Google Channel vs Dynamic Remarketing -> I need help!

[Brother_Nature]

Hi Fam,

I have been struggling with setting up a dynamic remarketing campaign. I use the infamous Google Channel App and Shopify states that no manual code should be implemented to make sure there are no duplicate data streams. However, if I want to set up dynamic remarketing via Google Ads, all information says to manually set up the conversion tags. 

https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/promoting-marketing/analyze-marketing/tracking-adwords-conversion... 

I stumbled upon this conflict, because I already tested the smart shopping campaign from the Shopify GChannel App side of things, but there was an issue which the Google Support diagnosed as "there is no code to track dynamic remarketing events, implement it manually".

Shopify Support is super nice, but not helpful at all here - so you guys are my big hope. I have already asked on another blog and the guy said that I should in fact just do it manually or only the static remarketing works. His approach would be direct integration of the code into my theme though and I would rather use the Tag Manager before ending my store accidentally (I'm already on a shoestring budget)

So.

Do you have any suggestions? Should I just manually implement the code via Tag Manager? Or better safe than sorry and rely on the old school retargeting instead of the dynamics? ( - which would hurt as I try to run my small fashion label. )

Cheers

[EmmanuelFlossie]

First check if the tag is installed using https://tagassistant.google.com/

If its not installed you can use my guide: https://feedarmy.com/kb/adding-google-adwords-remarketing-tag-to-shopify/

Using Tag Manager may be more difficult

[Brother_Nature]

Thanks! I will do that.

I have seen guides like that - my only concern was whether I could do this manual implementation due to that "warning" by Shopify.

After reading a lot (a lot) - just for my understanding and maybe other people who are in my spot - could it be that 'Conversion Tracking' and the 'Dynamic Remarketing Code' are 2 different things? If so, this little piece of missing knowledge gave me headaches for quite a few days. 😄 

Edit: Oh, will this change to the Code be remove when I update my theme?

Cheers

[EmmanuelFlossie]

Yes conversion tracking and remarketing tracking are different things and different codes.

What you need to do, depends on what already exists. Unfortunately, it would be impossible to tell you what to remove. I recommend carefully checking everything.

[Brother_Nature]

One more questions: I implemented the code, but checking the page with the Tag Assistant Extension on Chrome, I have a new site tag

Global site tag (gtag.js) AW-0

Its literally empty. I had one before that already dazzled me, now its a second (and I removed your code to see if it leaves as well, which it did).

Can I ignore it or could this cause issues?

Cheers and Thanks so much for the help! I let your ad-tagline in the code of course 😄

[EmmanuelFlossie]

You should not use Tag Assistant, instead use https://tagassistant.google.com/

The Tag assistant extension is old and has no longer been updated for a year or more.

[Brother_Nature]

Hi Emmanuel,

uhm I used the new assistant and it found 3 remarketing tags. I set it up just like it was said in your tutorial and there were no remarketing tags before. Is that "normal"? Seems a bit concerning!

Edit: I only found it once in the code on my homepage, so as you said I should check there and not with the assistant - you meant the new one as well I suppose.

Cheers

[EmmanuelFlossie]

Yes, you can check all pages and or page types using https://tagassistant.google.com/

And look at view_item then look at data layer

[Schwider]

I'm currently facing the same issue. I have the Google App sales channel installed, which automatically installs a Global site tag and multiple conversion actions (which are working perfectly on Shopify). Despite that, it doesn't seem to install the Remarketing tag (or the remarketing event snippet for different kinds of pages).

While I managed to manually install the Remarketing tag on theme.liquid, this creates another Global site tag, which is obviously indicated on Tag Assistant: "Multiple installations of Global site tag (gtag.js) detected", as they have the same AW-number.

Trying to find a way to install the Remarketing tag without duplicating the Global site tag. Will keep you updated!

[Brother_Nature]

Hi Schwider,

the thing that confused me was the fact that there are 2 different types of tags - and the Google Channel installs only the Conversion Tracking.

I used the manual method that was posted in this thread by Emmanuel. If you see two Global Site Tags - could be because you checked for it with the Chrome Plug-in, which is old. There is a link posted here, where you can see the new tag assistant.

Technically what you did sounds like the correct way to me - but I'm just a noob and those are my 2 Cents.

Cheers

[Schwider]

Hey Brother_Nature,

It's indeed very confusing.

I even realized that, while both the Conversion Tracking and Remarketing Tracking tags are different per se, the Global Site tag they provide under Tag Setup is exactly the same. 

So basically, installing the Global Site tag manually shoots up both the Conversion and Remarketing tag (as I confirmed using the Tag Assistant extension). But for some reason, the Google App sales channel - after installing the Global Site tag automatically - shoots up only the Conversion tracking tag.

Since I was confused, I asked their support about this and here's what they said:

"As much as I would love to dive in and help you out further we aren't able to support integrations with Tag Manager or remarketing campaigns. There are third party app solutions available on the app store that you may want to consider as an alternative: C.E for Google Ads & Shopping or Retargeting for Google Ads."

I still can't understand why the Google app can't just activate both tracking tags.

Either way, I did realize the issue of the duplicate Global site tag seems to appear only on the Google Tag Assistant Legacy extension for Chrome. Using https://tagassistant.google.com/, as Emmanuel recommended, doesn't show any duplicate tag alerts.

Also, I guess the duplicate tag is more like a warning than an actual error, so it seems more like a minor annoyance and a technical error that could breaking something. Since I've installed it manually, following instructions and the parameters are being correctly pulled, I might as well just like the duplicate Global tags. 

[WeDoTheStuff]

Hey @Schwider,

We understand it could be a pain in the @#! to implement Google's dynamic remarketing pixel, so that's why we've created an app to do it for you.

It fires the right snippet with the right attributes and values every time.

Check it out.

https://apps.shopify.com/dynamic-remarketing

If there's anything to customize on your site from our end to make it work, we can do it for you.