Marketing · 4 min read · Updated October 12, 2026
What Is a UTM Template? Reusable UTM Presets for Short Links
A UTM template is a saved set of UTM values with a name, such as Newsletter holding utm_source=newsletter and utm_medium=email. Instead of typing the same tags into every link, you pick the template and the fields fill themselves.
This guide explains what a template stores, how it interacts with workspace defaults and manual values, and how to create and apply one in ReSlug.
What a UTM template stores
A template holds up to five values, one for each standard UTM parameter: source, medium, campaign, term and content. Every field is optional, so a template can set only the two or three values that stay the same across a channel and leave the rest for you to fill per link. If you are new to the parameters themselves, start with what UTM parameters are.
- Source and medium are the usual candidates.
newsletter+emailorinstagram+socialrarely change, so they belong in the template. - Campaign is a judgement call. Put it in the template when a channel always maps to one push; leave it empty when each link belongs to a different campaign.
- Term and content are usually left blank and set per link, since they describe a specific keyword or placement.
Why templates beat typing tags by hand
- Consistent reports.
facebook,Facebookandfbshow up as three sources in analytics. A template makes the approved spelling the default, so the split never happens. - Faster link creation. One pick fills every field. The Chrome extension applies the same templates when you shorten the current tab.
- One place to agree on names. The template list is the team's shared dictionary of channels, which keeps a naming convention alive after the person who wrote it moves on.
Templates, workspace defaults and manual values
ReSlug resolves the UTM values for a new link field by field, from the most specific source to the least specific one. A value you type wins over the template, and the template wins over the workspace defaults.
| Priority | Source | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Value typed on the link | Always wins for that field |
| 2 | Selected UTM template | Fills any field you left empty |
| 3 | Workspace default UTMs (Pro) | Fills whatever is still empty |
Templates and campaigns
A campaign carries its own UTM preset that is stamped on every link inside it. When you create a campaign you can apply a template to fill that preset, which is the quickest way to keep a launch on the same source and medium as the channel it runs on.
How to create and use a UTM template in ReSlug
- Open UTM templates in your workspace and click the plus button.
- Give the template a name your team will recognise, such as the channel it represents, and fill in the UTM values it should set.
- When creating a link, pick the template in the UTM section. Any field you type over keeps your value.
- Apply the same template when creating a campaign to fill its UTM preset.
The Free plan includes 3 UTM templates per workspace and Pro raises that to 50. Workspace default UTMs, which pre-fill every new link, are a Pro feature. See the pricing page for the full comparison.
Frequently asked questions
Does a UTM template change the short link itself?
No. The template only fills the UTM parameters on the destination URL. The short link, its slug and its redirect are unaffected.
What happens to existing links when I edit or delete a template?
Nothing. Links keep the UTM values they were created with. Edits apply to links you fill from the template afterwards, and deleting a template simply removes it from the picker.
Can a template leave some UTM fields empty?
Yes. Every field in a template is optional. Empty fields are filled by the workspace defaults on Pro, or left blank so you can set them per link.
How many templates can I have?
Three on the Free plan and fifty on Pro, per workspace.