Ascend: Google Tag Manager Community Template Update
Table of contents
Overview
This document provides step-by-step instructions for adding Ascend’s custom template tags to your Google Tag Manager (GTM) container. It will also walk you through the steps to implement them in GTM. This video also provides a walk through.
Instructions
Step 1 - Install the Ascend by Partnerize Tag in GTM
- In you GTM container, click on to the Templates tab
- Click on the Search Gallery button and search for “Ascend by Partnerize Tag”.
- Click on Add to workspace.
Note: If you are using the custom domain tracking method, please move on to Step 2. If you’re not using that method, continue to Step 3a. |
Step 2 - Adjust Template Permissions
- In the Templates tag, click on the Ascend by Partnerize Tag link. This will open the Template Editor.
- In the Template Editor, click on the Permissions.
- Expand the Injects hidden iframes and Injects scripts
- Add your custom domain to the Injects hidden iframes input field. For example, “https://ascend.my-domain.com/”. This will allow GTM to send the conversions pixels
- Add your custom container domain to the Injects scripts input field. Please note this involves adding “cdn.” to the beginning of your custom domain. For example, “https://cdn.ascend.my-domain.com/. This will allow GTM to send the container tag
- Click on save. Move to Step 3b.
Step 3a. - Create a Container Tag
Our container tag ensures persistent affiliate tracking amidst evolving browser changes, including ITP, and enables Ascend™ brands to easily leverage many of our integrated partnerships.
- Create a new tag and choose a tag type.
- Scroll down to Custom and click on the Ascend by Partnerize Tag.
- In the Tag Type field select the Container Tag option.
- Enter your Container Tag ID number into the Container Tag ID field. Your container tag ID can be found here in Ascend™: https://www.ascendpartner.com/merchant/integration.
- Navigate to the Container tag tab: Your company’s specific ID will be listed after “Container Name: Pepperjam Impression – ID”. Example is below.
Populate that ID here in GTM:
- Add the All Pages trigger to the tag
- Continue to Step 4.
Step 3b. - Create a Container Tag w/ Custom Domain
Our container tag ensures persistent affiliate tracking amidst evolving browser changes, including ITP, and enables Ascend™ brands to easily leverage many of our integrated partnerships.
- Create a new tag and choose a tag type.
- Scroll down to Custom and click on the Ascend by Partnerize Tag.
- In the Tag Type field select the Container Tag option.
- Enter your Container Tag ID number into the Container Tag ID field. Your container tag ID can be found here in Ascend™: https://www.ascendpartner.com/merchant/integration.
- Navigate to the Container tag tab: Your company’s specific ID will be listed after “Container Name: Pepperjam Impression – ID”. Example is below.
Populate that ID here in GTM:
- Click on the “Enable Custom Domain” check box and enter your custom domain into the input field. Please note that you only need to paste the domain, not the URL protocol.
- Add the All Pages trigger to the tag
- Continue to Step 4.
Step 4 - Test Container Tag
- Click on the Preview button in GTM.
- In a new browser tab, navigate to the site your GTM container is installed on.
- Open the developer console.
- Use the shortcut Option + ⌘ + J (on macOS), or Shift + CTRL + J (on Windows/Linux). The console will either open within your existing Chrome window or in a new window. You may have to select the Network tab.
- Refresh the page and confirm the Ascend container is loaded on the page.
- If you filter the page by your container ID, it makes finding it in the Network tab easier.
Container Tag Example:
Custom Domain Container Tag Example:
Ascend Conversion Tag
Step 1 - Create a Conversion Tag
- Create a new tag and choose a tag type.
- Scroll down to Custom and click on the Ascend by Partnerize Tag
- In the Tag Type field select “Conversion Tag”
- Enter your Program ID Number into the Program ID field. You can get your program ID from your account manager or find it in the top navigation within Ascend™ here:
- Select which Transaction Object you will be using for the conversion tag (two options):
Custom Domain Conversion
If you are using a custom domain in the Ascend Container tag, click on the “Enable Custom Domain” and enter your custom domain in the input field. Please note that you only need to paste the domain, not the URL protocol.
- Select which Transaction Object you will be using for the conversion tag (two options):
Option 1: Enhanced Ecommerce Data Layer
To use this option, ensure that you are using the Enhanced Ecommerce feature in other tags, i.e. Google Analytics: Universal Analytics or Google Analytic 4 tags.
This option utilizes GTM built in data layer and will be able to extract the values in the dataLayer and set them to the correct parameters for the pixel.
You will need to select which matches your current data layer implementation:
- Enhanced Ecommerce Data Layer (GA4)
- Enhanced Ecommerce Data Layer (UA)
Option 2: User Defined Variable
With this option, you need to create your own Custom Javascript Variable. This variable will mimic Google Analytics Enhanced Ecommerce purchase object.
Ascend’s Conversion Tag will be able to extract the values in the object and set them to the correct parameters for the pixel.
Below is an example of what the custom JavaScript variable should look like:
*Additional JavaScript may be required to populate values into the object.
- Once you have created your ecommerce variable, add it to the User Defined Variable field:
Step 2 - Optional Fields
If your solution requires these optional fields, follow the instructions. If not, skip to step 5.
- Check the Transaction Type Parameter - Optional:
- This is to determine the Transaction Type of the pixel (sale=1 or lead=2). If not supplied, sale is assumed.
- A custom variable can be used as long as it returns a value of 1 or 2.
- Check the User Type Parameter - Optional:
- Indicates if the customer that placed the order is a new customer in your system using your customized business logic.
- Note: This value should be 1 (one) if the customer is new or 0 (zero) if the customer is not new.
- You can manually enter a value or use a custom variable as long as it returns 0 or 1.
- Indicates if the customer that placed the order is a new customer in your system using your customized business logic.
- Check the Custom Segment - Optional:
- This enables you to pass any attribute that is meaningful with the order.
- You can manually enter a value or use a custom variable
- This enables you to pass any attribute that is meaningful with the order.
- Optional Product Parameters - Item Category
- This option enables the item category parameter in the tag
- Note: If you are using the User Defined Variable option, ensure that the category key is part of the object in your variable.
- This option enables the item category parameter in the tag
- Optional Product Parameters - Transaction/Item Coupon
- This option enables the coupon parameter in the tag
- Note: If you are using the User Defined Variable option, ensure that the coupon key is part of the object in your variable.
- This option enables the coupon parameter in the tag
- Optional Product Parameters - Currency
- This option enables the currency parameter in the tag
- Note: You can enter a custom variable to dynamically populate currencies.
- Additional Note: To ensure that the amounts being passed are recorded in their proper currency, it is highly recommended to use this feature.
- This option enables the currency parameter in the tag
Step 3 – Add Thank You Page Trigger to Tag
Once you’ve configured the tag, add a thank you page trigger. Depending on your site, it might look something like this:
Step 4 - Save Ascend Conversion Tag
Once you have entered your values, variables, and optional parameters add a thank you page trigger. Click the save button.
Step 5 - Test Conversion Tag
- Click on the Preview button in GTM.
- In a new browser tab, navigate to the site your GTM container is installed on.
- Open the developer console.
- Use the shortcut Option + ⌘ + J (on macOS), or Shift + CTRL + J (on Windows/Linux). The console will either open within your existing Chrome window, or in a new window. You may have to select the Network tab.
- Refresh the page and navigate to the page where your conversion tag is supposed to be fired. Then, confirm that the parameter values are correct.
- If you filter the page by your program ID, it makes finding it in the Network tab easier