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Sources vs. Campaigns: Parent / Child Hierarchy

LeadCenter organizes marketing attribution as a two-level tree: Sources are the parent channel, and Campaigns are the child efforts under that channel. Setting this up correctly is the foundation for accurate ROI reporting.

* Page referenced in this article: Sources page.

The Hierarchy in One Picture

• Source: Google Ads
  • Campaign: Brand Search
  • Campaign: Retirement Webinar Q4
  • Campaign: Display Remarketing
• Source: Seminars
  • Campaign: Atlanta — October 2026
  • Campaign: Tampa — November 2026
• Source: Referral
  • Campaign: Client Referral
  • Campaign: Professional Referral

What a Source Represents

• A high-level marketing channel.
• Examples: Google Ads, Facebook Ads, Radio, TV, YouTube, Seminars, Referral, Walk-In, Existing Client.
• Sources are typically long-lived. You do not need to create a new Source for every promotion.

What a Campaign Represents

• A specific marketing effort under a Source.
• Examples: a single seminar, a specific ad set, a quarterly promotion, or an individual email campaign.
• Campaigns are typically used to compare individual efforts under the same Source.

How to Add a Source

1. Go to Marketing → Sources.
2. Click Add source.
3. Leave Parent Source empty.
4. Enter the Source name.
5. Add any optional details such as description, dates, color, or icon.
6. Click Save.

How to Add a Campaign Under a Source

There is no separate “Add Campaign” button. Campaigns are created with the same form as Sources.

1. On the Sources page, click Add source.
2. In the form, set Parent Source to the parent Source.
3. Enter the Campaign name in Source Name.
4. Fill in the rest of the fields as needed.
5. Click Save.

The entry now shows up as a Campaign under the parent Source.

How LeadCenter Resolves Source and Campaign on Capture

When a lead is captured, LeadCenter uses the available tracking information from that capture method to assign the correct Source or Campaign. This may come from a form default, a virtual phone number, an email redirect address, a Text-in keyword, a Zapier action, an API value, or UTM parameters.

If you are using UTM links, use the Find Matching Lead Source URL Test Tool and a real test submission to confirm how the lead will be attributed.

Best Practices

• Keep the Source list short. Sources should represent major channels, not every individual campaign.
• Use Campaigns for efforts you want to compare. Examples include two seminars, two ad sets, or two seasonal promotions.
• Keep names consistent if you use them in UTM URLs. Match your UTM convention as closely as possible.
• Document the Source and Campaign list with your marketing team so new campaigns are created consistently.
• Deactivate instead of deleting Sources or Campaigns that already have history.

FAQs

Can a Campaign exist without a Source?

No. A Campaign is created by selecting a Parent Source.

Can the same Campaign name be reused under two different Sources?

Yes. LeadCenter organizes Campaigns under their parent Source, so the same Campaign name can appear under different Sources when needed.

Can I rename a Source or Campaign?

Yes. Rename carefully so your reporting and UTM naming conventions remain clear.

Can I delete a Source that has leads?

If leads are tied to it, deactivate the Source instead of deleting it. Deactivation keeps historical reporting intact while preventing new use.

Related Articles

• Marketing Sources and Channels
• Find Matching Lead Source URL Test Tool
• UTM Parameters for Lead Source Attribution