How to Enable DataLayer for Shopify Stores to Track GA4 Events

This guide will walk you through the process of setting up and configuring a DataLayer for your Shopify store to accurately track GA4 events. By the end of this tutorial, you’ll have a seamless integration that helps you gain deeper insights into customer behavior and improve your marketing strategies.

Introduction to Elevar

Elevar is a well-known app that facilitates the integration of Google Tag Manager and Google Analytics with Shopify. It simplifies the process of setting up the DataLayer to track GA4 events without requiring any manual coding or adding JavaScript to your store.

Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up Elevar

Install Elevar from the Shopify App Store

Head over to the Shopify App Store and search for Elevar. Upon finding it, install the app to your store.

Connect Your Google Tag Manager to Elevar

Once installed, log in to your Elevar account and follow the instructions provided by the app to connect your Google Tag Manager container ID. Elevar will automatically add the necessary DataLayer code to your Shopify store.

Enable eCommerce Tracking

Elevar will automatically configure the required DataLayer events, such as view_item, add_to_cart, and purchase, for GA4. These events are triggered based on customer interactions with your store, such as product views, adding items to the cart, and completing checkouts.

Verify the DataLayer

To ensure that the DataLayer is implemented correctly, you can use browser extensions like DataLayer Inspector or Google Tag Manager Helper to check if the data is being passed to the DataLayer.

Set Up GA4 Tags in Google Tag Manager

Once the DataLayer is set up, you can configure GA4 tags within Google Tag Manager. Create triggers for each event, such as view_item, add_to_cart, and purchase, based on DataLayer pushes from Elevar. This setup ensures that GA4 events are accurately recorded and tracked in your analytics dashboard.

Benefits of Using Elevar

The key benefits of using Elevar for setting up DataLayer and integrating it with GA4 events include:

No need for manual coding or adding JavaScript to your store. Easy integration with Google Tag Manager and GA4. Automatically adds and manages DataLayer pushes. Pre-configured for eCommerce tracking events.

Alternative Method: Customizing Theme Code

If you prefer not to use Elevar, you can manually customize the theme’s code to include DataLayer snippets. This provides you with more control over the DataLayer implementation but requires a good understanding of coding. For more insights on enabling DataLayer, check out my Quora profile!

Setting Up a GTM Container for GA4 Events

If you choose to customize the theme’s code, follow these steps:

Create a GTM container. Modify the GTM code to include DataLayer snippets. Add the GTM to your Shopify theme. Add GA4 to the GTM container. Preview, test, and publish your GTM settings.

For more detailed information on these steps, refer to the provided link.

Note: If you need web development services, feel free to check my profile for assistance.