Danger in using utm_source and utm_medium to track tens of thousands of cross domain redirects

[jrjames83]

We just merged with another company and are redirecting their domains (competitive/similar content) to our own.

We'll have several domains, redirecting (301) several hundred thousand URL's to our domain (not all the same page, very unique mappings). Will adding utm_source, et al parameters to the URL's have a negative impact on how google transfers value to the pages based on the redirect authority passed?

Any points of view? We have a self referencing canonical, but given that we have 90 million pages on the current domain (and climbing), seems like cleanest approach would be to not use redirects.

Thanks,

Jeff

[Andy.Drinkwater]

I can't help but feel unsure about redirecting so many pages Jeffrey, utm_source or not. With so many URL's, has the mapping process been handled manually, or at least have an intelligent algorithm to handle this?

Google are very clear on their thoughts of 301's, as I am sure you are aware, so get this wrong too many times and you will see a drop in the SERPs. Also, it is worth remembering that you lose some link power with a 301 anyway.

But to answer your question, I have never come across any time where tracking code has caused SEO issues.

-Andy

[jrjames83]

Right on Andy,

So you're calling into question volume of redirects? Well, we are basically redirecting a unique item to another unique item. In this case we're dealing with stock photography and media, so there are TONS of items and category pages that have relevant identical pages between domains.

The redirect mapping has been set-up very carefully using both manual and automated checks.

[Andy.Drinkwater]

You are fortunate to be in one of the few market areas where you can actually do this with with a good degree of success and not have to handle it all manually Jeffrey!

So that aside, I can't see issues with what you are planning, but as above, do remember that some link juice loss will happen with any 301.

-Andy

[jrjames83]

Yeah it's an odd market

Cool - just wanted to solicit an opinion or two. So to be clear, redirecting to somesite.com/search/cows

is the same to google as redirecting to

somesite.com/seach/cows?utm_source=redirecteddomain.com

[Andy.Drinkwater]

Absolutely Jeffrey. It is just an identifier so should be no issues with this at all. I have a large client who have done a very similar thing and 18 months on, SERP positions are still in the top 2

-Andy