If you’ve recently noticed a strange parameter called IGSH attached to some URLs when redirecting users on Instagram, you’re not alone.
Like Facebook’s FBCLID and Google’s GCLID, Instagram is also rolling out an IGSH feature, raising questions about its purpose and whether the feature will affect website sales.
Let’s take a closer look at what IGSH is, how it works, and its impact on eCommerce performance.
What is igsh?
IGSH stands for Instagram Share Handle, which is a tracking parameter embedded in the URL when a user clicks on a link shared through an Instagram post, story, or ad. Instagram has not published an official document explaining the details of IGSH, but it appears to work as a tracking mechanism similar to Facebook’s FBCLID.
IGSH’s primary role appears to be to identify users who have visited a website through Instagram and which specific posts, ads, or stories brought them to the website.
This data is invaluable to advertisers and business owners who want to track the success of their Instagram marketing efforts.
Why is Igsh important for selling websites?
For businesses that rely heavily on Instagram to drive traffic, IGSH can be an important factor in understanding customer behavior and measuring the effectiveness of Instagram campaigns. If you run ads on Instagram or frequently post links in your stories or bio, IGSH can help you track user interactions, clicks, and sales made on Instagram.
Knowing exactly where your sales are coming from can help you optimize your campaigns, identify the types of content that perform best, and increase conversion rates. Without tracking parameters like IGSH, it is difficult to measure the true impact of Instagram on your website traffic and sales.
How does igsh work?
When users interact with clickable links on Instagram through stories, ads, posts, etc., the IGSH parameter is added to the website URL. These parameters collect information about clicks, including where the user came from and the specific content they interacted with.
For example, when a user clicks on a product link in an Instagram Story, IGSH records the interaction and passes that data to our analytics tools to help us track the specific story that contributed to the visit. This is especially useful if you want to know which stories or ads generate the most traffic and conversions.
Does Igsh affect my website’s search engine optimization?
Like FBCLID, some business owners worry that IGSH could negatively impact their website’s search engine optimization (SEO). URL parameters can make your links look longer and more complex, but search engines like Google usually handle these parameters well, so IGSH won’t hinder your SEO efforts.
However, if you prefer clearer URLs, or if you find that IGSH interferes with analytics or website redirects, you can turn this parameter off from Google Analytics. This allows you to track the source without parameters cluttering the URL.
How to remove Igsh from Analytics?
To hide IGSH from your Google Analytics reports, follow these simple instructions:
- Sign in to your Google Analytics account.
- Go to Admin at the bottom left.
- In the Display column, click Display Settings.
- Add igshid to the Exclude URL Request Parameters column and save the changes.
This will prevent IGSH from appearing in future reports while we closely monitor your visit.
Impact on e-commerce
For businesses using Instagram as a sales channel, IGSH provides valuable insights into customer behavior and campaign effectiveness. By tracking users coming through Instagram, businesses can see how well their ads and posts are converting into sales.
This parameter is especially useful for e-commerce brands that take advantage of Instagram’s influencer marketing or shopping features. This allows you to track which products are popular, which posts are driving sales, and whether users are interacting with your ads or organic content.
For example, if you run an online clothing store and see that certain posts or stories generate more sales thanks to IGSH tracking, you can repeat this strategy in future campaigns to increase conversion rates.
If your company actively uses Instagram for marketing, IGSH parameters can be a useful tool to track the performance and optimize your campaigns. By understanding how users interact with your Instagram content and which posts generate sales, you can make more informed decisions and improve your marketing strategy.