How to set up Google Tag Manager in WordPress for 2024

HTML markup language elements, like tags, play a crucial role in structuring and describing content on web pages. These tags, essentially snippets of JavaScript code, are embedded within websites to execute various functions. They can track user interactions, monitor traffic sources, and gather advertising insights. Additionally, tags aid search engines in effectively indexing and ranking web pages while providing website owners with valuable data.

Google Tag Manager (GTM) emerges as a handy tool for managing and implementing an array of tags on your website, all without the need to manually alter the source code. If you've recently acquired a new WordPress theme from our collection and have plans to kickstart your online store, setting up and configuring this tool should be on your priority list.

In the WordPress, Google Tag Manager proves particularly beneficial as it enables you to seamlessly integrate various scripts and codes for:

• Analytics services like Google Analytics, KISSMetrics, among others.
• Advertising tags sourced from platforms such as Google Ads, Facebook, AdRoll, and more.
• Conversion tracking, especially useful during split or A/B testing endeavors, and numerous other functionalities, all managed directly through the GTM interface, sparing you the hassle of tinkering with your website's source code.

In essence, Google Tag Manager streamlines many tasks, making them accessible even to users with minimal technical expertise.

The main advantages of using Google Tag Manager in WordPress

The primary benefits of incorporating Google Tag Manager into your WordPress site are manifold:

• Streamlined Process: By leveraging GTM, you can seamlessly add and tweak various metric and analytical codes without directly meddling with your site's source code. GTM autonomously handles the requisite adjustments.
• Centralized Management: Enjoy the convenience of managing all your codes and scripts from a singular platform – the Google Tag Manager interface. This consolidated approach means dealing with fewer interfaces, enhancing overall efficiency.
• Flexible Optimization: Harness automatic settings to deploy diverse metric and analytics codes based on conditions you define. For instance, you can trigger specific codes on actions like website logins, user interactions, and more.
• Enhanced Website Performance: Bid farewell to the need for cluttering your source code with an extensive list of scripts. Through GTM, you can efficiently manage script execution and loading, a tactic that many users attest can significantly boost website loading speeds.
• Time Savings: Empower yourself to enact necessary content changes on your pages sans the involvement of specialists. Moreover, website management becomes swifter and more agile, eliminating the need to invest time in briefing third-party experts and awaiting their availability for implementing changes.
• Cost Efficiency: With the ability to execute most actions independently, you can circumvent the need for additional specialists whose services often come with a hefty price tag.

Nonetheless, it's crucial to be mindful of potential pitfalls associated with Google Tag Manager. Accidental damage to the GTM container code, for instance, can result in the loss of all tags generated through it. Additionally, the absence of online support and generated reports may pose some inconvenience.

To integrate GTM into your WordPress site, typically, you'll need to embed the GTM container code and configure necessary settings within the GTM interface. Detailed instructions on how to execute these steps independently will be provided below.

Wondering how to integrate the Google Tag Manager container code into your WordPress site?

There are primarily two approaches to achieve this:

• Utilizing a Plugin: This method stands out as the simplest and widely preferred option. Numerous free plugins are available for this purpose, such as "Insert Headers and Footers" or "Header and Footer Scripts". Once you've installed and activated the plugin of your choice, you can conveniently paste your Google Tag Manager container code into the designated fields for the header and footer.
• Manual Code Insertion: While this route demands a bit more technical proficiency, it grants you greater control over the placement of the code. To proceed, you'll need to manually insert the code into the "header.php" and "footer.php" files within your WordPress theme. This can be accomplished using either an FTP client or the file manager provided by your hosting panel.

Let's delve into the steps involved in each method.

To begin, you'll need to obtain the code for the Google Tag Manager container

Navigate to tagmanager.google.com and log in to your account. If you're new to Google Tag Manager, you'll need to create an account first. Simply click on the "Create an account" option located at the top right corner. Fill in the necessary details, including:

• Account name: Google recommends using a single account irrespective of the number of sites you manage.
• Country.

Once your account is set up, proceed to configure the container settings. Fill in the following fields:

• Container name: Each website should have its own container. It's advisable to name it after the website's URL or business name.
• Target platform: Specify where exactly you intend to deploy the resulting code.

Click the "Generate" button. Subsequently, you'll receive two snippets of Google Tag Manager container code along with instructions on where to place them on your website:

• The first snippet is to be inserted within the < head > tag. It's recommended to place it as close to the opening < head > tag as possible. This ensures a faster launch of Google Tag Manager and more comprehensive data collection.
• The second snippet should be inserted immediately after the < body > tag. This serves as a fail-safe mechanism. In the rare event that the first snippet fails to execute, the second one will act as a backup. It's prudent to incorporate both snippets of the container code for added reliability.

In conclusion, you now have the requisite code to incorporate into your website.

Want to integrate Google Tag Manager into your WordPress site using a plugin?

Let's walk through the process using the Insert Headers and Footers plugin as an example:

• Begin by installing and activating the Insert Headers and Footers plugin via your website's admin panel. Navigate to the Plugins tab on the left-hand menu, and select Add New. In the search bar, type in "Header and footer" and choose "Head, Footer and Post Injections" from the displayed options.
• Now, copy the top GTM code provided.
• Return to your website's admin panel and head to "Settings > Insert Headers and Footers". Paste the copied first part of the code into the "< HEAD > PAGE SECTION INJECTION" field.
• Next, revisit tagmanager.google.com and copy the second part of the code located below the first snippet. Paste this second part "AFTER THE < BODY > TAG".
• Finally, click on "Save".

Congratulations! You've successfully completed the installation process. Now, you can proceed with setting up Tags on your website.

Interested in manually installing Google Tag Manager in WordPress?

It's a bit more involved and necessitates at least a basic understanding of web development. Follow these step-by-step instructions to seamlessly integrate the Google Tag Manager container code into your WordPress site:

• Log in to your hosting account using either an FTP client or a file manager.
• Navigate to the wp-content/themes directory.
• Open the folder corresponding to the name of your theme.
• Locate and open the header.php file.
• Paste your Google Tag Manager container code immediately after the opening < head > tag. You can find this code in a separate section of the article.
• Save the header.php file.
• Next, open the footer.php file.
• Paste your Google Tag Manager container code just before the closing < /body > tag.
• Save the footer.php file.

With the Google Tag Manager container code now integrated into your WordPress website, you're all set to create tags and triggers to track the desired metrics and insights.