Hello, I am new to this, so I am asking a few different questions based on this one question:
“How to set up conversions tracking correctly with Google Ads, Google Tag Manager, or custom pixels.”
What is the best/correct way to set up conversion tracking with each of the three applications listed above?
Do all three of them require JavaScript knowledge?
What are the benefits of using custom pixels, and what are the drawbacks of just using Google Ads?
Thank you!
If you want to custom build your own tracking, yes you will need to know javascript. Or alternatively, if you are not scared of AI, use claude AI to help you with the coding.
But I would honestly never use AI if you don’t already know the answer, because AI can be wrong.
For example, I’m no javascript expert, but I know the language to write my own coding. So if Claude makes a mistake, I can test and find issues.
That is the same with everything.
I would at the moment not just use Google Ads, unless you already are and you know it is perfect.
In the end, it doesn’t matter what you use, what matters is that you get what you need.
So if you want to control coding, customize it.
If it’s beyond your knowledge, then use the google and youtube app.
For me, I have customized it, just because I can, and do this to ensure the values I submit are how I want it.
When you use 3rd party solutions, such as the google and youtube app, they do it there own way. For example, for a long time, they included shipping costs, while my own coding, I did not. Then I think 2 years ago, they stopped it.
Another reason why it’s not a good idea to use the google and youtube app. It likes to do things and break setups. Such as when you change form shopping content api to merchant api, they changed the product ids from country specific, to ZZ. This is really annoying.
So in these cases I would use custom coding, so it can be controlled, and everything is predictable.
But how to set this up using GTM, there are many tutorials online, I recommend you search online and you will find a lot of solutions.
Thanks for the response! Right now I have the Google and Youtube app installed, although I have yet to connect it to my Google Ads account. Since I’m not super familiar with coding (just the basic BBCode and a bit of html) would it be a good idea to use the Google and Youtube app for now? (Essentially I’m worried about any errors or difficulties that might occur because of switching setups.)
Yes, just use the google and youtube app, that works out of the box. And a good starting points for beginners.