Google Tag Manager (GTM) is a powerful tool that allows website owners to manage and deploy marketing tags (snippets of code) on their WordPress site without the need for manual coding. Whether you’re running Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, or other third-party tracking services, Google Tag Manager simplifies the process and makes it easy to update tags whenever needed.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to install and set up Google Tag Manager in WordPress step by step.
What is Google Tag Manager?
Google Tag Manager is a tag management system (TMS) that allows you to add and manage multiple tags to your website without modifying the site’s code directly. Once GTM is installed, you can manage tags like Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, AdWords, and more from a single interface.
Benefits of Google Tag Manager
- Simplified Tag Management: You can add or update tags from a single dashboard without manually altering your website’s code.
- Improved Website Performance: Tags are loaded asynchronously, meaning they won’t slow down your website.
- Flexibility: Easily track user behaviors, conversions, and events without developer intervention.
Step-by-Step Guide to Install and Set Up Google Tag Manager in WordPress
1. Create a Google Tag Manager Account
The first step is to create a Google Tag Manager account.
- Visit the Google Tag Manager website and sign in with your Google account.
- Click Create Account.
- Enter your Account Name (usually your business name).
- Enter your website’s Domain Name.
- Select your Country.
- Click Continue and agree to the terms of service.
2. Create a Container for Your Website
A container holds all the tags for your website.
- After creating your account, you’ll be prompted to create a Container.
- Name your container (e.g., your website’s name).
- Choose Web as the platform where the container will be used.
- Click Create.
Once your container is created, you will be provided with a container code. This code will need to be added to your WordPress site.
3. Add Google Tag Manager Code to Your WordPress Website
To add Google Tag Manager to your WordPress site, you need to insert the container code into your website’s header and body sections.
You can do this manually or use a plugin. Here’s how to do both:
Manual Installation:
- Copy the Container Code: After creating the container, Google Tag Manager will provide you with two pieces of code.
- The first code goes into the <head> section of your website.
- The second code goes into the <body> section.
- Edit Your WordPress Theme:
- Go to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to Appearance > Theme File Editor.
- Open your theme’s header.php file.
- Paste the first part of the GTM code right after the opening <head> tag.
- Open the footer.php file and paste the second part of the GTM code right before the closing </body> tag.
- Save the changes.
Using a Plugin:
If you’re not comfortable editing theme files, you can use a plugin like Insert Headers and Footers.
- Install and activate the Insert Headers and Footers plugin.
- Go to Settings > Insert Headers and Footers in your WordPress dashboard.
- Paste the first part of the GTM code into the Header section.
- Paste the second part of the GTM code into the Body section.
- Click Save.
4. Set Up Tags in Google Tag Manager
Now that GTM is installed on your WordPress site, you can begin setting up tags.
- Go back to the Google Tag Manager dashboard.
- Click on your container and go to the Tags section.
- Click New and choose the type of tag you want to add (e.g., Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel).
- Configure the tag with the appropriate tracking ID or code.
- Set up the Triggering (this determines when the tag will fire, such as on all pages or specific actions).
- Click Save.
5. Publish Your Tags
Once your tags are set up, click Submit in the Google Tag Manager dashboard to publish your changes. Your tags will now be live on your WordPress site.
Conclusion
Google Tag Manager is an excellent tool for simplifying tag management on your WordPress site. It allows you to deploy and manage multiple tags from one place, improving both your site’s performance and tracking capabilities.
By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can easily install and set up Google Tag Manager on your WordPress website, giving you greater control over your site’s tracking and analytics.
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