ROCKS DIGITAL  BLOG

Mason Pelt

The Guide to Google Tag Manager

Use Google tag manager to update website tags.
Image Credit – bangoland/Shutterstock.com

What is tag management and Why you need it

If you do SEO or SEM at a serious level you will, at some point, have a need to add a new tag or tracking code to a client’s website. Sadly, sometimes your priority list and the client’s developers aren’t exactly in alignment.

The result is that, while the developer is putting out a fire in the server room, or just doesn’t feel a new piece of JavaScript is worth slowing down the site (because the server logs already say how much traffic you’re getting), you are sitting around unable to add that new Facebook retargeting pixel that has given great results for other clients.

Even if you have carte blanche access to the website to add or update any tags or code you want, all that code is cumbersome and hard to manage.

This is where Google Tag Manager comes into play. Google Tag Manager is a free tool that lets you add and update website tags like your conversion tracking, analytics, remarketing, or pretty much any other form of tracking you need as a marketer—all without having to update your site’s code every time.

Google Tag Manager works by letting you install a single snippet of code, called a container, on your website. From the Google Tag Manager interface, you are able to add tags and site rules that determine when those tags fire.

Setting up a container and installing it on a website takes about the same time as installing Google Analytics. Since almost anyone I work with will have at least nine tags installed on their website, I require a new client to set up and install Google Tag Manager before I start working.

How to set up Google Tag Manager in 10-20 minutes

 

Sign Up for Google Tag Manager

Signing up for Google Tag Manager is simple. Sign into your Google account, go to https://www.google.com/tagmanager and click, “Sign up now.”

Google Tag Manager New Container

Once you’re logged into your account you’ll need to make a container to hold your tags. Click, “New Container” and fill out your info.

Google Tag Manager Container

Google will now give you a magical code snippet to add to your website’s header or footer. If you’re using a CMS you can add it to almost any file that is loaded throughout your website. With many premium WordPress themes, you will have a place to add code without editing theme files. However, if I have to edit code, I tend to use the footer.php and place the code in the section.

Add a new user to google tag manager

Before you start adding tags let’s add a user. Click “New” and click, “User.” Even with all the great things about Google Tag Manager, my favorite is they way it handles users. I want my clients to own all their data, analytics, ad words, Facebook, etc… Anything I do as a consultant is using their accounts. They are giving me access–never the other way around. I would go so far as to say that any agency that is running your campaigns from their accounts, and sharing data with you, is not worth hiring. But that is a different post altogether.

Adding Tags to GTM

With your users added and the code in your site, you’re ready to add your tags. From inside the container click, “NEW->TAG”. From there, fill in the details. In the example below, I’m adding a Facebook conversion pixel to a client’s website.

Adding a facebook conversion pixal to Google Tag Manager

 

To add Facebook conversion tracking I’m choosing custom HTML as my tag type and copping and pasting the code from Facebook. On the right-hand side, there’s a box for, “FIRING RULES.” As mentioned at the top, these allow you to set where tags will appear and how they will fire.

Rules in Google tag manger

For Javadrop, since I’m using a Facebook conversion pixel, I’m adding it only to the signup page using a url contains rule. For something like Google Analytics, I would set the rule “all pages.”

Create Version GTM

After you’ve added your tags, click, “CREATE VERSION,” in the top right corner. This will store the last revision for you.

Changes and publish in GTM

From there, you can preview your changes, and publish the current container. You’ll have to publish your changes, so they appear live on your website.

Now that your container is published, your tags are live and firing on your site! If you manually added any of these tracking codes before, you have to remove them to keep them from firing twice and making your data unusable.

(More about Google and Free Google Tools.)

So readers how are you using Google’s free tool for better tag management?

Mason Pelt

Mason Pelt is the Founder and Managing Director of Push ROI, a digital marketing and SEO Agency in Dallas. Pelt has nothing to do with Spring Free EV as that startup screws over contractors.

More Posts - Website

Follow Me:
TwitterLinkedIn

Download Our SEO Guide

Created in a joint partnership with Advice Local, this guide — What You Need to Know About SEO — provides an introduction to SEO concepts, strategies and best practices for optimizing a website. Complete the form below and get instant access.

    ROCKING DIGITAL SERVICES

    Web Design & Development

    Your website needs to be aesthetically pleasing and functional. We build websites for desktop and mobile that are both.

