Before we dive in...
Google Tag Manager is a free tool that lets you track what people actually do on your website — what they click, what they ignore, and what makes them take action. This scorecard will tell you if it's worth setting up for your site right now.
⏱ 2 minutes
8 questions
Instant result
Question 1 of 8
Do you have a website that's live right now?
Doesn't matter if it's one page or twenty — just needs to be up and running.
Heads up: GTM requires a live website to work — it installs directly onto your site's code. There's nothing to tag yet, but bookmark this and come back once you're live. You'll be ready sooner than you think.
Question 2 of 8
Do you have at least one goal for your website?
Think: getting inquiries, selling something, growing your email list, booking calls — anything you want people to DO.
Good to know: GTM tracks behavior — but only you can define what behavior matters. Without a goal, you'd be collecting data with no way to act on it. The fix is simple: decide what you want one visitor to do on your site. That's your starting point.
Question 3 of 8
Are there buttons, links, or forms on your site you wish you could track?
Like: "Add to Cart," "Book a Call," newsletter sign-up forms, contact forms, social links — anything clickable.
Question 4 of 8
Do you run any paid ads — Google, Meta, Pinterest, TikTok?
Even if it's occasional or you're planning to. GTM makes ad tracking way easier.
Question 5 of 8
Do you use any third-party tools on your site?
Things like Google Analytics, Meta Pixel, HotJar, Klaviyo, ConvertKit pop-ups, chat widgets, booking tools...
Question 6 of 8
Have you ever wanted to know why something on your site isn't converting?
Like... people visit but don't buy, or they land on your page and disappear — and you have no idea why.
Question 7 of 8
Are you comfortable learning a new (free) tool if it saves you guesswork?
GTM has a learning curve, but once it's set up — it runs in the background and just sends you data.
Question 8 of 8
Do you (or someone on your team) make decisions about your website at least once a quarter?
Updates, redesigns, new pages, new offers — anyone who could use data to make those calls better.
This one matters: GTM is powerful, but the data only works if someone is looking at it and doing something with it. If no one is making website decisions, the tracking just collects dust. Before setting GTM up, get the right person in the loop — even one quarterly check-in is enough to make it worth it.
GTM is made for you
You're ready for Google Tag Manager.
You've got an active website, real goals, and things you want to track — that's exactly what GTM was built for. Setting it up means you stop guessing and start making decisions backed by real behavior data.
Your next steps
- Create your free GTM account at tagmanager.google.com
- Add the GTM snippet to your website (most platforms have a plugin for this)
- Set up your first trigger — start with button clicks or form submissions
- Connect Google Analytics so your data flows in one place
- Review your data after 30 days and make one change based on what you learn
Getting closer
GTM is almost right for you.
You've got the foundation — now it's about getting clear on what you want your website to DO for you. Once you have a goal or two locked in, GTM becomes incredibly useful. Don't set it up yet; get your strategy straight first.
Do these first
- Write down 1–2 things you want visitors to DO on your site
- Make sure Google Analytics is connected and running
- Look at your current traffic for 30 days — just observe, no changes yet
- Then come back to GTM when you know what you want to measure
Not yet — and that's okay
GTM isn't your next step.
Right now, your energy is better spent getting your website up, defining your goals, or nailing your offers. GTM is a powerful tool — but only once the foundation is there. Bookmark this and come back when you're ready.
Focus here instead
- Get your website live with a clear call to action
- Define what success looks like (sales? sign-ups? inquiries?)
- Start with Google Analytics — it's simpler and a great first step
- Once traffic is consistent, that's your GTM moment
