Configuring scroll depth tracking in Google Tag Manager (GTM) is an effective way to monitor user engagement on your website. By tracking how far down a page users scroll, you can gain insights into content performance and understand user behavior. Here’s a step-by-step guide to setting up scroll depth tracking using Google Tag Manager.

Step 1: Log Into Google Tag Manager

1. Access GTM: Go to the Google Tag Manager website and log in to your account.
2. Select Your Container: Choose the appropriate container associated with the website you want to track.

Step 2: Create a Scroll Depth Trigger

1. Navigate to Triggers: In the left sidebar, click on “Triggers.”
2. Create a New Trigger: Click the “New” button.
3. Name Your Trigger: Give it a name like “Scroll Depth Trigger.”
4. Choose Trigger Type:
   • Click on “Trigger Configuration” and select “Scroll Depth.”
5. Configure Scroll Depth:
   • Vertical Scroll Depths: Choose the percentage(s) of the page you want to track. For example, you can enter 25, 50, 75, and 100 to track users who scroll down 25%, 50%, 75%, and to the bottom of the page.
   • This trigger fires on: Choose “All Pages” to track scroll depth on every page.
6. Save the Trigger.

Step 3: Create a Google Analytics Tag

1. Navigate to Tags: In the left sidebar, click on “Tags.”
2. Create a New Tag: Click the “New” button.
3. Name Your Tag: Something like “GA – Scroll Depth Tracking.”
4. Configure the Tag:
   • Click on “Tag Configuration” and select “Google Analytics: Universal Analytics” (or “Google Analytics: GA4” if you’re using GA4).
   • Track Type: Choose “Event.”
5. Set Up Event Tracking Parameters:
   • Category: Enter a value like “Scroll Depth.”
   • Action: Use the variable {{Scroll Depth Threshold}} to capture the depth of the scroll (e.g., 25%, 50%, etc.).
   • Label: Optionally, use {{Page URL}} to capture the URL of the page where the scroll event occurred.
6. Select Google Analytics Settings Variable: Choose your existing Google Analytics Settings variable (or create one if you haven’t already).
7. Triggering: Click on “Triggering” and select the “Scroll Depth Trigger” you created earlier.
8. Save the Tag.

Step 4: Test Your Setup

1. Preview Mode: Click the “Preview” button in the top right corner of GTM to enter Preview Mode.
2. Test Scroll Tracking:
   • Open your website in a new tab.
   • Scroll down the page and check the GTM debug console (appears at the bottom of the page) to see if your scroll depth tag fired correctly for each threshold you set (25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%).

Step 5: Publish Changes

1. Exit Preview Mode: Once you confirm that your tag is firing correctly, exit Preview Mode.
2. Publish Your Changes: Click on “Submit” in GTM to publish your changes.

Step 6: Verify in Google Analytics

1. Go to Google Analytics: Log in to your Google Analytics account.
2. Real-Time Reports: Navigate to the “Real-Time” reports to see if the scroll depth events are being tracked correctly. Look under “Events” to see if the category “Scroll Depth” is present.
3. Event Reports: Later, you can view the events under “Behavior” > “Events” to see the full data on scroll depth interactions.

Additional Tips

• Adjust Scroll Depths: You can customize the scroll depth thresholds based on your specific needs (e.g., tracking scrolls at intervals of 10%, 20%, etc.).
• Segment Your Data: Consider segmenting your data based on different pages or user types for more detailed insights.
• Combine with Other Metrics: Use scroll depth tracking in conjunction with other metrics (e.g., time on page, bounce rate) for a more comprehensive view of user engagement.

Conclusion

Setting up scroll depth tracking in Google Tag Manager allows you to monitor user engagement and understand how effectively your content keeps users’ attention. By following the steps outlined above, you can efficiently implement this tracking method, enabling data-driven decisions that enhance your website’s user experience and content strategy.