How to use Setup Assistant for custom websites

The guide shows how to use the Setup Assistant tool for users who have CMS platforms that are not supported by the Stape CMS app. 

What you need before you start

1. Sign up if you’re new to Stape or Log in to your existing account.

2. Ensure you have created a web container and a server container in Google Tag Manager. 

3. Ensure your server container is hosted on Stape.

4. (Optional) Ensure you have configured a custom domain (even though it’s optional, but highly recommended for setting first-party cookies).

5. As you have a custom website, you’ll need to collaborate with your developers to implement the Data layer events with the specific payloads you need. To create a Data layer, you can make a copy of our documentation, edit it according to your needs, and pass the doc to your developers. Please check our article on the Data layer for helpful guidelines on Data layer implementation.

Where to find the Setup Assistant?

Go to the “Setup Assistant” section on the menu in the Stape admin account.
Then, click on “Got it, let’s go!” to start answering the questionnaire.

How to automatically import the GTM template for a custom website using the Setup Assistant

Step 1. Choose type

Type - indicate your setup type. At the moment, only E-commerce is available. For example, eCommerce setups will focus on product tracking, while Lead Generation setups will focus on form submissions and conversions.

Platform - in our case, please select “Other”. Setup Assistant can provide the appropriate templates and settings for your site, ensuring that everything works seamlessly. 

Consent settings - check the box if you have a consent provider. If yes, select one from the list.

Step 2. Select destinations

Choose the advertising and analytics platforms you want to track (e.g., Google Ads, Meta, GA4, etc.).

Different platforms require specific tags and tracking settings. By selecting the platforms you want to track, the Setup Assistant customizes your GTM container with the necessary tags. This step ensures that your tracking setup aligns with the platforms you want to use.

Step 3. Add IDs

Enter the tracking details such as your Pixel ID, Analytics ID, or other required credentials.

This information is essential for the Setup Assistant to link your site to the respective platforms. It ensures that data is sent accurately from your website to the right destination and helps you to track conversions, user interactions, and more. 

Without this step, the necessary data cannot be captured and sent to your platforms. Also, you can add IDs directly in your web and server containers at any time.

Step 4. Import templates

Choose how you want to import templates: automatically or manually. Click on “Next”.

How to test Setup Assistant configuration

Simply open the tags to make sure they include all the necessary data and run Preview in both web and server GTM containers. 

Trigger the events on your website and check whether tags work successfully. Once confirmed, publish the changes to activate the setup.

Prevent over-reporting from other integrations

Check whether you have any additional plugins or integrations that also send events to the same platforms that are currently configured in GTM. Sending the events will lead to over-reporting. For example, Shopify has Google and Meta apps that may have active integrations for sending events. If there are some integrations like this, disable this functionality in the apps.

Along the same lines, consider what you already may have in your GTM containers or site code-base, and make sure there are no conflicts or double-firing tags.

In case of any questions, feel free to ask in our Stape Community.