October 8, 2016
Ultimate list of 90+ Google Tag Manager Resources
Lately, I was checking my Evernote account and remembered I had bookmarked a lot of various Google Tag Manager resources – including my favorite blog posts, people to follow, recipes, etc. That folder is constantly updated and becomes really useful when I forget how something should be implemented. Today I am sharing that entire folder with you (+ a few additional updates). These resources (and people behind them) helped me a lot with their awesome content. Learning Google Tag Manager today is much easier for a non-developer (like me), compared to 2013 (Current UI is better than v1; in 2013 there was too little information/tutorials). Currently, there are tons of Google Tag Manager resources that beginners can use to achieve their success. And that amount is growing exponentially (which is awesome)!
So I compiled everything that was useful for me, categorized and sorted those resources. This blog post is designed for beginners (with a few advanced tips and resources). I hope you’ll find this useful!
By the way, if you know any other useful Google Tag Manager resources which are not mentioned here, post a comment or contact me in any other way (find out more at the end of this post).
What is Google Tag Manager and why should you use?
Let’s start at the very beginning. If you don’t know what GTM is and whether you need it (the default answer is of course, you do!), check out the links below.
#1. 11 reasons to start using Google Tag Manager
#2. Google Tag Manager tutorial for beginners (+ Free Ebook)
#3. Google Support – Google Tag Manager by Google
#4. Google Tag Manager tutorial (video)
Are you now convinced that GTM should be included in your stack of Digital Analytics tools? I bet you are. Let’s continue.
Main concepts, naming conventions, installing Google Tag Manager
Disclaimer – on September 28, 2016, Google announced that official recommendation for placement of Google Tag Manager’s Container snippet has changed. Previously it was recommended (by Google) to place the entire code right after the <body> tag. Now that opinion has shifted: a part of the code should be placed in <head> and the noscript part should be placed in <body>. The following two blog posts discuss the impact of placing the code in <head>. Nonetheless, if you inject the code right after <body> tag, Google Tag Manager will still work.
#5. How To Install Google Tag Manager by Analytics Mania
#6. Google Tag Manager Structure by Aukera
#7. Naming conventions and setup tips by Google
#8. Google Tag Manager Naming Strategies to Organize Your Container
#9. Google Tag Manager Best Practices by Analytics Mania
#10. Tag Manager Workspaces by Simo Ahava
#11. Google Tag Manager Updates: Workspaces and User Interface by Lunametrics
Tags, Triggers and Variables
#12. Tags, Triggers, Variables by Google
VARIABLES
#13. Use constant string user-defined variables by Google
#14. Variables by Google
#15. Variable Guide For Google Tag Manager by Simo Ahava
#16. JavaScript Variable
#17. 7 Must-Have Google Tag Manager Custom Variables by Analytics Mania
#18. Auto-event variable
TRIGGERS
#19. Beginner’s guide to Triggers by Lunametrics
#20. Trigger guide for Google Tag Manager by Simo Ahava
#21. Triggers to Test Using Google Tag Manager by Clix
TAGS
#22. Tag Setup Guides by Google
#23. Tags, Triggers, Variables by Google
Measurement plan, tag plan
#24. Measurement plan by Fresh egg
#25. Tag template + VIDEO by Measureschool
Do you want to test your current Google Tag Manager knowledge (+ learn a bit more with practical tasks)? Then check out #26. Google Tag Manager Fundamentals course.
Thriving for more knowledge? Continue reading.
Data Layer
#27. What is dataLayer in Google Tag Manager? by Analytics Mania.
#28. Custom event trigger
#29. Data Layer Variable
#30. The Data Layer by Lunametrics
#31. 3 Ways To Pull Data from Data Layer with Google Tag Manager by Analytics Mania
#32. The Google Tag Manager dataLayer explained
Google Tag Manager + Google Analytics
#33. Google Tag Manager Tutorial for Beginners + Free E-book
#34. Google Analytics vs Google Tag Manager: What’s the Difference? by Analytics Mania
#35. Safely Migrating To Google Tag Manager by Lunametrics
#36. Cross-Domain Tracking with Google Tag Manager
#37. How to track events with Google Tag Manager and Google Analytics
#38. Advanced – Google Tag Manager event tracking using data attribute elements by David Vallejo
#39. Advanced – Setting Google Analytics Fields In GTM by Simo Ahava
Google Tag Manager + Google Adwords
#40. Setting Up Conversion Tracking in AdWords by Megalytic
#41. Install Adwords Remarketing Tag by Webanalytics
#42. Advanced – Setting up Dynamic Remarketing via Google Tag Manager by Optimize Smart
#43. AdWords Call Conversion Tracking with Google Tag Manager by Lunametrics
Google Tag Manager plays well with others too
#44. Inspectlet + Google Tag Manager: Complete Guide
#45. Install and configure Facebook Pixel via Google Tag Manager
#46. Install and configure Hotjar with Google Tag Manager
#47. Supported Tag Templates by Google. The list of supported tag templates is constantly growing, so if you represent a vendor and want to be included among other default tag templates, fill in this Tag Vendor Interest form.
Still hungry for more Google Tag Manager Resources? If yes, continue reading. If no – I suggest bookmarking this list for the future.
