Google Tag Manager (GTM) is a tag management system that allows you to manage and deploy tags on your website or mobile app without having to modify the code. GTM can be used to implement a wide variety of tags, such as Google Analytics, Google Ads, and Facebook Pixel.
Testing GTM locally is important to ensure that your tags are firing correctly before you deploy them to production. This can help you to identify and fix any problems early on, and avoid any disruption to your website or app. 🚧❌
There are two main ways to test GTM locally:
- Using the GTM Preview and Debug mode 🕵️♀️
- Using a local web server 🖥️
Using the GTM Preview and Debug mode 🕵️♀️
The GTM Preview and Debug mode allows you to test your GTM tags on your local website or app without having to deploy them to production. To use the GTM Preview and Debug mode, follow these steps:
- Open Google Tag Manager.
- Click the Preview button in the top right corner of the screen.
- A new tab will open with the GTM debug console at the bottom.
- Navigate to your local website or app in the same browser.
- The GTM debug console will show you which tags are firing on the page. 🚀
You can also use the GTM Preview and Debug mode to test individual tags. To do this, simply click the Test button next to the tag you want to test. 🎯
Using a local web server 🖥️
If you have a local web server, you can also use it to test GTM locally. To do this, follow these steps:
- Deploy your website or app to your local web server.
- Open Google Tag Manager.
- Click the Preview button in the top right corner of the screen.
- In the Preview and Debug window, select the Localhost tab.
- Enter the URL of your local web server in the URL field. 🌐
- Click the Connect button.
A new tab will open with the GTM debug console at the bottom. Navigate to your local website or app in the same browser. The GTM debug console will show you which tags are firing on the page. 🎯
Tips for testing GTM locally 💡
Here are a few tips for testing GTM locally:
- Make sure that you are using the correct version of the GTM container code on your local website or app. 💻
- If you are using a local web server, make sure that it is running on the same port as the GTM debug console. 🔌
- If you are testing a specific tag, make sure that you have configured the tag to fire on the page you are testing. 🎯
- Use the GTM debug console to inspect the tags that are firing on the page. This will help you to identify any problems with your tags. 🕵️♀️
Testing Google Tag Manager locally is an essential step in ensuring the success of your digital marketing campaigns. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can quickly and easily test your GTM tags and ensure that they are firing correctly. If you encounter any problems, please contact us: at http://thetrackingagency.com/#contat-for-form and we will be happy to assist you with your Google Tag Manager needs.