Search
Close this search box.

Setting up Google Analytics Enhanced Link Tracking within Dynamic Tag Management (DTM)

Enhanced link tracking in Google Analytics has a number of benefits including providing unique data when you have multiple links with the same destination. Find out how to activate it in DTM.

The Google Analytics In-page Analytics report allows you to see how users interact with your website visually, including where they do and don’t click. These insights are useful when looking to optimise your website layout, improve the user experience, and increase conversions.

Google Analytics In-Page Report

However, where this can fall short is when the same link is present two or more times on the one page. This will mean that by default the In-page Analytics will report the same amount of clicks for all the same links that appear on a specific page. To eliminate this issue, enhanced link tracking will need to be activated.

Enhanced link tracking allows you to:

  • see unique data for multiple links on a page that all have the same destination
  • track buttons, menus and actions driven by JavaScript
  • see when one page element has multiple destinations.

You can enable this through Adobe’s DTM by following these steps:

  1. Log into your Dynamic Tag Management account and navigate to the Overview tab.
  2. Provided you have already added your Google Analytics or Universal Analytics Tool, click on the edit cog icon to the right of the Google Analytics installed tool name.
  3. Check that the Tracker Name is set to “GA Default name” if only one GA tool is installed on your website.
  4. Under the Customise Page Code section, click Open Editor and add in the following depending on what version of Google Analytics you are using.

analytics.js (Universal Analytics)

ga('require', 'linkid', 'linkid.js’);

ga.js (Classic Google Analytics)

var pluginUrl =
'//www.google-analytics.com/plugins/ga/inpage_linkid.js';
_gaq.push(['_require', 'inpage_linkid', pluginUrl]);

Enhanced Link Tracking looks for a unique element ID to separate out the number of clicks for each element so remember to add a unique element ID on all links you wish to track uniquely within the in-page analytics report. By default, the maximin amount of DOM levels from a link to look for an element ID is 3.

Provided you have unique IDs on each of your duplicated links on a page, it will now start to see that these duplicated links will no longer continue to record the same amount of clicks as one another, and you can start to make more informed decisions around the design of your pages to ensure you’re making the most of your page’s real estate.

The content and advice contained in this post may be out of date. Last updated on November 21, 2014.

Contact us

to discuss a range of services and support to suit your business needs and goals.

* Required field

Latest Blog Posts

VWO Test

Chief Marking Officers are in a perpetual balancing act, demonstrating ROI from marketing activities under the scrutiny of the Chief Financial Officer.

Read More »

Need Some Help?

We can work onsite or remotely with you and your team to provide capacity uplift or ongoing support as you need.

Need additional MarTech resources to supplement your team for special projects or to provide given expertise?

Data quality and integrity is key to any data strategy. We undertake audits and health checks that can give you peace of mind.

If you know your data could be working harder, but you’re not sure where to start, we can help.

We can help you build dynamic dashboards based on important metrics to fully inform the business.

Is it a CDP or a DMP that is right for your organisation? Let us help you work through the pros and cons.

Let us show you how to bring your online and offline data together to create a best picture of your customers.

Free assessments

Martech Talks: The Four Stages Of Attribution Excellence

This webinar was recorded in October 2023.

Note that the information contained in this presentation should not be taken as legal advice. Digital Balance and its partners recommend that you undertake your own legal investigation.

Martech Talks: Privacy and Data Governance

This webinar was recorded in August 2023.

Note that the information contained in this presentation should not be taken as legal advice. Digital Balance and its partners recommend that you undertake your own legal investigation.

Martech Talks: Privacy Changes and Data Security

This webinar was recorded in July 2023.

 

Note that the information contained in this presentation should not be taken as legal advice. Digital Balance and its partners recommend that you undertake your own legal investigation.