Navigating GDPR compliance for your website can feel daunting, but implementing cookie consent effectively doesn’t have to be complicated. Here’s a straightforward guide to set up GDPR-compliant cookie consent using Google Tag Manager (GTM).
Step 1: Choose a Consent Management Platform (CMP)
Select a user-friendly CMP designed to manage cookie consent smoothly. Popular choices include:
- Cookiebot
- Usercentrics
- CookieYes
- Borlabs Cookie
Step 2: Implement CMP on Your Website
After choosing your CMP, integrate their provided JavaScript snippet into your website’s header:
Replace YOUR_CMP_ID with your specific CMP identifier.
Step 3: Configure Consent Categories
Typical categories include:
- Essential Cookies (always enabled)
- Analytics Cookies
- Marketing Cookies
- Preference Cookies
Clearly allow users to opt in or out of each category.
Step 4: Integrate Your CMP with GTM
Using Google’s Consent Mode:
Enable Google Consent Mode directly in your CMP, then:
- Go to GTM → Admin → Container Settings.
- Enable “Consent Overview.”
If your CMP doesn’t support Google Consent Mode, use custom dataLayer events:
Step 5: Configure GTM Tags for Compliance
Create custom event triggers based on user consent:
- Trigger type: Custom Event
- Event Name:
cookie_consent_update - Trigger conditions example:
consent_analyticsequalstrue
Assign these triggers to tags accordingly (e.g., Google Analytics tags fire only with analytics consent).
Step 6: Test Your Setup
Use GTM’s Preview Mode to ensure tags activate only upon user consent.
Implementing GDPR compliance through GTM ensures transparency and builds trust with your users. Keep your cookie management clean, user-friendly, and compliant—so you can focus on what truly matters: growing your business creatively and responsibly.
