Any ATP user can share a generic or custom tracking link or QR code to job seekers. Talent Network managers can create custom links for specific events or platforms (like social media, print flyers, etc.)
Custom tracking links help you understand what’s working in your outreach to job seekers. When every post, email or social share uses the same generic link, you can’t see which channels bring in the most jobseekers. Tracking links fixes that.
You can also filter and search for job seekers in your Talent Network by the tracking link they used to join.
How can tracking links help recruiters?
With tracking links, you can:
- See which sources drive the most job seekers (e.g. LinkedIn vs email vs job boards).
- Measure the return-on-investment (ROI) of each source so you know where to invest time and budget.
- Compare performance across campaigns. This can help especially when multiple recruiters share the same join link.
- Optimize your recruitment funnels by allowing you to focus on high performing channels.
What’s the difference between the general link and a custom tracking link?
The general link lets anyone join your Talent Network and works well for one-off sharing — a job fair flyer, a recruiter’s email signature or a quick social post. Custom tracking links add UTM parameters to that same URL so every share is tagged with a medium (how you shared it) and a source (where you shared it). When job seekers use the custom link, you can see how many are joining through each medium and source. It’ll tell you what outreach methods are working.
What should I name my tracking link?
Name your tracking link something clear and easy to understand. The name does not show to an job seekers and only appears in ATP. You can also use the same link name for multiple outreach points within the same recruitment effort. For example, you can use UVA job fair or Fall social media campaign across multiple links for each different source or medium used.
What should I enter for medium and source?
Medium is the broad type of channel and how you’re sharing the link. You can select:
- Social
- Display digital
- Video
- SMS
- Referral
- Job board
- App
- QR code
Source is the specific place you shared you link or QR code. For example, under social, you can select options like LinkedIn, Facebook, etc.
Can multiple people on my team create tracking links for the same Talent Network?
Only Talent Network managers can create or archive tracking links. Any ATP user with access to the network can copy and share links.
When should I use a QR code vs. a URL link?
Use QR codes for printed or in-person materials where someone can scan the code with their phone. Flyers, posters, event signage or conference handouts are good examples to use QR codes on.
Use URL links for digital outreach, like emails, social posts or text messages, where selecting the link is faster than scanning.
Where do I see how my tracking links are performing?
Select See the metrics dashboard above the table of your custom links. The dashboard shows clicks and conversions broken down by link, medium and source.
Key terms and definitions
- Campaign—A group of links tied to a specific recruitment effort. Think of this as the folder that holds all your tracking links for this specific effort.
- Traffic medium—the type of channel where you’re sharing the link. Examples: social, email, job board, SMS, referral.
- Source—The specific place the traffic comes from. Examples: LinkedIn, Facebook, newsletter or recruiter outreach.
- UTM parameters—Small pieces of text added to the end of URL that tell you where a a job seeker came from.
- Tracking Link—An invitation URL with UTM parameters added. It looks longer but works exactly the same for job seekers and allows you to track where job seekers are coming from.
- Clicks—How many times your link was opened.
- Conversions—How many job seekers joined the Talent Network.
- Attribution—The process of identifying which source or medium deserves credit for the join on Talent Network.
What’s the difference between a click and a conversion?
A click is counted each time someone opens your tracking link. A conversion is counted when that person completes the sign-up and joins your Talent Network. It’s normal to have more clicks than conversions—the gap helps you understand where job seekers are dropping off in the funnel.
What happens when I archive a link? Does it stop working for job seekers?
Archiving removes the link from your Active list. Job seekers can still use it if they have the link and we will continue to track any job seekers who access it.
Can I edit a tracking link after I create it?
No. Once a tracking link is created, its medium, source, and UTM parameters cannot be changed. If you need to correct a mistake or update the details, archive the existing link and create a new one with the correct information. The archived link will remain in your Archived tab for reference.