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What’s the easiest way to test event tracking before publishing in GTM?

Asked on Oct 13, 2025

Answer

To test event tracking in Google Tag Manager (GTM) before publishing, you can use the GTM Preview Mode, which allows you to simulate and verify your tags and triggers without affecting your live site. This ensures that your event tracking is set up correctly before it goes live.
  1. Open Google Tag Manager and click on the "Preview" button in the top right corner.
  2. Enter the URL of the page you want to test and click "Connect" to start the preview mode.
  3. Interact with your site to trigger the events you want to test, and check the GTM Debug Panel to see if the tags fire correctly.
Additional Comment:
  • Ensure your browser allows pop-ups, as the GTM Preview Mode opens a new window.
  • Use the GTM Debug Panel to inspect which tags are firing and verify the data being sent to Google Analytics or other platforms.
  • After testing, remember to exit Preview Mode and publish your changes if everything works as expected.
✅ Answered with Analytics best practices.

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