Click Tracking – Default auto-event listeners
#48. Tracking outbound links with GTM
#49. Track buttons with Google Tag Manager
#50. Matches CSS selector Operator in Triggers by Simo Ahava
REGULAR EXPRESSIONS
In my opinion, basic knowledge of Regular Expressions (Regex or Regexp) is a must-have skill when working with Google Tag Manager (i.e. setting up triggers) or Google Analytics (i.e. settings up custom filters). Make sure you check out the next 4 resources.
#51. Beginner’s Guide to Regular Expression (Regex) by Hongkiat
#52. RegEx guide for Google Analytics and Tag Manager by Aleksandrs Pasters
#53. An Introduction to regular expressions, and the ABCs. It’s an interactive guide with practical tasks.
#54. Regular expressions 101. I use this web-based app to test and validate my regular expressions. Extremely useful.
#55. Regular Expressions Guide for SEO, Google Analytics & Google Tag Manager by Optimize Smart.
Form Tracking – Default Auto-event Listeners
#56. Track Form Engagement With Google Tag Manager by Simo Ahava
#57. Form Field Tracking with Google Tag Manager and an Auto Event Trigger by Measureschool
History, Errors, Timer – Default Auto-event Listeners
#58. Track URL Fragments As Pageviews by Simo Ahava
#59. Tracking single page web apps with Google Tag Manager and Analytics by PMG
#60. Track errors with Google Tag Manager
#61. Combine multiple triggers with Trigger groups
#62. The Timer Trigger by Analytics Mania
#63. Lower Bounce Rate via Google Tag Manager
Custom Auto-event Listeners (Twitter, AJAX, etc.)
#64. Google Tag Manager: Track Social Interactions
#65. Google Tag Manager Form Tracking: 7 Ways To Reach Your Goal by Analytics Mania
#66. Track videos
#67. Video tracking (beyond Youtube)
#68. Solved: Youtube tracking isn’t working with Google Tag Manager by me. I faced a problem when Cardinal Path’s or Lunametrics’ Youtube tracking solutions didn’t work for me. This blog post describes an alternative solution that might help you.
#69. Tracking Scroll Depth with Google Tag Manager by Simo Ahava
#70. Hover Tracking in Google Tag Manager
#71. Free AJAX Event Listener for Google Tag Manager
#72. Track page translations
P.S. You can find more Custom Auto-Event Listener in the library of 30+ Free GTM Recipes.
Versions, Deployment, Testing, QA
#73. How to Publish a Single Tag (and not others) in Google Tag Manager by Lunametrics
#74. Better QA With Google Tag Manager Environments by Simo Ahava
#75. Deploying Google Tag Manager on Multiple Website Environments by Lunametrics
#76. Process Control: Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager in Development and Live Environments by E-nor
Tools
#77. Google Tag Manager Extensions for Google Chrome by Analytics Mania
#78. GTM debugging tips
#79. GTM DataLayer Sifter: Find The Data You Want Easily by Grue and Bleen
#80. Facebook Pixel Helper reviewed by AdEspresso
#81. A Guide to Google Tag Manager Preview and Debug Mode by Analytics Mania
Google Tag Manager + SEO
#82. Verify your site in Search Console (ex. Webmaster Tools) by Google. Not working? Try this
#83. Using Google Tag Manager to Dynamically Generate Schema/JSON-LD Tags by Moz
#84. Dynamically Added Meta Data Indexed By Google Crawlers by Simo Ahava
#85. Error Tracking with Google Tag Manager and Google Analytics
Recipes
#86. The Ultimate Library of 40+ Google Tag Manager Recipes (ready-made containers with tags and triggers). Just download them and import them to your container.
If you know any other collections of GTM recipes, hit me up! I’ll add it here.
Communities
Join these communities if you want to be the first to hear the GTM news, solve your problems or get some new ideas.
#87. Google Tag Manager Community on Facebook (Recommended)
#88. Official Google Tag Manager Forum
#89. GTM Reddit
#90. Measure Slack
People and Blogs to follow
Pro tip: I prefer getting updates/new blog posts straight to my email inbox. Unfortunately not all GTM influencers send newsletters. My solution to that is using Blogtrottr – a free service that regularly checks RSS feeds and sends me an email when a new post is published. I do this with Simo Ahava’s or Krista Seiden’s blogs, for instance.
#91. Simo’s blog post 10 Blogs, 10 Articles, 10 People To Follow is a good place to start looking for GTM/Digital Analytics influencers to follow.
#92. Analytics Mania #shamelessplug
#92.5 Check out any other author whose post(s) are mentioned in this list and you will find what you need.
Bonus
In case you did not know, there is a neat Google Tag Manager content stream down at Digital Marketing Base. It contains cherry-picked guides/content related to various topics (e.g. Google Analytics, Data Studio, etc.). The dedicated stream of GTM news/posts can be found here.
Do you know more Google Tag Manager Resources?
In case I missed something (which is very possible), let me know in the comments. If I find your suggestion interesting and useful, I’ll add it to this list (topics should not overlap with my current choices).
Ok, so what’s next?
- If you haven’t already, check out at least a few entries on this list.
- Bookmark this list for the future.
- Join GTM communities and start following GTM people/blog of your choice.
- Continue learning.
- Profit.
1 COMMENT
This is beyond awesome man. Thank you so much.