How to Implement Google Analytics with Google Tag Manager

Looking for an easy way to update your Google Analytics code on your website?

Google Tag Manager is a free tool that allows you to effortlessly add and update your Google Analytics code and other tags on your site without having to manually write a single line of code.

In this article, we’ll show you the Google Tag Manager setup with Google Analytics.

What is Google Tag Manager and Why Do You Need It?

Google Tag Manager is a free tag management system (TMS) offered by Google. It provides a simple platform for managing and updating different types of tags on your website.

A tag is a tracking code or snippet of Javascript that sends information about your site to a third party, such as Google.

Using Google Tag Manager, you can deploy different types of tracking codes (tags) such as the Google Analytics tracking code on your site without needing to edit your website’s code. Similarly, you can add codes for event tracking, conversion tracking, remarketing, and more using the Tag Manager.

For instance, if you want to track file downloads on your site, you’ll have to enable event tracking and manually update all the download links for it to work. But, if you’ve installed the Google Tag Manager on your site, you can simply add a new tag into your Tag Manager to set up file download tracking.

With Google Tag Manager, you can deploy various types of tracking code on your site, including Google Analytics.

An Alternative Method to Tag Manager

The downside to using Tag Manager to deploy tracking codes is that there’s a steep learning curve if you’ve never used it before.

The MonsterInsights plugin is the better choice if you’re after an easier alternative to set up Google Analytics in WordPress.

MonsterInsights is the best Google Analytics plugin for WordPress websites. It allows you to set up Google Analytics in WordPress easily, right from your WordPress dashboard. Because of this, you won’t have to log into any third-party sites or mess with endless tracking codes.

The MonsterInsights plugin makes it simple to set up Google Analytics, whether you’re an absolute beginner or a seasoned professional. The core plugin comes with every essential feature you’ll need for your site, including an analytics dashboard so you can view your analytics reports directly in WordPress.

You can also extend and enhance the functionality of MonsterInsights by installing addons, including:

• eCommerce Tracking: easily track your WooCommerce or Easy Digital Downloads store
• Ads Tracking: See who’s clicking on which ads on your site
• Custom Dimensions: Track authors, categories, tags, and more
• Forms Tracking: See stats on all your WordPress form views and conversions
• Google Optimize: Easily enable Google Optimize for easy split testing
• Google AMP: Get accurate analytics on your AMP-enable pages

…and much more. In short, the MonsterInsights plugin makes it super easy, super-fast, and super efficient to use Google Analytics in WordPress.

However, if you still prefer using Google Tag Manager, you can follow the tutorial below to get started.

Implementing Google Analytics with Google Tag Manager

The first thing you need to do is sign up for Google Tag Manager. You can use an existing Google account or create a new one.

Once you’re logged in, click the Create Account button.

Then, enter a preferred account name to your Account Name field.

In the Container Setup step, you can enter your website name as the Container name. Under Target platform, choose Web and then, click Create.

Now you’ll be asked to agree to the Terms of Services for Google Tag Manager. Click Yes and also make sure to check the box at the bottom that says I also accept the Data Processing Terms as required by GDPR.

Then you’ll be given a tracking code snippet that you’ll have to enter onto your site. There are different ways you can paste the code onto the header.php of your WordPress site.

For more details, follow our guide on how to install Google Tag Manager in WordPress.

After you’ve successfully entered the code snipet on your website, you will have to set up a tag. Start by clicking New Tag.

You can rename the tag by clicking on the Untitled Tag field. Then click on the big icon where it says choose a tag type to begin setup.

Then select Google Analytics: Universal Analytics.

Next, click on the dropdown menu under Google Analytics Settings and select a New Variable.

After that, give a name to your variable and then enter your Google Analytics Tracking ID. There are more settings you can choose from, but you can leave them as it is for now. Click Save when you’re done.

In the next step, you’ll have to set up a trigger. To do that, click on the big icon where it says choose a trigger to make this tag fire.

For basic Google Analytics implementation, select All Pages.

Now simply click the Save button at the top and you’re ready to publish your Google Analytics tag.

Next, you’ll have to submit your newly created tag. To do that, select Tags from the options on your left. Then select the Google Analytics tag and click the Submit button.

That’s it!

You’ve successfully implemented Google Analytics with Google Tag Manager. Your Google Analytics tag will execute on every page.

After that, you’ll need to wait a few hours for Google Analytics to gather your website’s data. Then, you can log into your Google Analytics account and view your website’s reports.

We hope this tutorial helped you to implement Google Analytics with Google Tag Manager successfully.

If you’re looking for an easier way to implement Google Analytics on your WordPress site, check our article on how to define user permissions in Google Analytics.

And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook for more helpful Google Analytics tips.