How to use Google Tag Manager for tracking AMP pages

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Google Tag Manager (GTM) is a powerful tool for managing and tracking website tags, including Google Analytics, Google Ads, and other third-party tags. With GTM, you can easily track your website’s performance, monitor user behavior, and optimize your marketing campaigns. However, AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) pages present a unique challenge for tracking due to their limited JavaScript capabilities. In this article, we’ll explore how to use Google Tag Manager for tracking AMP pages.

What are AMP pages?

AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) is an open-source framework that enables publishers to create fast-loading web pages for mobile devices. AMP pages are designed to load quickly, making them ideal for news articles, blogs, and other content-driven websites. However, AMP pages have limited JavaScript capabilities, which can make it challenging to track user behavior using traditional methods.

Why use Google Tag Manager for tracking AMP pages?

Google Tag Manager is an excellent choice for tracking AMP pages because it allows you to:

  1. Track events: GTM enables you to track events on your AMP pages, such as button clicks, form submissions, and scrolling behaviors.
  2. Capture user behavior: GTM allows you to capture user behavior on your AMP pages, including navigation paths, scrolling depth, and time spent on page.
  3. Measure conversions: GTM helps you measure conversions on your AMP pages, such as form submissions, purchases, or downloads.
  4. Integrate with other tools: GTM integrates seamlessly with other Google tools like Google Analytics and Google Ads, enabling you to analyze your data across multiple platforms.

1. Setting up Google Tag Manager for AMP pages

To set up GTM for tracking AMP pages, follow these steps:

Create a new container: Create a new container in GTM by clicking on “Create” and selecting “Web” as the container type.

  1. Configure the container: Configure the container by specifying the URL pattern for your AMP pages (e.g., *.amp.example.com).
  2. Add tags: Add the necessary tags to your container, such as Google Analytics or Google Ads.
  3. Configure tag triggers: Configure the triggers for each tag to fire on specific events (e.g., page load, button click).

2. Tracking events on AMP pages

To track events on AMP pages using GTM, follow these steps:

  1. Create an event trigger: Create a new trigger by clicking on “Triggers” and selecting “Custom Event” as the trigger type.
  2. Configure the trigger: Configure the trigger by specifying the event name (e.g., “button_click”) and the event details (e.g., button ID).
  3. Add the trigger to a tag: Add the trigger to a tag (e.g., Google Analytics) to fire when the event occurs.

3. Tracking user behavior on AMP pages

To track user behavior on AMP pages using GTM, follow these steps:

  1. Create a behavior trigger: Create a new trigger by clicking on “Triggers” and selecting “Custom Behavior” as the trigger type.
  2. Configure the trigger: Configure the trigger by specifying the behavior criteria (e.g., scroll depth of 50%).
  3. Add the trigger to a tag: Add the trigger to a tag (e.g., Google Analytics) to fire when the behavior occurs.

4. Measuring conversions on AMP pages

To measure conversions on AMP pages using GTM, follow these steps:

  1. Create a conversion trigger: Create a new trigger by clicking on “Triggers” and selecting “Custom Conversion” as the trigger type.
  2. Configure the trigger: Configure the trigger by specifying the conversion criteria (e.g., form submission).
  3. Add the trigger to a tag: Add the trigger to a tag (e.g., Google Analytics) to fire when the conversion occurs.

Best practices for tracking AMP pages with Google Tag Manager

 

  1. When tracking AMP pages with GTM, keep in mind the following best practices:
    1. Use lightweight tags: Use lightweight tags that don’t slow down page loading times.
    2. Minimize JavaScript code: Minimize JavaScript code to ensure compatibility with AMP’s limited JavaScript capabilities.
  2. Use async tagging: Use async tagging to prevent blocking page loading times.
  3. Test thoroughly: Test your tags thoroughly to ensure they are firing correctly and providing accurate data.

In conclusion, Google Tag Manager is an excellent choice for tracking AMP pages due to its flexibility and ease of use. By following these steps and best practices, you can set up GTM for tracking events, user behavior, and conversions on your AMP pages. Remember to use lightweight tags, minimize JavaScript code, use async tagging, and test thoroughly to ensure accurate data collection and minimal impact on page loading times.

 

Categories: Digital Marketing