How to name each campaign button with src to compare ads
To compare ads you have to name each campaign button with src, a small tag at the end of your WhatsApp link. Once every button has a name, the dashboard tells you which ad earns the clicks.
What src does and why it matters
Your WhatsClicks link, for example https://whatsclicks.com/w/code, counts every click. By default, it only tells you the total. If you run three ads that all use the same link, you will see one big number and no way to split it.
The src tag fixes this. It is a short name you add to the link to say which button, ad or position the click came from. When someone clicks, WhatsClicks records the name. Later, in the Summary tab, the table By button groups the clicks by name.
The exact format of the tag
You add the tag after the link with a question mark. If you also want to tell the page, you add the p tag and join them with an ampersand.
There is no need to tag everything on day one. Start with the two or three buttons you care about most, and add more names as your tests grow.
- Only the button name: https://whatsclicks.com/w/code?src=ad-spring-1
- Page and button: https://whatsclicks.com/w/code?p=/spring-offer&src=ad-spring-1
- With a custom first message: add &t= followed by the text, for example &t=Hi, I came from the spring ad.
Under every link in the panel there is an address generator. Use it if you do not want to type the tags by hand.
How to choose good names
A good name is short and you will still understand it in three months. A name like button1 tells you nothing. A name like google-search-jun-headline-a tells you the channel, the month and the version.
A simple recipe is channel, then month, then what changes. For example, meta-may-video, meta-may-photo, google-may-brand. Use lowercase letters, numbers and hyphens, and avoid spaces and accents so the name stays clean in your tables.
- Keep a naming rule and use it every time.
- Do not put personal data in the name, such as a client name or phone number.
- Never reuse a name for a different ad. If the ad changes, make a new name.
Step by step: name your campaign buttons
- List your campaigns and variations on paper, one line each.
- Give each line a src name using your rule.
- In Links, open the link and use the address generator to build one tagged address per line.
- Open the ad, the landing page or the post and paste the right address in the right button. Menu names can vary depending on the tool you use.
- Click each address yourself once. You should land in the right WhatsApp chat.
- Wait a few days, then open the Summary tab and read the By button table.
Reading the By button table
Each src becomes a row with its clicks, and the Today and Yesterday columns help you see what is moving right now. Use the period filter to match the dates of the test.
Here is an example with made-up numbers. You tested three ads for a week: ad-a got 48 clicks, ad-b got 31 and ad-c got 6. You now know ad-c is weak, and ad-a is the favorite. Before you pause ad-c, look at the conversations you received from it, because a low click count can still bring good customers.
If you want to see two links side by side, use the compare option. It is handy when you built a separate link for each campaign instead of using src.
The counter only sees clicks on the button. It cannot see who the person is, and it does not know if the chat ended in a sale.
Mistakes that spoil the comparison
A habit that helps a lot is keeping a small naming sheet. Open a simple spreadsheet with two columns: the src name and a sentence that says where it lives, such as the ad, the post or the button on the pricing page. When you review the By button table a month later, you will not need to guess what a row means. If you work for clients as an agency, give each client their own login and their own naming rule, so the tables stay tidy. And when a campaign ends, do not delete the tag from your notes: keep it, because you may want to compare next season with this one.
- Typing the same name with different spelling, such as Ad-A and ad-a. They may appear as two rows.
- Forgetting the tag on one of the buttons. Its clicks will appear without a name.
- Comparing ads that ran on different dates without adjusting the period.
- Changing too many things at once, so you cannot tell what caused the difference.
Frequently asked questions
What is the src tag in a WhatsClicks link?
It is an optional name you add to the link, like ?src=ad-spring-1, to say which button or ad the click came from. The dashboard then groups clicks by that name.
Can I use spaces or accents in src?
It is safer to use lowercase letters, numbers and hyphens. That keeps the names easy to read and avoids duplicates.
What is the difference between p and src?
The p tag tells which page the button was on, like p=/prices. The src tag tells which button or ad, like src=top. You can use both together.
Do I need to tag every button?
No, tags are optional. But without them you will only see a total, so tag the buttons you want to compare.