Connect Google Tag Manager
Tag Manager is how Needlr shows your change to visitors and counts your KPI. You connect it once per project.
Most sites already load Google Tag Manager. That's how Needlr gets in without a developer: it shows your change to part of your visitors, and counts the KPI you care about.
Google Tag Manager is a free Google tool that many websites already use. It adds small pieces of code, called tags, to a site without anyone touching the site's own code.
Needlr uses it to show your change to visitors and to count your KPI. You connect it once for each project.
Like a noticeboard
Think of the noticeboard in a school hallway. Your site already has the board: that's Tag Manager. Other people have pinned notes on it: those are your tags.
Needlr asks if it may pin its own notes, with its name on them. It never moves or changes anyone else's note. And nothing goes up on the board until you say yes.
Why Needlr uses Tag Manager
- No developer needed. Needlr adds what it needs through Tag Manager, so nobody has to change your site's code.
- It counts your KPI. A Needlr tag counts the clicks, page visits or forms you pick.
- It runs your split tests. The same tag shows the new version to some of your visitors (more).
Before you start
- You need to be an owner or an editor in Needlr (roles).
- You need a Google account that can publish your site's Tag Manager container. Not sure? Ask whoever set up Tag Manager.
- No Tag Manager yet? Press No GTM yet? on the card for Google's setup guide.
- Someone else looks after Tag Manager? Press Invite whoever manages it. They join as an editor and connect it for you.
How to connect it
- 1Open your project and go to the Settings tab.
- 2On the Google Tag Manager card, press Connect Google Tag Manager.
- 3Google opens. Sign in with the account that manages your site's Tag Manager, and approve all the permissions.
- 4Back in Needlr, the card asks Which container runs on this website? Pick yours. Each container shows its name and its ID, which starts with GTM-.
- 5Press Use this container and install Needlr.
- 6A window asks Install Needlr on your live site? Type the 6-digit code from your authenticator app, then press Install. The first time, Needlr helps you set up the app (more).
- 7Done. The card says Connected and The Needlr snippet is live on your site.
What access Needlr gets
Google asks you to let Needlr see, edit and publish your Tag Manager containers. This is what Needlr does with it:
- It works in its own workspace in your container, and adds or changes only the tags it created. Your own tags are never touched.
- It never publishes someone else's unfinished work. If a teammate has a version waiting in Tag Manager, Needlr stops and tells you.
- Every publish to your live site needs your authenticator code (more).
- Your Google access is stored encrypted, and no screen ever shows it.
The authenticator code
Installing Needlr changes your live site, so Needlr asks for a 6-digit code from the authenticator app on your phone. That way, someone who steals your password still can't touch your site. One code covers the next 20 minutes, so you don't type it again and again (more).
What you'll see on the card
- Connected: all good. The card shows the container and the Google account it uses.
- Choose container: you signed in, but haven't picked a container yet.
- Reconnect needed: Google access was taken away or ran out. Press Reconnect Google.
- The snippet isn't installed yet. Publish to install it. Press Publish now in the bar at the bottom of the page (more).
- This Google account can't publish the container. Ask a Tag Manager admin to give that account Publish access.
Publish history on the card lists the latest publishes, and lets you undo the last one (more).
Disconnecting
Press Disconnect on the card, then Remove and disconnect. Needlr removes its tags, triggers and templates from your container, publishes that, then gives up its Google access. Your own tags are not touched. This needs your authenticator code too.
Common mistakes
- The wrong Google account. If the card says No web containers found for this Google account., sign in with the account that manages your site's Tag Manager.
- The wrong container. Pick the one that runs on this website. If your company has several, compare the GTM- ID with the one on your site.
- Unticking a permission on Google's screen. Needlr needs all of them. Without them it stops, and nothing is changed.
- No free workspace. Free Tag Manager accounts allow 3 workspaces, and Needlr needs one. Delete an unused workspace in Tag Manager.
What the video says
Most sites already load Google Tag Manager. That's how Needlr gets in without a developer: it shows your change to part of your visitors, and counts the KPI you care about.
Open your project's Settings and press Connect Google Tag Manager. Sign in with the Google account that manages your container, and approve every permission Needlr asks for.
Back in Needlr, pick the container that runs on this website, and press Use this container and install Needlr. It adds one small snippet, and only Needlr's own tags.
Because this changes your live site, Needlr asks for a six-digit code from your authenticator app. A stolen password alone can never touch your site. One code covers twenty minutes.
Needlr works in its own workspace and edits only the tags it created, never yours. If you disconnect, it removes everything it added, publishes that, and gives up its Google access.
Connect once per project. Every impact check after that is a few clicks. You stay in control: nothing goes live on your site until you approve it.