What's a global site tag and how is it different from a conversion tracking tag? Do you need both? Why does the platform use different tags for different things? Most marketers treat all tracking code the same. They paste the global tag, think they're done, and miss conversion data because they never set up conversion tags. Global tags collect traffic data. Conversion tags collect valuable actions. You need both for complete tracking.
This article explains global site tags and conversion tags, why both are necessary, and how to set them up correctly.
What is a global site tag
A global site tag collects traffic data from your entire website. It fires on every page. It records pageviews, bounce rate, session duration, traffic source. This is your foundational tracking.
The global site tag is universal. You install it once in your header. It works on every page automatically. You don't need to do anything else to collect traffic data. Install the tag, and traffic data flows.
Global site tags are called different things by different platforms. Google calls it the global site tag or gtag. Facebook calls it the pixel. Other platforms have their own names. But the concept is the same. One tag that collects traffic from everywhere.
What are conversion tags
A conversion tag fires when someone completes a valuable action. A purchase. A form submission. A signup. A download. Whenever you want to track an important event, you create a conversion tag.
Conversion tags are different from the global tag. They're specific to certain actions. You need to identify where conversions happen on your site and add conversion tags there.
A purchase conversion fires on your thank you page after someone buys. A form submission conversion fires after someone submits a contact form. A signup conversion fires after someone creates an account. Each valuable action needs its own conversion tag.
Setting up conversion tracking
Identify your conversion. What action shows someone is interested in your business? Is it a purchase? A form submission? A call? A download? Define it clearly.
Identify where that conversion happens. What page or event indicates the conversion? A purchase happens on the thank you page. A form submission happens after the form is submitted. A call happens when someone clicks a phone number.
Create the conversion tag or event. Most platforms let you set up conversions in the dashboard. You give it a name. You tell it where to fire. You get a tag or code to install.
Install the tag on the conversion page. If the conversion is a form submission, add the code to the thank you page or the form submission event. If the conversion is a purchase, add the code to the order confirmation page.
Multiple conversions on one site
You might have several valuable actions on your site. A purchase is one conversion. An email signup is another. A demo request is another. Create a separate conversion for each valuable action.
Each conversion needs its own tag or event. They all fire independently. When someone makes a purchase, the purchase conversion fires. When someone signs up, the signup conversion fires. Both can happen on the same site.
Don't overload with conversions. Track actions that matter to your business. Too many conversions create noise. Focus on the top three to five actions that show interest.
The difference between tags and events
Tags and events are different concepts in different platforms. A tag is a code snippet you put on a page. An event is an action you track. When someone clicks a button, that's an event. A tag fires when that event happens.
Some platforms use tag language. Some use event language. Most modern platforms use events. Tags are older terminology. But they're describing the same tracking.
Testing conversion tags before going live
Don't assume your conversion tag works. Test it. Go through your conversion process yourself. Complete the action. Check your analytics. Did the conversion appear?
Test multiple times. Different browsers. Different devices. Conversions should work everywhere. If a conversion fires on desktop but not mobile, something is broken.
Check your analytics real-time dashboard. Complete a conversion. Within seconds, you should see it appear. If you don't see it within a few seconds, the tag isn't firing.
Frequently asked questions
We installed a global site tag but don't see any conversion data. What's wrong?
The global site tag only collects traffic data. It doesn't track conversions. You need a separate conversion tag for each conversion. Set up your conversions in your analytics dashboard. Install the conversion tags on your conversion pages. Then verify they fire by completing the conversion yourself and checking real-time data. With WEMASY's website builder, you can set this up directly on your website.
Should we track everything as conversions or only our primary goal?
Track your primary goal first. If your business is sales, track purchases. If your business is leads, track form submissions. Get one conversion working perfectly. Then add secondary conversions. Too many conversions at once creates complexity and breaks more easily.
We have multiple ways people can convert. Should we create multiple conversion tags?
Yes. If someone can buy from your store or request a quote, you need two conversions. Each path to purchase gets its own tag. Then you can see which conversion method is more popular. You might find people prefer quotes over immediate purchases, which changes your strategy.
Our thank you page is dynamically generated. Will the conversion tag still work?
Yes. The conversion tag fires on the thank you page whether it's static or dynamic. As long as the thank you page is reached after someone completes the conversion, the tag fires. Test it. Go through the conversion. Check if the tag appears in real-time data.
We're using a third-party shopping cart. Can we still track conversions?
Depends on the cart platform. If it has native integration with your analytics platform, use that. If not, you need a conversion tag on your thank you page. When the cart redirects to your site after purchase, the tag fires. This is the most reliable method for third-party carts.
How long does it take for conversion data to appear in our analytics?
Real-time data appears within seconds. Historical reports update within 24 to 48 hours. Check real-time reports immediately after completing a conversion. Check historical reports the next day. If you don't see conversions in real-time, they're not firing. If you see them in real-time but not in historical reports, wait 24 hours for the data to populate.