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Set Up a Click Event in Google Tag Manager (GTM) – Step-by-step Guide

  • Writer: Mag Shum
    Mag Shum
  • Feb 25
  • 2 min read

Updated: Mar 15

Setting up a click event in Google Tag Manager (GTM) is a straightforward process that allows you to track user interactions like button clicks, link clicks, or other elements on your website. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you do it:


Step 1: Access Your GTM Container

  1. Log in to your Google Tag Manager account at tagmanager.google.com.

  2. Select the container tied to the website where you want to track clicks.


Step 2: Enable Built-in Click Variables

GTM has built-in variables to capture click data, but they need to be activated first:

  1. In GTM, go to the Variables section from the left sidebar.

  2. Click Configure in the "Built-in Variables" box.

  3. Check the boxes for click-related variables you’ll need, such as:

    • Click Element

    • Click Classes

    • Click ID

    • Click URL

    • Click Text

  4. Save your changes.


Step 3: Create a Trigger for the Click Event

Triggers define when your tag fires. To track clicks:

  1. Go to Triggers in the left sidebar and click New.

  2. Name your trigger (e.g., "Button Click Trigger").

  3. Click the trigger configuration box and choose Click - All Elements (or Click - Just Links if you’re only tracking link clicks).

  4. Select when the trigger should fire:

    • All Clicks: Fires on every click.

    • Some Clicks: Fires based on conditions (e.g., clicks on a specific button).

  5. If using "Some Clicks," set a condition, like:

    • Click ID equals submit-button (replace with your element’s ID).

    • Click Classes contains btn-primary (replace with your element’s class).

    • Click Text equals Learn More (for specific button text).

  6. Save the trigger.


Step 4: Create a Tag to Track the Event

Now, tie the trigger to a tag that sends the click data (e.g., to Google Analytics):

  1. Go to Tags in the left sidebar and click New.

  2. Name your tag (e.g., "GA - Button Click Event").

  3. Click the tag configuration box and select Google Analytics: Universal Analytics (or your preferred analytics tool).

  4. Set the tag type to Event.

  5. Fill in the event details:

    • Category: e.g., "Button Clicks"

    • Action: e.g., "Click"

    • Label: Use a variable like {{Click Text}} or {{Click ID}} for dynamic data.

  6. Under "Google Analytics Settings," select your GA variable or enter your tracking ID (e.g., UA-XXXXX-Y).

  7. Link the tag to your trigger by clicking the Triggering box and selecting the trigger you created.

  8. Save the tag.


Step 5: Preview and Test

  1. Click Preview in GTM to enter debug mode.

  2. Open your website in a new tab—it should connect to the GTM preview.

  3. Click the element you’re tracking and check the debug pane to see if the tag fires.

  4. If it’s working, the tag will appear under "Tags Fired" with the correct details.


Step 6: Publish Changes

  1. Once tested, exit preview mode and click Submit in GTM.

  2. Add a version name (e.g., "Added Button Click Event") and click Publish.


Tips

  • Use your browser’s developer tools (right-click > Inspect) to find IDs, classes, or text for your conditions.

  • If the click isn’t registering, ensure GTM’s snippet is correctly installed on your site.

  • For advanced setups (e.g., tracking clicks in dynamic content), you might need custom JavaScript variables.


Learn from GTM Community or Google Analytics Academy for advanced tips. There are also tons of tutorial videos on YouTube.



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