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GA4/GTM June 4, 2023

8 Reasons Why Google Tag Manager Can Be a One-Stop Solution for All Your Tagging Needs

Writen by Magesh

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Google Tag Manager for Tagging Needs

Proper tagging implementation is crucial for accurate data collection and analysis. When done correctly, it can help you track and measure website performance, user behavior, and marketing efforts. However, you need a good tagging system or tool to collect data accurately. So which tool do you use?

This blog post will teach you about Google Tag Manager (GTM), its features, advantages and disadvantages, and industries where GTM works perfectly.

What is Google Tag Manager (GTM)

Google Tag Manager (GTM) is a free web-based tool provided by Google that allows you to manage and deploy tags on websites without making changes to the website’s source code. Tags are snippets of code added to a website’s pages to collect data or enable other functionalities, such as analytics tracking, advertising conversion tracking, remarketing, etc. GTM uses a container-based system where all the tags, triggers, and variables are organized. The container code is then placed on the website’s pages using a single code snippet.

As you can see, Google Tag Manager (GTM) can be used as a one-stop solution for various tagging needs, including DOM (Document Object Model) elements, data layer variables, and real-time debugging.

Google Tag Manager

Key Features of GTM

DOM Element Tracking

GTM allows you to easily track various DOM elements on your website, such as buttons, links, forms, and other HTML elements, using built-in triggers and variables. You can configure GTM to fire tags based on interactions with these DOM elements, such as clicks, form submissions, or other events.

Data Layer Variables

GTM supports data layer variables. They allow you to capture and pass data between your website and external tools like analytics, advertising, and CRM systems. You can define custom data layer variables in GTM and use them in your tags and triggers to capture and manipulate data in real-time.

Real-time Debugging

GTM provides a debugging feature that allows you to test and troubleshoot your tags and triggers in real-time. You can use the GTM Preview and Debug mode to see which tags and triggers are firing on your website, check the data passed to them, and identify any errors.

Template Library

GTM offers a template library with pre-configured tags for popular tools like Google Analytics, Google Ads, Facebook Pixel, and many others. You can easily add these templates to your GTM container and configure them with your account-specific settings, saving you time and effort in implementing and managing tags.

User Permissions and Version Control

GTM provides robust user permissions and version control features to help you manage multiple users and control their access to your GTM container. You can also create and manage multiple versions of your container. This makes it easy to test and deploy changes to your tags and triggers in a controlled environment.

Features of Google Tag Manager
Source: Google

Reasons to Choose Google Tag Manager Ahead of Its Competitors

Now that you’ve learned of GTMs key features let’s look into GTM’s advantages over its competitors.

Integration with Google Products

GTM is part of the Google Marketing Platform, which includes marketing and advertising tools such as Google Analytics, Google Ads, and Google Optimize. This tight integration allows for seamless implementation and management of tags for these Google products.

If you plan to use Google’s marketing tools, GTM is a natural choice.

User-friendly Interface

GTM provides a user-friendly web-based interface that allows non-technical users to manage tags without modifying the website’s source code. The simple interface makes creating, editing, testing, and publishing tags easy. You only need minimal technical expertise.

This factor makes it a favorite tool for users with varying skill levels.

Wide Range of Built-in Tag Templates

As mentioned, GTM offers many built-in tag templates for popular marketing and analytics tools. The templates simplify the setup process for these tags, eliminating the need for custom coding and reducing the risk of errors.

Flexibility

GTM provides flexibility in defining triggers and variables. This lets you customize how and when tags are executed based on specific conditions on your website. GTM gives you advanced tracking and a bit of customization, catering to the unique requirements of different businesses and websites.

Real-time Debugging and Error Checking

As one of GTMs key features, debugging and error checking enable you to test and troubleshoot tags before they are published.

Version Control and Rollback

Another GTM key feature is GTMs ability to allow you to create and manage multiple versions of their container. It can also let you roll back to previous versions or compare changes made over time. This helps maintain a history of changes while providing a safety net in case of mistakes or errors.

Collaboration Features

GTM provides collaborative features that allow multiple users to work on the same container with different levels of access and permissions. This makes it easy for teams to collaborate on tag management tasks, ensuring efficient workflow and coordination among team members.

Built-in Security Measures

GTM has built-in security measures, such as user permissions and container-level access controls. These security measures ensure that only authorized users can manage tags, reducing the risk of unauthorized changes or malicious activities.

Benefits of Google Tag Manager

Disadvantages of Google Tag Manager

You’ve learned of the advantages that make GTM popular. However, there are also a few disadvantages you should know before you settle on Google Tag Manager.

Learning Curve

GTM has a steeper learning curve compared to traditional tag implementation methods. It requires understanding GTM’s interface and concepts such as triggers, variables, and tags. New users need additional time and effort to learn it.

Security Risks

GTM allows you to add and modify JavaScript code on their website, potentially opening up security vulnerabilities if not properly managed. You should ensure that only trusted and verified tags are implemented through GTM.

Limited Customization

While GTM provides many built-in features and templates, it may not cover every website’s advanced customization needs. Sometimes, a custom implementation may require direct changes to the website’s source code or additional development efforts outside GTM.

Industries Where GTM Can Be a Perfect Fit

Now that you’ve learned about the pros and cons of Google Tag Manager, here are various industries where GTM is most used.

Online Publishing

You can use GTM in the online publishing industry to implement and manage tags for tracking website traffic, user engagement, ad performance, and content performance. This can help publishers gather data for audience analysis, content optimization, and advertising revenue tracking.

E-commerce

GTM can implement and manage tags for e-commerce websites, such as tracking e-commerce transactions, measuring product performance, setting up remarketing tags, and implementing third-party tracking for advertising and analytics purposes.

Digital Marketing

You can use GTM to manage tags by digital marketing agencies in industries such as advertising, search engine marketing (SEM), social media marketing (SMM), and content marketing.

You can also use GTM in travel and hospitality to track user interactions with online booking forms, user engagement with hotel websites, and other marketing and analytics purposes. Even the financial services industry can use GTM to track online transactions, lead generation, form submissions, and other interactions on banking, insurance, and investment websites.

In short, any company in any industry that needs to know user behavior and engagement can use GTM.

Google Tag Manager for Various Industries

Manage Your Tags Better

Google Tag Manager (GTM) can be a one-stop solution for all your tagging needs due to its key features, such as DOM element tracking, data layer variables, real-time debugging, template library, user permissions, and version control.

Its integration with Google products, user-friendly interface, wide range of built-in tag templates, flexibility, and security measures make it a powerful tool for managing website tags without requiring technical expertise.

While GTM has its advantages, it’s important to be aware of its disadvantages, such as the learning curve for new users and potential security risks if not properly managed.

GTM can streamline your tagging implementation process and provide advanced tracking and customization options. So go ahead and give it a try.

Magesh

Magesh is a distinguished Data Scientist with over 14 years of experience in Advanced Analytics, Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence. As the Vice President of Analytics, he brings a wealth of expertise in tools such as R, SPSS, Tableau, Power BI, and Google Analytics. Magesh is renowned for his profound analytical problem-solving skills and strategic decision-making abilities, making him a leading force in transforming complex data into actionable insights.

 Magesh@digitalanalystteam.com

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