Want to know what people actually do on your website?
Pageviews are useful—but they don’t tell the full story. Event tracking shows you how users interact with your site.
- Did they click the “Buy Now” button?
- Did they submit a form?
- Did they download your pricing PDF?
With Google Analytics 4 (GA4) and Google Tag Manager (GTM), you can track all of that—and more—without touching your site’s code.
Let’s walk through how to do it—and what events are worth tracking.
What Is Event Tracking?
Event tracking records actions users take on your site. These aren’t just pageviews or sessions—they’re interactions.
Each event can include:
- Category – Type of event (e.g. “Form”, “Video”, “Button”)
- Action – What the user did (e.g. “Submit”, “Play”, “Click”)
- Label – Context (e.g. “Newsletter Form”, “Home Page Video”)
And yes—it works in Kuwait, UAE, Saudi Arabia, or anywhere else your audience is.
Why Use Google Tag Manager?
Normally, you’d need to add JavaScript on every button, link, or form. That’s a pain. GTM simplifies everything.
Here’s why GTM is great:
- No dev required (once installed)
- One place to manage all your tracking
- Works with GA4, Facebook Pixel, LinkedIn Ads, etc.
- Easy to test, debug, and publish
Once GTM is on your site, you can track almost anything.
What Events Should You Track?
Now the good stuff—what should you actually track?
Here’s a list of high-value events that give you better insights and help boost conversions.
1. Button Clicks
Track every important button on your site:
- “Sign Up”
- “Buy Now”
- “Contact Us”
You’ll know which buttons work and which ones don’t.
2. Form Submissions
Know when users fill out:
- Newsletter forms
- Quote requests
- Contact forms
Lead generation starts here.
3. Link Clicks
Track clicks to:
- Social media pages
- External links
- Affiliate products
This is especially useful for bloggers and digital marketers in the MENA region.
4. File Downloads
If you offer:
- PDF guides
- Whitepapers
- Pricing sheets
Track who’s actually downloading them.
5. Video Views
Measure engagement on:
- Product videos
- Testimonials
- Tutorials
You can track if someone clicked “Play”, watched 50%, or finished the video.
6. Scroll Depth
Track how far users scroll on key pages.
- Are they reading your content?
- Do they reach the pricing section?
This helps you optimize long pages.
7. Live Chat Interaction
If you use tools like Drift or Tidio, track when someone:
- Opens the chat
- Starts typing
- Sends a message
Useful for support teams and sales funnels.
Setting Up Event Tracking (Step-by-Step)
Here’s how to track a button click using GTM and GA4.
Step 1: Create a New Tag in GTM
- Go to Tags > New
- Choose Google Analytics: GA4 Event
- Select your GA4 config tag
- Set Event Name (e.g.
contact_us_click)
Step 2: Add Event Parameters (Optional)
Add info like:
button_textpage_location
These help you get better insights.
Step 3: Set a Trigger
- Go to Triggers > New
- Choose Click – All Elements
- Set filter: Click Text equals “Contact Us”
Step 4: Preview and Test
Use Preview Mode in GTM. Test your site. Make sure the tag fires correctly.
Step 5: Publish
Once tested, hit Submit. Event data will now show in GA4 > Events.
Tips for Clean Event Tracking
- Use clear names: Use lowercase and underscores. Like
form_submit,video_play. - Group related events: Use the same event name (
button_click) and change the label. - Track what matters: Don’t overdo it. Stick to business goals.
How This Helps Your Business
Whether you're running a business in Kuwait, UAE, or Saudi Arabia, knowing what your users do is gold.
Event tracking helps you:
- Improve conversion rates
- Spot broken or ignored elements
- Optimize landing pages
- Improve your ads' ROI
And the best part? You’re making decisions based on real behavior, not guesses.
Final Words
Setting up event tracking with GTM and GA4 takes less than an hour.
Start simple. Track one key button. Then build from there.
Because when you know what your users really do on your website…
You can build a site that actually works for your business.
Need help setting it up? Just drop me a message.
🚀 Let’s build something amazing! If you have a project in mind or need help with your next design system, feel free to reach out.
📧 Email: safi.abdulkader@gmail.com | 💻 LinkedIn: @abdulkader-safi | 📱 Instagram: @abdulkader.safi | 🏢 DSRPT
Drop me a line, I’m always happy to collaborate! 🚀
