Add Google Tag Manager to EmDash

Google Tag Manager (GTM) needs two pieces of code: a loader script in the <head> and a <noscript> fallback right after <body> opens. With Header & Footer Code you add each as its own snippet, and the plugin puts them in the right places.

You need: the plugin installed, an EmDash Admin account, and a GTM web container. Its ID looks like GTM-XXXXXXX.

1. Add the loader to the head

1. In Header & Footer Code, choose New snippet.

2. Paste the loader, replacing GTM-XXXXXXX with your container ID:

   <script>(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':
   new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],
   j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src=
   'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);
   })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-XXXXXXX');</script>

3. Settings: Name GTM loader, Placement Head, Priority 5.

4. Save.

Google asks for the loader “as high in the <head> as possible”. A low priority puts it ahead of your other head snippets.

2. Add the noscript fallback to the body

1. Choose New snippet again.

2. Paste the fallback with the same container ID:

   <noscript><iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-XXXXXXX"
   height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript>

3. Settings: Name GTM noscript, Placement Body start, Priority 5.

4. Save.

Body start is rendered by <EmDashBodyStart />, which belongs immediately after <body>. See Theme setup.

3. Test the container

• In GTM, click Preview, enter your site’s URL, and check that Tag Assistant shows Connected and your tags fire.
• View the page source and search for your GTM- ID. It should appear twice: once in the head, once just after <body>.
• Remember to Submit (publish) the container in GTM. Preview only affects your own browser.

Tip

Add tools like GA4, Google Ads or Meta Pixel inside GTM rather than as more snippets. That way there’s one place to manage them, and nothing gets loaded twice.

Common problems

Symptom	Fix
Tag Assistant can’t connect	The loader snippet is off, the ID is wrong, or an edge cache serves old HTML.
Noscript iframe missing	Your layout doesn’t render <EmDashBodyStart />.
Data doubled in GA4	GA4 is also added directly as a snippet. Remove one.
Consent tools fire after GTM	Give the consent snippet a lower priority than 5. See cookie consent.