Server-Side Tagging in Google Tag Manager (First Look & Demo)
Server-side tagging allows Tag Manager users to move measurement tag instrumentation out of their website or app and into server-side processing via Google Cloud. Server-side tagging offers a few advantages over client-side tags including improved performance and security.
But does it live up to the hype? What does someone who uses Google Tag Mananager for a living think of the new Server-side tagging?
This video is my first look at the new beta functionality from a cold start. I'd never used to before. Join me as I share my thoughts and set up a server-side GTM container for the first time.
(PS Sorry for the sound quality. I realised too late my Mac was picking up the sound rather than my mic).
0:00 - Welcome
0:36 - Overview: Browser-side tagging
1:24 - Overview: Disadvantages of broswer-side tagging
1:51 - Overview: Server-side tagging
2:52 - Overview: Advantages of server-side tagging (performance & ITP)
3:50 - Overview: Does it get around cookie deletion/loss?
5:00 - Overview: Other potential advantages of server-side tracking
6:21 - Demo: Server-side GTM container creation
6:25 - Demo: Provisioning tagging server
7:41 - Demo: Exploring the Google Cloud Project
10:08 - Demo: Client and server GTM container interaction demo
11:47- Demo: Setting up the client container
13:03 - Demo: Showing the end-to-end flow of pageviews and events in GA
14:42 - Demo: Server-side GTM container config
17:57 - Demo: Where do I configure my GA property settings?
19:20 - Demo: HTTP Request tags
20:50 - Demo: Routing events in the server-side GTM container
23:31 - Demo: Server-side container debugger
25:17 - Demo: Disadvantages of server-side tagging when debugging
27:37 - Does it solve cookie deletion? Digging into ITP and cookie loss issues
31:32 - Summary: General pros and cons
32:00 - Summary: ITP and cookie loss
32:57 - Summary: Debugging
33:20 - Summary: Costs
34:20 - Summary: Future benefits
34:30 - Summary: Server-side GTM vs Customer Data Platforms (CDPs)
35:20 - Outro