Google Tag Manager Integration with Cookie Banner and Consent Mode

Comprehensive Guide to Integrating GDPR-Compliant Cookie Banner with Google Tag Manager

Introduction

The "Google Tag Manager Integration with Cookie Banner" feature allows you to manage cookie consent seamlessly while ensuring GDPR compliance. This guide explains how the feature works, how to integrate it with your system, and its impact on privacy management and user tracking.

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Table of Contents

• Migration (only existing Customers before December 2024)
• Feature Overview
• End-User Experience
• Setup Guide
• Handling Consent Categories
• Common Issues and Troubleshooting
• Conclusion
• Related Article(s)

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Migration

Migration required

The introduction of the new cookie banner includes changes in how and when the Google Tag Manager (GTM) container is loaded. Please review these updates carefully to ensure your integration remains compliant and functional.

Old Behavior

• The GTM container was only loaded after the user provided general consent to be tracked.
• No further consents (e.g., category-specific) were pushed to GTM.
• Events were triggered only if the cookie banner was fully accepted.

New Behavior

• The GTM container is now loaded immediately with default consent settings. For details about these settings, refer to the Handling Consent Categories section.
• Events are now triggered immediately upon page load, even before the user interacts with the cookie banner.

Actions Required

1. Ensure any additional tracking tags, such as LinkedIn Pixel or Facebook Pixel, are configured to load only after obtaining the respective user consent.
2. Verify all GTM configurations to ensure they align with GDPR compliance requirements.

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Feature Overview

This feature integrates our cookie banner with Google Tag Manager (GTM) to manage consent data and ensure that cookies are handled according to user preferences. By leveraging Google's Consent Mode, this feature enables dynamic tag management that respects GDPR regulations.

Key benefits:

• Blocks non-essential cookies until user consent is provided.
• Enables category-specific consent handling for greater control.
• Supports essential eCommerce tracking events for better analytics.

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End-User Experience

From the end user’s perspective, the cookie banner provides an intuitive way to select cookie preferences. It automatically updates based on user selections, ensuring compliance without disrupting the browsing experience.

• Consent Options: Users can enable or disable cookies by category (e.g., Marketing, Analytics, Statistics, Preferences).
• Transparency: Clear descriptions for each cookie category ensure users make informed decisions.
• Default Settings: Non-essential cookies are disabled until the user grants consent

Sample:

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Setup Guide

Activate Consent Mode in GTM:

• Navigate to GTM > Accounts > Container Settings > Additional Settings.
• Enable the "Consent Mode" option.

Connecting Tags in GTM with Consent Categories

Steps to link tracking tags with consent categories:

1. Open an existing tag or create a new one.

2. Go to Tag Configuration > Advanced > Consent Settings.

3. Edit the option > Additional Consent Checks.

4. Select the appropriate consent category, see Handling Consent Categories

5. Add a corresponding trigger, e.g., Consent Initialization - All pages.

6. Save the tag.

Events

Our booking engine also supports eCommerce events using a Data Layer:

• PATHNAME_CHANGE = "PATHNAME_CHANGE"

• ADD_TO_CART = "add_to_cart"

• REMOVE_FROM_CART = "remove_from_cart"

• PURCHASE = "purchase"

These can be used in GTM to set up tracking for your advertising goals.

Data Layer Details:

Add to Cart Event:

Array items: Contains information about the individual booking items/products in the cart

Additional ecommerce properties outside the items array:

 

Remove from Cart Event:

Array items: Contains information about the individual booking items/products being removed from the cart

Additional ecommerce properties outside the items array:

 

Purchase Event:

Root Level Properties:

Array items: Contains ReservationItem objects for each reservation in the booking

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Handling Consent Categories

The cookie banner manages consent preferences across the following categories:

• Marketing (ad_storage): Handles advertising and tracking cookies.
• Analytics (analytics_storage): Manages cookies for statistical purposes.
• Functionality (functionality_storage): Includes cookies for site functionality, like language preferences.
• Personalization (personalization_storage): Allows customization of content.
• Security (security_storage): Essential cookies required for safety and security.

Each category is processed based on user preferences and communicated to GTM for tag configuration.

By default, our feature applies this status:

• ad_storage: denied

• analytics_storage: denied

• functionality_storage: denied

• personalization_storage: denied

• security_storage: granted

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Common Issues and Troubleshooting

• Tags not triggering or triggering without or wrong consent:
  Ensure tags are linked to the correct consent categories in GTM.

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Conclusion

This feature simplifies GDPR compliance by automating cookie consent management and ensuring tags respect user preferences. It also supports seamless integration with GTM, providing flexibility for dynamic tracking needs.

For more information on implementing this feature or resolving issues, please refer to our support resources.