by clicking on "Track campaign" in the top right corner.

You may need to provide information such as:

  • Campaign name

  • Platform

  • Campaign UTM

Regex can be used when supported to match more complex campaign naming patterns.

Manual campaign setup is particularly helpful when your UTM naming does not follow Vector's automatic detection conventions.

Troubleshooting Missing Campaigns

If a campaign isn't appearing as expected, start with these checks.

1. Check the landing page URL

Confirm that the destination URL includes:

utm_source
utm_medium
utm_campaign

2. Review your UTM values

Make sure the values are consistent and recognisable.

For example:

utm_source=linkedin
utm_medium=paid
utm_campaign=enterprise_abm

3. Check for redirects

Some redirect tools or landing-page systems may remove tracking parameters before the visitor reaches the final page.

Test the live ad URL and confirm that the UTMs remain present after the page loads.

4. Confirm the integration

If you're using a supported native platform such as Google Ads or LinkedIn Ads, make sure the appropriate integration is connected in Integration Settings.

5. Confirm the campaign has activity

UTM-based campaign detection requires Vector to observe website traffic from that campaign.

If the campaign is brand new and hasn't generated a visit yet, it may not appear immediately.

6. Review your campaign filters

If the campaign exists but isn't visible in your current view, check your status, platform, date, and other reporting filters.

Campaign Tracking vs. Campaign Reporting

Campaign tracking is the underlying mechanism Vector uses to determine:

Which campaign did this website visit come from?

The Campaign Reporting Dashboard uses that information alongside supported ad-platform data to help answer:

How did this campaign perform?

Campaign Reporting can include metrics such as:

  • Impressions

  • Clicks

  • Identified visitors

  • ICP visitors

  • Cost

  • Cost per ICP visit

[Learn more about Campaign Reporting →]

Quick Checklist

If a campaign isn't appearing, confirm:

  • The landing page includes utm_source

  • The landing page includes utm_medium

  • The landing page includes utm_campaign

  • Your UTM values follow consistent naming

  • Redirects are not stripping tracking parameters

  • The campaign has generated website traffic

  • Your supported native ad integration is connected

  • Your reporting filters aren't hiding the campaign

If everything looks correct but you're still having trouble, contact support@vector.co with the campaign URL and expected campaign name.

Quick Recap

Vector identifies campaigns through:

UTM-based website traffic
or
native ad integrations

UTMs connect individual website visits back to their campaign.

Native integrations improve campaign discovery and bring supported platform data into Vector.

Use Campaign Reporting to understand campaign performance.