What is Google Tag Manager and why do you need it
What is Google Tag Manager
Tags that are used to collect analytic information are different from standard HTML tags such as <body>, <div> or <p>. In Google Tag Manager (GTM for short), tags are short HTML codes to simplify the integration of services and products on a project. For example, the Google Analytics tracking code.
Thanks to GTM, you don't need to add such tags to the resource program code. They can be configured and published in the Tag Manager interface without involving programmers for this purpose.
![What is Google Tag Manager and why do you need it 16261788354094 Google tag manager](https://serpstat.com/img/blog/what-is-google-tag-manager-and-why-do-you-need-it/1570535484google-tag-manager-1.png)
GTM allows you to streamline work processes and protect yourself from possible errors. GTM is used to add such tags as:
- search engine tracking codes;
- remarketing codes for paid search and targeted campaigns on social media;
- tracking views of specific pages or content;
- pressing any buttons;
- scrolling;
- submitting forms;
- participating in Google surveys about website visitor satisfaction;
- tracking clicks on external and internal links;
- complex actions, for example, adding or removing certain products to the basket and many more.
The tool allows you to add more than 50 ready-made options for information and commercial projects as well as use your own custom tags:
![What is Google Tag Manager and why do you need it 16261788354096 Tag Types in Google Tag Manager](https://serpstat.com/img/blog/what-is-google-tag-manager-and-why-do-you-need-it/1570535485google-tag-manager-2.png)
Google Tag Manager: training before use
- define which employees will manage your account. In case a certain specialist resigns, make sure there is another employee with access to the system in the company;
- when working with multiple domains, it is desirable to create separate containers for each of them. However, for visually identical websites and tag sets, it is preferable to use one common container;
- define which information you need to receive, analyze existing tags and make a list of new ones. To track actions performed on unique landing pages, standard tags that can be added to the container using GTM will be enough.
For example, after a user places an order, a thank-you page is displayed at site.com/successful-order.html. In this case, you can track conversions using a tag that is activated when you go to the specified page.
For tags that are activated in complex scenarios, for example, tracking the number of products added to the basket from the "Popular Products" block, more fine-tuning through the data layer will be required. This is an additional code that transfers information from the resource to tags during specific user actions, for example, pressing buttons, viewing certain content, scrolling, etc.
Google Tag Manager: installation step by step
Creating an account and a container
![What is Google Tag Manager and why do you need it 16261788354097 Sign up for Google Tag Manager](https://serpstat.com/img/blog/what-is-google-tag-manager-and-why-do-you-need-it/1570535486google-tag-manager-3.png)
![What is Google Tag Manager and why do you need it 16261788354098 Create a container in GTM](https://serpstat.com/img/blog/what-is-google-tag-manager-and-why-do-you-need-it/1570535488google-tag-manager-4.png)
![What is Google Tag Manager and why do you need it 16261788354099 Google Tag Manager Terms of Service](https://serpstat.com/img/blog/what-is-google-tag-manager-and-why-do-you-need-it/1570535489google-tag-manager-5.png)
![What is Google Tag Manager and why do you need it 16261788354100 Install Google Tag Manager](https://serpstat.com/img/blog/what-is-google-tag-manager-and-why-do-you-need-it/1570535490google-tag-manager-6.png)
How to add the Google Universal Analytics tag
![What is Google Tag Manager and why do you need it 16261788354100 Variables in Google Tag Manager](https://serpstat.com/img/blog/what-is-google-tag-manager-and-why-do-you-need-it/1570535491google-tag-manager-7.png)
![What is Google Tag Manager and why do you need it 16261788354101 Creating a GTM Variable](https://serpstat.com/img/blog/what-is-google-tag-manager-and-why-do-you-need-it/1570535493google-tag-manager-8.png)
![What is Google Tag Manager and why do you need it 16261788354102 Google Analytics Tracking Code](https://serpstat.com/img/blog/what-is-google-tag-manager-and-why-do-you-need-it/1570535494google-tag-manager-9.png)
![What is Google Tag Manager and why do you need it 16261788354103 Setting Google Tag Manager Variable](https://serpstat.com/img/blog/what-is-google-tag-manager-and-why-do-you-need-it/1570535495google-tag-manager-1.png)
![What is Google Tag Manager and why do you need it 16261788354104 How to create a tag in Google Tag Manager](https://serpstat.com/img/blog/what-is-google-tag-manager-and-why-do-you-need-it/1570535496google-tag-manager-1.png)
![What is Google Tag Manager and why do you need it 16261788354105 Tag customization in Google Tag Manager](https://serpstat.com/img/blog/what-is-google-tag-manager-and-why-do-you-need-it/1570535497google-tag-manager-1.png)
![What is Google Tag Manager and why do you need it 16261788354106 Choosing a tag type in Google Tag Manager](https://serpstat.com/img/blog/what-is-google-tag-manager-and-why-do-you-need-it/1570535499google-tag-manager-1.png)