    LOCAL SEARCH & SEO

    Your website needs to attract search engines and consumers. We are experts in local search and SEO, and can make that happen.

    CONTENT CREATION & MARKETING

    Anybody can write words on a page, but can they write content that integrates SEO best practices and converts? We can.

    PPC & Paid Search

    PPC & Paid Search

    Need more customers? We create paid campaigns to reach your target audience and increase sales.

    Tracking & Optimization

    You need a solid foundation for success online, and our tracking & optimization services get it done.

    Graphic Design Services

    Graphic Design Services

    From logo design to your business card, brochures – and everything in-between for print & web – we can help!

    Here’s What Our Client's Have to Say

    Their Local Business Websites Rock

    ★★★★★
    Rocks Digital knows how to build local business websites that convert prospects to customers. Not only do I recommend them to work on my reputation management client’s websites, but they work on the Reputation Sensei brand, too.
    - Chris Snellgrove

    They Customize Their Solutions

    ★★★★★
    Rocks Digital customizes to meet their client’s needs. We needed our existing website optimized for search. We are now placing for more industry keywords and continue to improve. They consult with our in-house team on content optimization, manage our GMB listing & more.
    - Greta Valenti

    Highly Recommend

    ★★★★★
    Rocks Digital manages not only the Association of Directory Publishers website, but our Trusted Local Directory. From helping us get our event information on the website to producing guides, blogs and new content, they have what it takes.
    - Cindi Aldrich

    Rocks Digital Is the Best Choice

    ★★★★★
    As a long-term client, when it was time to change the primary focus of my real estate business, and my website, I knew Rocks Digital was the way to go. They took my existing website, gave it a complete new look, and still managed to keep my existing content.
    - David Dorum

    Brought My Ideas to Fruition

    ★★★★★
    Rocks Digital came highly recommended. Once I started working with them I knew why. They took my ideas for a beautiful website and brought them to the screen. From the design phase to content creation, each component was thoughtfully considered and addressed.
    - Clay Adams

    Conversions Are on the Rise

    ★★★★★
    Rocks Digital manages two of my websites. They produce our blogs, our service pages and manage our paid search campaigns. Conversions are up and new patients are coming in the door. I highly recommend their digital marketing services.
    - Dr. Thomas Chacko

    Agency Services Are Top Notch

    ★★★★★
    We shifted to Rocks Digital agency services earlier in the year. We are so glad we did. Our website sessions are up, page views are up, and bounce rate is down. Now we can easily see how many form fills we have had at any given time through their real-time reporting.
    - Kristin Schafer

    Their Local Business Websites Rock

    ★★★★★
    Rocks Digital knows how to build local business websites that convert prospects to customers. Not only do I recommend them to work on my reputation management client’s websites, but they work on the Reputation Sensei brand, too.
    - Chris Snellgrove

    They Customize Their Solutions

    ★★★★★
    Rocks Digital customizes to meet their client’s needs. We needed our existing website optimized for search. We are now placing for more industry keywords and continue to improve. They consult with our in-house team on content optimization, manage our GMB listing & more.
    - Greta Valenti

    Highly Recommend

    ★★★★★
    Rocks Digital manages not only the Association of Directory Publishers website, but our Trusted Local Directory. From helping us get our event information on the website to producing guides, blogs and new content, they have what it takes.
    - Cindi Aldrich
    Name
    Email
    Review Title
    Rating
    Review Content

    LATEST BLOG POSTS

    Hire a digital marketing agency.

    Why Hire a Digital Marketing Agency

    Staying ahead of search engine updates and marketing trends is a constant challenge, so it’s no surprise that businesses frequently turn to digital marketing agencies.

    Content writing services.

    How to Select a Content Writing Service

    From increasing local search presence to attracting new customers, businesses need quality content to thrive online. The leading content writing services consistently make life easier

    LOCAL VISIBILITY REPORT

    Is your Google My Business listing helping or hurting you? Is bad data causing consumers and search engines to lose trust in your business? This is information you simply must know.

    To get these answers right now, just enter your business name below to run our FREE
    visibility report.


    Need a facelift
    for your website? More search traffic? Need to blog, but don’t have time?

    Our Digital Services Could Be For You
    Get a Free Local Visibility Report Now