Creating a Google Tag Manager container involves a straightforward process, beginning with setting up a Google Tag Manager account and then defining the container for your specific digital property. This container acts as a centralized hub for managing all your website or app tags, such as those for analytics, marketing, and personalization.
Understanding Google Tag Manager Accounts and Containers
Before diving into the steps, it's essential to differentiate between a Google Tag Manager account and a container:
- Google Tag Manager Account: This is the top-level organizational structure. You typically set up one account for an organization or a major brand. It can house multiple containers.
- Container: This lives within an account and is specific to a digital property (e.g., a single website, a mobile app, or an AMP page). All the tags, triggers, and variables for that specific property are managed within its container.
Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Your Google Tag Container
Follow these steps to successfully set up your Google Tag Manager account and create your first container.
1. Sign In to Your Google Account
The first prerequisite is a valid Google Account. If you don't have one, you'll need to create one. Your Google Account will be used to access Google Tag Manager.
- Action: Go to the Google Tag Manager website and sign in using your existing Google Account credentials.
- Tip: Ensure you're using a Google Account associated with your organization or the primary account for managing your digital properties.
2. Create a New Google Tag Manager Account
If this is your first time using Google Tag Manager, or if you want to create a separate account for a new organization, you'll need to start here.
- Action:
- Once signed in, click on the Accounts tab located in the top left corner of the Google Tag Manager interface.
- Then, select Create Account which is typically found in the top right corner.
3. Configure Your Account Setup
In the "Account Setup" section, you'll provide basic details for your new Google Tag Manager account.
- Account Name:
- Recommendation: Use a descriptive name that represents your organization or brand (e.g., "Acme Corp Marketing," "My Blog Company").
- Example:
Example Company LLC
- Country:
- Recommendation: Select the country where your organization is primarily based. This helps Google apply relevant terms of service.
- Example:
United States
4. Configure Your Container Setup
This is where you define the specifics of your container, which will manage the tags for your website or app.
- Container Name:
- Recommendation: Use a name that clearly identifies the digital property this container will manage. This is crucial if you have multiple websites or apps.
- Examples:
example.com Website,Acme iOS App,Blog Website
- Target Platform:
- Recommendation: Select the environment where this container will be deployed. This choice determines the type of container code generated and available features.
- Options include:
- Web: For websites (most common).
- iOS: For Apple mobile applications.
- Android: For Android mobile applications.
- AMP: For Accelerated Mobile Pages.
- Server: For server-side tagging.
Below is a quick overview of common container setup choices:
| Setting | Description | Common Recommendations |
|---|---|---|
| Container Name | A unique identifier for your specific website or app. | [Website Name] Web, [App Name] iOS/Android |
| Target Platform | The environment where the container will be implemented. | Web for websites, iOS or Android for mobile apps |
5. Finalize Creation and Agree to Terms
Once you've filled in all the details, the final step is to create your container and accept the terms of service.
- Action:
- Click the Create button.
- Review and agree to the Google Tag Manager Terms of Service. This is a mandatory step to proceed.
What Happens Next?
After successfully creating your container, Google Tag Manager will provide you with the container code snippet. This code needs to be implemented on every page of your website or within your mobile application's code.
- For Web Containers: You'll receive two snippets:
- One to be placed as high as possible in the
<head>section of your website. - One to be placed immediately after the opening
<body>tag.
- One to be placed as high as possible in the
- For App Containers: You'll find instructions on how to integrate the SDK into your mobile app.
Once the container code is installed, you can start adding, configuring, and publishing tags without needing to modify your website's code directly each time. This significantly streamlines your tracking and marketing efforts.