![What is Google Tag Manager and why do you need it 16261788354106 GTM tag configuration](https://serpstat.com/img/blog/what-is-google-tag-manager-and-why-do-you-need-it/1570535500google-tag-manager-1.png)
![What is Google Tag Manager and why do you need it 16261788354107 Save Google Tag Manager Tag](https://serpstat.com/img/blog/what-is-google-tag-manager-and-why-do-you-need-it/1570535502google-tag-manager-1.png)
![What is Google Tag Manager and why do you need it 16261788354108 Site operator to search a site on Google](https://serpstat.com/img/blog/what-is-google-tag-manager-and-why-do-you-need-it/1570535503google-tag-manager-1.png)
![What is Google Tag Manager and why do you need it 16261788354109 Publish Google Tag Manager Tag](https://serpstat.com/img/blog/what-is-google-tag-manager-and-why-do-you-need-it/1570535504google-tag-manager-1.png)
Configuring goals in Google Tag Manager
Create a new tag with the name "Promotion View" and the "Universal Analytics" type:
![What is Google Tag Manager and why do you need it 16261788354110 Universal Analytics in Google Tag Manager](https://serpstat.com/img/blog/what-is-google-tag-manager-and-why-do-you-need-it/1570535505google-tag-manager-1.png)
![What is Google Tag Manager and why do you need it 16261788354111 Tracking Google Tag Manager Page Views](https://serpstat.com/img/blog/what-is-google-tag-manager-and-why-do-you-need-it/1570535507google-tag-manager-1.png)
![What is Google Tag Manager and why do you need it 16261788354112 Configure a Google Tag Manager trigger](https://serpstat.com/img/blog/what-is-google-tag-manager-and-why-do-you-need-it/1570535508google-tag-manager-2.png)
Similar statistics can be obtained if you set this goal in Google Analytics in the "Settings" section:
![What is Google Tag Manager and why do you need it 16261788354113 Google Analytics Goals](https://serpstat.com/img/blog/what-is-google-tag-manager-and-why-do-you-need-it/1570535509google-tag-manager-2.png)
![What is Google Tag Manager and why do you need it 16261788354113 Custom Goal in Google Analytics](https://serpstat.com/img/blog/what-is-google-tag-manager-and-why-do-you-need-it/1570535510google-tag-manager-2.png)
![What is Google Tag Manager and why do you need it 16261788354114 Google Analytics Landing Page](https://serpstat.com/img/blog/what-is-google-tag-manager-and-why-do-you-need-it/1570535512google-tag-manager-2.png)
![What is Google Tag Manager and why do you need it 16261788354115 Analytics Goal Setting](https://serpstat.com/img/blog/what-is-google-tag-manager-and-why-do-you-need-it/1570535513google-tag-manager-2.png)
![What is Google Tag Manager and why do you need it 16261788354116 Google Analytics conversion](https://serpstat.com/img/blog/what-is-google-tag-manager-and-why-do-you-need-it/1570535514google-tag-manager-2.png)
Dynamic remarketing in Google Tag Manager
![What is Google Tag Manager and why do you need it 16261788354117 Add New Tag to GTM](https://serpstat.com/img/blog/what-is-google-tag-manager-and-why-do-you-need-it/1570535515google-tag-manager-2.png)
![What is Google Tag Manager and why do you need it 16261788354118 Google Ads Remarketing](https://serpstat.com/img/blog/what-is-google-tag-manager-and-why-do-you-need-it/1570535517google-tag-manager-2.png)
![What is Google Tag Manager and why do you need it 16261788354118 GTM tag triggers](https://serpstat.com/img/blog/what-is-google-tag-manager-and-why-do-you-need-it/1570535518google-tag-manager-2.png)
![What is Google Tag Manager and why do you need it 16261788354119 Types of Google Tag Manager triggers](https://serpstat.com/img/blog/what-is-google-tag-manager-and-why-do-you-need-it/1570535520google-tag-manager-2.png)
![What is Google Tag Manager and why do you need it 16261788354120 Publish Google Tag Manager container](https://serpstat.com/img/blog/what-is-google-tag-manager-and-why-do-you-need-it/1570535521google-tag-manager-3.png)
Cross-domain tracking in Google Tag Manager
A similar situation can occur when the online store and shopping cart are located in different domains. In order for a visit to the store, and then the basket, to be registered as a single session, you must link the domains.
To configure the correct statistics collection, you need to select a tag with the configuration of Universal Analytics. Then select "Enable overriding settings in this tag", go to "Advanced settings" -> "Cross-domain tracking":
![What is Google Tag Manager and why do you need it 16261788354121 Cross-domain tracking of Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager](https://serpstat.com/img/blog/what-is-google-tag-manager-and-why-do-you-need-it/1570535522google-tag-manager-3.png)
![What is Google Tag Manager and why do you need it 16261788354122 Linking Domains in Google Tag Manager](https://serpstat.com/img/blog/what-is-google-tag-manager-and-why-do-you-need-it/1570535523google-tag-manager-3.png)
Conclusion
- Google Universal Analytics tracking codes;
- data collection for enhanced electronic commerce reports;
- tracking visits to certain pages, making calls, conversions in Google Ads;
- Google Ads remarketing;
- other options for various tracking and optimization.
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