> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.northbeam.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Meta Ads: Insert the UTMs

## Step 2: Insert Northbeam UTM Parameters

Please add **two custom UTM parameters** in the **Build a URL** menu for all new and existing Meta Ads:

| Parameter Name | Value                                                                       |
| :------------- | :-------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| nbt            | nb:fb:\{\{site\_source\_name}}:\{\{campaign.id}}:\{\{adset.id}}:\{\{ad.id}} |
| nb\_placement  | \{\{placement}}                                                             |

<Frame caption="Build a URL Parameter > Custom Parameters">
  <img src="https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/northbeam/images/readme/4ba9e613-Screenshot_2025-05-13_at_9.33.31_AM.png" alt="Build a URL Parameter > Custom Parameters" />
</Frame>

### Step-By-Step Guide

For a visual walkthrough of setting up UTM parameters, reference the video below.

<Frame>
  <iframe src="https://www.loom.com/embed/dfd6bbb850b2426eaaf8b74315986575?sid=5eede71e-445c-4490-8f4c-6aed047b5eb6" width="100%" height="450" allowfullscreen />
</Frame>

<br />

1. In your Ad settings, click **Build a URL parameter**
2. Click **Add parameter** twice and all the two custom parameters listed above.
3. Click **Apply**.

<Warning>
  How To Verify

  In the **Parameter preview**, you should see:

  `nbt=nb%3Afb%3A{{site_source_name}}%3A{{campaign.id}}%3A{{adset.id}}%3A{{ad.id}}&nb_placement={{placement}}`

  * This is expected — Meta automatically encodes colons (:) into %3A.
  * **Do not encode colons yourself** — entering `%3A` directly in the Value will result in double encoding (%253A) and break tracking.
  * It’s fine if other parameters appear — Northbeam UTMs can coexist with others.
</Warning>

<br />

<Note>
  UTM Auto-Appending

  If you would like Northbeam to automatically append UTM parameters to newly created Meta ads from ad accounts connected to your dashboard, please [reach out to our Support team](https://www.northbeam.io/submit-a-support-ticket) to enable this feature.
</Note>

<br />

***

<br />

### ✅ How to Confirm Your Meta Ads Are Tracking Properly

To be confident that your Meta ads are tracking correctly in Northbeam, two things need to happen:

1. **Northbeam UTMs must be captured**
2. **The Northbeam pixel must fire on the landing page**

The easiest way to test both is by using a **Live Preview Link** from Meta Ads Manager and verifying in your browser.

### 🔍 Step-by-Step: Verify UTMs + Pixel with a Live Ad Preview

#### 1. **Get a Live Preview Link**

* Log into **Meta Ads Manager**
* Find your ad and click **Preview**
* Click **Share** → **Share a link**
* You’ll get a short link like: `https://fb.me/1TSaf6EzTjEfn8K`

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/northbeam/images/readme/a82db463-Screenshot_2025-04-10_at_11.01.14_PM.png" alt="" />
</Frame>

#### 2. **Test the Link**

* Paste the link into your browser (it’ll load your Newsfeed)
* Find the ad in your feed and **click on it**

<Info>
  ### Don't see the ad?

  Sometimes it doesn't appear right at the top of the feed, so be sure to scroll down a bit.
</Info>

#### 3. **Verify UTMs and Pixel via Developer Tools**

<Frame>
  <iframe src="https://www.loom.com/embed/a155e0324835438e87965ef143e94953?sid=111298c7-0567-45c5-9e2b-51ac50ef4581" width="100%" height="450" allowfullscreen />
</Frame>

#### UTM Validation

Once you're on the landing page...

* **Accept any cookie banners** *(scripts won't fire until cookies are accepted)*
* **Go to Developer Tools --> Network:**
  * *Chrome / Edge / Brave / Opera*
    * Right-click → **Inspect**
    * Or press `Cmd+Option+I` (Mac) / `Ctrl+Shift+I` (Windows)
    * Go to the **Network** tab
  * *Firefox*
    * Right-click → **Inspect**
    * Or press `Cmd+Option+E` / `Ctrl+Shift+E`
    * Go to the **Network** tab
  * *Safari (Mac)*
    * Enable Dev Tools: Safari → Settings → Advanced → check "Show Develop menu"
    * Then go to **Develop → Show Web Inspector**
    * Click the **Network** tab
* **Refresh the page**
* **Click the first request** (should be labeled as a UTM string (ex. '`?nbt=nbnbt=nb%3Afb%3A...`')
* Click on the **Payload** tab
* You should see UTMs listed — look for something like:
  * `nbt: nb:fb:fb:XXXXXXXXX:XXXXXXXXXX:XXXXXXXXXXX`

<Frame caption="Click the first 'Network' request, then look in the 'Payload'">
  <img src="https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/northbeam/images/readme/2e13d764-Screenshot_2025-04-10_at_11.06.31_PM.png" alt="Click the first 'Network' request, then look in the 'Payload'" />
</Frame>

✅ If those are populated → **UTMs are confirmed**

#### Pixel Validation

* Still in the **Network** tab
* Search for a request called **`nb-collector`** or **`tp2`**
* Look for the one with `pv` in the Payload

<Frame caption="Note: It's completely normal to see multiple requests. Look for the one with 'pv' in the Payload.">
  <img src="https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/northbeam/images/readme/12aa2af0-Screenshot_2025-04-11_at_11.44.04_AM.png" alt="Note: It's completely normal to see multiple requests" />
</Frame>

✅ If you see `PV` in a `nb-collector` request → **Pixel is confirmed**

### 🎯 What This Means

Once **both UTMs and the pixel are confirmed**, Northbeam has successfully recognized the session ("**Visit**"). This means any conversions (like purchases) that happen during the session will be tied back to the correct ad in Northbeam.

***