Missing or incorrect configuration

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 59 views

Introduction

As a marketer, you're likely familiar with the importance of tracking email campaigns using UTM parameters. However, when using the Web Analytics Connector (WAC) in Salesforce Marketing Cloud Engagement and leveraging __AdditionalEmailAttribute1 for dynamic UTM parameters, you may encounter an issue where the UTM tag value is empty. In this article, we'll explore the reasons behind this issue and provide a step-by-step guide on how to prevent empty values for UTM tags when using WAC and __AdditionalEmailAttribute1 in SFMC.

Understanding WAC and __AdditionalEmailAttribute1

Before we dive into the solution, let's understand the concepts of WAC and __AdditionalEmailAttribute1.

Web Analytics Connector (WAC)

WAC is a feature in Salesforce Marketing Cloud Engagement that allows you to connect your email campaigns to Google Analytics. It enables you to track email opens, clicks, and other engagement metrics in Google Analytics.

__AdditionalEmailAttribute1

__AdditionalEmailAttribute1 is a dynamic attribute in SFMC that allows you to pass additional data to the email tracking URL. You can use this attribute to pass dynamic UTM parameters to the email tracking URL.

The Issue: Empty UTM Tag Value

When using WAC and __AdditionalEmailAttribute1, you may encounter an issue where the UTM tag value is empty. This can happen due to various reasons, such as:

Missing or incorrect configuration: If the WAC configuration is not set up correctly or if the __AdditionalEmailAttribute1 is not properly configured, it can lead to an empty UTM tag value.
Dynamic attribute not populated: If the dynamic attribute __AdditionalEmailAttribute1 is not populated with a value, it can result in an empty UTM tag value.
UTM parameter not defined: If the UTM parameter is not defined in the email tracking URL, it can lead to an empty UTM tag value.

Step-by-Step Guide to Prevent Empty Values for UTM Tags

To prevent empty values for UTM tags when using WAC and __AdditionalEmailAttribute1 in SFMC, follow these steps:

Step 1: Verify WAC Configuration

Verify that the WAC configuration is set up correctly. Ensure that the Google Analytics account is linked to the SFMC instance and that the WAC is enabled for the email campaign.

Step 2: Configure __AdditionalEmailAttribute1

Configure the __AdditionalEmailAttribute1 dynamic attribute to pass the dynamic UTM parameters to the email tracking URL. Make sure that the attribute is populated with a value.

Step 3: Define UTM Parameter

Define the UTM parameter in the email tracking URL. Ensure that the parameter is correctly formatted and that the value is populated with a value.

Step 4: Test Email Campaign

Test the email campaign to ensure that the UTM tag value is not empty. Verify that the UTM parameter is correctly passed to the email tracking URL.

Best Practices for Using WAC and __AdditionalEmailAttribute1

To ensure that you don't encounter empty UTM tag values when using WAC and __AdditionalEmailAttribute1 in SFMC, follow these best practices:

Verify WAC configuration: Regularly verify that the WAC configuration is set up correctly.
Configure dynamic attribute: Ensure that the __AdditionalEmailAttribute1 dynamic attribute is properly configured and populated with a value.
Define UTM parameter: Define the UTM parameter in the email tracking URL and ensure that it is correctly formatted.
Test email campaign: Test the email campaign to ensure that the UTM tag value is not empty.

Conclusion

In conclusion, preventing empty values for UTM tags when using WAC and __AdditionalEmailAttribute1 in SFMC requires careful configuration and testing. By following the step-by-step guide and best practices outlined in this article, you can ensure that your email campaigns are accurately tracked and that you don't encounter empty UTM tag values.

Common Issues and Solutions

Here are some common issues and solutions that you may encounter when using WAC and __AdditionalEmailAttribute1 in SFMC:

Issue 1: Missing or incorrect WAC configuration

Solution: Verify that the WAC configuration is set up correctly and that the Google Analytics account is linked to the SFMC instance.
Solution: Configure the __AdditionalEmailAttribute1 dynamic attribute to pass the dynamic UTM parameters to the email tracking URL.

Issue 2: Dynamic attribute not populated

Solution: Ensure that the __AdditionalEmailAttribute1 dynamic attribute is populated with a value.
Solution: Define the UTM parameter in the email tracking URL and ensure that it is correctly formatted.

