Google Tag Manager (GTM) is a valuable tool that helps businesses and website owners track user behavior without editing code every time. However, after installation, one critical step remains: making sure it actually works.
If GTM isn’t working, your data becomes incomplete or inaccurate. That affects not only your reports but also your technical SEO. Search engines reward websites that offer a strong user experience, and without proper tracking, you can’t fully measure or improve that experience.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to check if Google Tag Manager is working, why it matters for technical SEO, and how to test four important features: form submissions, scroll depth, YouTube views, and GA4 event tags.
Why Checking Google Tag Manager Supports Technical SEO
Technical SEO focuses on how search engines crawl, index, and understand your website. While site speed, structure, and mobile-friendliness matter, checking Google Tag Manager also plays a role in SEO success.
When you confirm that GTM works, you actively track the actions that matter most. This process gives you data that supports SEO goals:
- Form submissions help measure conversions from organic visitors.
- Scroll depth shows how deeply users engage with your content.
- YouTube tracking reveals how visitors interact with embedded videos.
- GA4 event tags record detailed behaviors for stronger insights.
Skipping this step means losing signals that prove how well your site satisfies users. Since Google values engagement and relevance, GTM data directly supports your SEO performance.
How to Check if Google Tag Manager is Working Correctly
Once GTM is installed, you need to verify that your tags and triggers run as expected. Below are four simple checks that ensure everything is working smoothly.
Form Submission Tracking
Forms play a major role in lead generation, sign-ups, and customer feedback. To test them, enable GTM’s Preview Mode and submit a form on your site.
If GTM works correctly, a trigger will fire when the form is completed. That confirmation ensures your conversion tracking remains accurate.
How to Check Google Tag Manager Scroll Depth Tracking
Not every visitor reads a page from top to bottom. Scroll depth tracking helps you measure how much content users consume. To test it, open Preview Mode and scroll through a page.
You should see events fire at set points, such as 25%, 50%, or 75%. If they trigger, then scroll depth tracking is active. If not, you may need to adjust your trigger settings.
Checking Google Tag Manager for YouTube Video Tracking
Videos often keep visitors engaged, and GTM can monitor how they interact with your YouTube embeds. To test this feature, play, pause, and skip through a video while Preview Mode is on.
If the tags fire during these actions, your YouTube video tracking is active. This insight tells you whether users engage with your media content or lose interest too quickly.
How to Check Google Tag Manager GA4 Event Tags
Google Analytics 4 depends on event tracking, and GTM sends those events seamlessly. To confirm your setup, perform the tracked action—such as clicking a button or downloading a file.
First, check in Preview Mode that the tag fires. Then, open GA4’s Realtime report to verify the event appears there. If it does, your GA4 event tracking is working correctly.
Final Thoughts
In addition, knowing how to check if Google Tag Manager is working ensures accurate reporting and stronger technical SEO. By testing form submissions, scroll depth, YouTube views, and GA4 event tags, you can confirm that GTM is recording the data you need.
Accurate insights help you improve content, boost engagement, and make smarter SEO decisions. In short, a properly tested GTM setup gives you reliable data to grow your website effectively.