How to add a custom domain to the Google Tag Manager Server container

In this article, I will describe how to set up a custom subdomain within your Google Tag Manager server container. The main advantage of a custom subdomain inside the Google Tag Manager Server container is that it helps to bypass Intelligent Tracking Preventions, AdBlockers and increases cookie lifetime for users browsing in Safari. Pixels will be loaded from your subdomain and run as the first-party. 

Why Should You Use Custom Subdomain Inside Google Tag Manager Server Container?Copy link to this section

Google Tag Manager Server-side tagging allows moving out third-party tracking pixels off the website or app to the server-side environment.

Server-side tagging offers a few advantages over client-side tags:

1. Faster performance: Fewer tags are running on your website or app. It means less code runs inside the browser, improving your website speed.
2. More security: Data is better protected as it will be managed inside the server-side environment.

You have two option for tagging server URL:

• use tagging URL that was created for you and is hosted on our domain (stape.io)
• create a custom subdomain.

We recommend setting up a custom subdomain since with the custom subdomain you’ll enjoy the following benefits:

• Bypassing ITPs and AdBlockers;
• Extended cookie lifetime.

Tracking prevention doesn’t affect requests from your own domain. Your website will bypass AdBlockers and ITPs, giving the full data about your website visitors and conversions.

How to add Custom Subdomain Inside Google Tag Manager Server Container?Copy link to this section

First of all, you need to create and set up the Google Tag Manager server container. If you don’t have a server container follow this instruction.

1. Log in to your stape account, choose a container, scroll down and click Add domain.

2. Navigate to your DNS provider; for instance:

• GoDaddy
• Google Domains
• Hostgator
• Hover
• Namecheap
• Squarespace
• AWS
• Cloudflare

3. The below example will show how to add DNS setting in Cloudflare. Login to your account -> click on your site’s domain -> Click DNS -> Add record

4. Add these setting:

Type: A

Name: ss (or any other subdomain you prefer)

IPv4 address: IP address depends on the location of the servers. You can find the custom domain IP address in your stape.io account. 

TTL: Auto

Proxy status: disable

Your settings should look like this:

5. Once you have done, click Save.

6. Go to your app.stape.io account and add a custom domain. It should consist of the name that you added to Cloudflare and your domain. Click Save. After adding the domain, it passes through the verification process. It can take up to 72 hours. Once the domain is verified, the status will be changed to “Verified”

You can force stape to verify domain by clicking "revalidate domain" button near in sGTM container setting 

7. Once your GTM subdomain is added and verified, you should see the status Running.

 8. Go back to the Google Tag Manager Server container -> Choose your server container -> Admin -> container settings -> paste tagging server URL.

Updating the Web GTM script on your website is highly recommended if you use a custom domain. This tweak will make gtm.js load from your domain. To do so, replace the default domain googletagmanager.com with the custom domain you set up in the previous step. 

9. Inside the Web container, create a new tag of the tag Type Google Tag. Add your Google Tag ID.

In the section Configuration settings add the following parameters:

• Name: server_container_url
• Value: Enter the URL

Add trigger to GA4 tag. Normally it should trigger on all page views. 

You can also create a Google tag: Configuration settings variable that will predefine Google Tag settings if you need to use multiple Google Tags on your website and do not want to add settings for each of the tags manually.

These parameters can be, for example, a setting that defines whether you want to send a page view event every time a Google Tag triggers, set UTM parameters, client ID, etc. There is a list of standard Google Tags configuration parameters.    

10. To set up the GA4 event, go to the tags section and create a new tag with the tag type Google Analytics: GA4 Event. Add your GA4 ID and the event name; there is a list of standard event names. 

You can create a Google Tag: Event Settings variable that will help to share event parameters across several GA4 event tags or Google Tags. It can be, for example, user or product properties, and there is also a list of standard parameters for event settings. 

11. Open Google Tag Manager Server container -> click Client -> create GA4 client and save it -> go to Tags and set up GA4 tag. Remember that GA4 automatically sends not only pageview but some other events. Inside Event Name choose variable {{Event Name}}. -> add trigger Client Name equals GA4.

12. Open the Server container preview mode and check that you see GA4 requests. Publish updated inside server and web Google Tag Manager containers. 

That’s it! Now your GTM server container runs from your subdomain.

Frequently Asked Questions:Copy link to this section

1. It's been more than 72 hours, but my domain still not verified. 

First of all we recommend using one of free online DNS checkers to verify if DNS settings are correct. Stape team uses this tool by Google. All you need to do is add your custom domain and verify that A and CNAME records (in case you've enabled Global CDN) 

2. I've checked my DNS settings, it's correct but domains is still not verified. 

If you've previously used the same subdomains for GCP ensure that you removed AAAA record. Also log in to your stape account, open sGTM container settings and click Revalidate Domain. 

In case all these did not help, contact stape.io support.