Issue 3: UTM parameter not defined

Solution: Define the UTM parameter in the email tracking URL and ensure that it is correctly formatted.
Solution: Test the email campaign to ensure that the UTM tag value is not empty.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions that you may have when using WAC and __AdditionalEmailAttribute1 in SFMC:

Q: What is WAC?

A: WAC is a feature in Salesforce Marketing Cloud Engagement that allows you to connect your email campaigns to Google Analytics.

Q: What is __AdditionalEmailAttribute1?

A: __AdditionalEmailAttribute1 is a dynamic attribute in SFMC that allows you to pass additional data to the email tracking URL.

Q: Why do I encounter empty UTM tag values?

A: You may encounter empty UTM tag values due to missing or incorrect WAC configuration, dynamic attribute not populated, or UTM parameter not defined.

Q: How do I prevent empty values for UTM tags?

A: To prevent empty values for UTM tags, follow the step-by-step guide and best practices outlined in this article.

Conclusion

Introduction

In our previous article, we discussed how to prevent empty values for UTM tags when using Web Analytics Connector (WAC) and __AdditionalEmailAttribute1 in Salesforce Marketing Cloud Engagement. However, we understand that you may still have some questions regarding this topic. In this Q&A article, we'll address some of the most frequently asked questions and provide additional insights to help you better understand how to prevent empty values for UTM tags.

Q: What is WAC and how does it relate to UTM tags?

A: WAC is a feature in Salesforce Marketing Cloud Engagement that allows you to connect your email campaigns to Google Analytics. When using WAC, you can pass dynamic UTM parameters to the email tracking URL using the __AdditionalEmailAttribute1 dynamic attribute. However, if the WAC configuration is not set up correctly or if the __AdditionalEmailAttribute1 is not properly configured, it can lead to an empty UTM tag value.

Q: Why do I encounter empty UTM tag values when using WAC and __AdditionalEmailAttribute1?

A: You may encounter empty UTM tag values due to missing or incorrect WAC configuration, dynamic attribute not populated, or UTM parameter not defined. It's essential to verify that the WAC configuration is set up correctly, the __AdditionalEmailAttribute1 dynamic attribute is populated with a value, and the UTM parameter is correctly defined in the email tracking URL.

Q: How do I configure WAC and __AdditionalEmailAttribute1 to prevent empty UTM tag values?

A: To configure WAC and __AdditionalEmailAttribute1 to prevent empty UTM tag values, follow these steps:

Verify that the WAC configuration is set up correctly.
Configure the __AdditionalEmailAttribute1 dynamic attribute to pass the dynamic UTM parameters to the email tracking URL.
Define the UTM parameter in the email tracking URL and ensure that it is correctly formatted.
Test the email campaign to ensure that the UTM tag value is not empty.

Q: What are some common issues that can cause empty UTM tag values?

A: Some common issues that can cause empty UTM tag values include:

Missing or incorrect WAC configuration
Dynamic attribute not populated
UTM parameter not defined
Incorrect formatting of the UTM parameter

Q: How can I troubleshoot empty UTM tag values?

A: To troubleshoot empty UTM tag values, follow these steps:

Verify that the WAC configuration is set up correctly.
Check that the __AdditionalEmailAttribute1 dynamic attribute is populated with a value.
Ensure that the UTM parameter is correctly defined in the email tracking URL.
Test the email campaign to ensure that the UTM tag value is not empty.

Q: Can I use WAC and __AdditionalEmailAttribute1 together with other marketing automation tools?

A: Yes, you can use WAC and __AdditionalEmailAttribute1 together with other marketing automation tools. However, it's essential to ensure that the WAC configuration is set up correctly and that the __AdditionalEmailAttribute1 dynamic attribute is properly configured to prevent empty UTM tag values.

Q: How can I ensure that my email campaigns are accurately tracked using WAC and __AdditionalEmailAttribute1?

A: To ensure that your email campaigns are accurately tracked using WAC and __AdditionalEmailAttribute1, follow these best practices:

Verify that the WAC configuration is set up correctly.
Configure the __AdditionalEmailAttribute1 dynamic attribute to pass the dynamic UTM parameters to the email tracking URL.
Define the UTM parameter in the email tracking URL and ensure that it is correctly formatted.
Test the email campaign to ensure that the UTM tag value is not empty.