As a small business owner, you wear many hats. You’re the CEO, marketer, customer service rep – the list goes on. But do you have time to become a website analytics expert? With Google Tag Manager, you don’t have to. This tool makes website tracking easier, giving you the insights you need to make decisions without needing a degree in data science.

Get to Know Google Tag Manager

Google Tag Manager (GTM) is a user-friendly tool that makes website tracking easier. It’s a one-stop shop for managing all the tracking codes you need to understand your website visitors. These codes, called tags, gather information about how people use your site, such as which pages are popular and how long they stay there.

How Does Google Tag Manager Work?

Picture GTM as a toolbox. You add different tracking codes (tags) to this toolbox, and GTM places them on your website for you. This means no more messing around with code every time you want to track something new.

What Makes Google Tag Manager Effective?

GTM gives you control over when tags activate. You set up triggers, which are rules telling GTM when to use a specific tag. For example, a trigger could send a tag to Google Analytics when someone visits a specific page.

Why Your Small Business Needs Google Tag Manager

GTM takes the headache out of managing tracking codes, making it a valuable tool even if you’re not a tech expert. It gives you the data to make smart choices about your website and marketing, ultimately helping your business grow.

Why Your Small Business Can’t Afford to Ignore Google Tag Manager

Google Tag Manager isn’t just for big businesses with large marketing teams. It’s a tool that can help small businesses like yours compete and thrive online. GTM gives you a behind-the-scenes look at your website, showing you exactly what your visitors do, what interests them, and where they get stuck.

Get to Know Your Customers Better

With GTM, you can learn about your customers’ behavior. You can see which pages they visit, which marketing campaigns drive traffic to your site, and which parts of your website might be confusing or causing visitors to leave. This data helps you improve your website’s design, content, and marketing strategies.

Measure Your Marketing Results

GTM also helps you track the success of your marketing campaigns. By tracking conversions – like purchases, newsletter sign-ups, or downloads – you can see exactly which marketing efforts are working best. You can focus your budget and energy on the strategies that deliver results.

Make Data-Driven Choices for Business Growth

Google Tag Manager provides the information you need to optimize your website and marketing to help your business grow. It’s like having an advisor who tells you what’s working and what needs improvement. GTM is the tool to help you reach your goals.

Guide to Adding Google Tag Manager to Your Website

We’ll walk you through the basic steps and then provide clear instructions for WordPress and Shopify users.

1. Create Your Google Tag Manager Account

Head to the Google Tag Manager website and create a free account. Once you’re in, you’ll create a “container” for your website. This container holds all your tracking tags.

2. Get Your GTM Code

Google Tag Manager will give you two snippets of code. These snippets are like a bridge, connecting GTM to your website so they can talk to each other. You’ll need to add these snippets to every page of your site.

3. Add GTM to WordPress

If your website uses WordPress, we recommend installing the “DuracellTomi’s Google Tag Manager” plugin. After you install and activate the plugin, paste your unique GTM code into the plugin’s settings.

4. Add GTM to Shopify

Shopify makes adding the GTM code easy. Go to “Online Store” then “Themes” in your Shopify admin. Click “Actions” and then “Edit Code.” Find the “theme.liquid” file and paste the GTM code snippets where they tell you to. Save your changes, and you’re ready to go.

5. Add GTM to Other Websites

If you use another platform or have a custom-built website, you can still add the GTM code manually. Check your platform’s instructions or ask your web developer for help.

Once you’ve added the GTM code to your website, you’re ready to start adding and managing those helpful tracking tags.

How To Use Google Tag Manager Features

So, you’ve added Google Tag Manager to your website. Now, let’s explore how to use it.

Add and Set Up Tags

Tags are snippets of code that collect data from your website. They tell you what visitors are doing on your site. Common tags include Google Analytics, Google Ads, and the Facebook Pixel.

To add a tag, you’ll first choose the type of tag you want. Then, you’ll enter the required information, like your Google Analytics tracking ID. GTM makes this easy, even without coding knowledge.

Add and Set Up Tags

Tags are snippets of code that collect data from your website. They tell you what visitors are doing on your site. Common tags include Google Analytics, Google Ads, and the Facebook Pixel.

To add a tag, choose the type of tag you want. Then, you’ll enter the required information, like your Google Analytics tracking ID. GTM makes this easy, even without coding knowledge.

Create Triggers

Triggers tell your tags when to start working. They’re rules you set up to define when a tag should collect data. For example, you could set up a trigger that activates a Google Analytics tag whenever someone visits your “About Us” page. You can also create triggers for clicks, form submissions, and other events.

Understand Variables

Variables are pieces of information your tags and triggers can use. They might store things like the URL of a page, the text on a button, or the price of an item someone added to their cart. GTM has many built-in variables, but you can create custom ones to capture the specific data you need.

This is just the beginning of what you can do with Google Tag Manager. Experiment and explore all the options GTM offers to gain valuable insights into your website’s performance.

Tips to Make Google Tag Manager Work for You

Like any tool, you’ll get the best results by using Google Tag Manager effectively. Here are some tips to help you maximize your GTM experience:

Test Before You Go Live

Before you publish any changes in GTM, always use the “Preview” mode to test them on your website. This helps you catch any errors and ensure your tags are firing correctly. It’s like a test run before launching a new product, ensuring everything works as expected.

Stay Organized with Names and Folders

As you add more tags and triggers to your GTM container, it’s important to keep things organized. Use clear, descriptive names for your tags and triggers so you can easily find them later. If you have many tags, consider creating folders to group them by category (e.g., “Google Analytics,” “Facebook Pixel,” etc.).

Learn and Grow with GTM

Google Tag Manager has resources to help you learn and master the tool. Check out their official documentation and tutorials for detailed instructions and helpful tips. And remember, Diib is always here to help you make the most of GTM and your website data.

Don’t Let Your Website Data Go to Waste

Every day you’re not using Google Tag Manager, you’re missing out on valuable insights that could transform your business. Don’t let your competitors get ahead. Sign up for a Diib website analysis and discover how Google Tag Manager can boost your online presence. Let us help you unlock the data and drive your business to new heights.