90% of the Javascript I use in Google Tag Manager comes down to 3 simple concepts...

After building some pretty extensive tracking systems, I've noticed something interesting - marketers often avoid Javascript in GTM like it's radioactive. But here's the truth: you don't need to become a developer to harness its power.

Let me show you exactly what I mean.

Most marketers hit these common frustrations:
- "I can't track this specific button"
- "The form tracking isn't detailed enough"
- "Custom triggers aren't working"
- "I need a developer for everything"

So to help you remove the frustration, I've distiller Javascript for Google Tag Manager into three building blocks that anyone can learn:

1️⃣ Finding Things (querySelector)
Think of this as Google search for your webpage:



document.querySelector('.pricing-button')



It's that simple. Just like you use Facebook's search bar to find posts, querySelector finds elements on your page.

Real example: you need to track which pricing tier got the most attention. One line of code simplified the process and removed the need for developers to do anything to the code base.

2️⃣ Watching for Actions (addEventListener)
This is like having a security camera on your website:



addEventListener('click', function(e) {
// your tracking code here
})



Don't let the syntax intimidate you. This is just saying "watch for clicks and do something when they happen."

I've watched marketers' eyes light up when they realize they can:
* Track form field interactions
* Monitor video engagement
* Capture scroll patterns
* Log document downloads

3️⃣ Sending Data (dataLayer.push)
This is your message delivery system:



dataLayer.push({
'event': 'user_action',
'action_type': 'engagement'
})



Think of it as sending an email to GTM. Simple as that.

From my experience, I can tell you:
* These concepts haven't changed in years
* They work across all browsers
* They're incredibly reliable
* You can learn them in an afternoon

The impact I've seen marketers create after learning these basics:
* 74% reduction in developer dependencies
* 2.3x more detailed user journey data
* Faster implementation of tracking ideas

Here's what I wish someone had told me as a marketer: JavaScript in GTM isn't about becoming a programmer. It's about adding a powerful tool to your marketing toolkit.

Currently learning GTM and Javascript yourself?



Javascript basics for Google Tag Manager

How many countless hours do you spend a week in meetings?

I’ve had months where the meeting marathons would run for 25+ hours a week.

The cost of meetings is more than just monetary…

🤯 The True Cost of Your Meetings Might Shock You

Let's do some quick math on those "just 15 meetings" you had this week:

• 15 hours × Average salary of $50/hour = $750
• × 5 team members per meeting = $3,750
• × 48 working weeks = $180,000/year

But that's just the surface cost. Factor in:

💸 Lost Revenue
- Delayed responses
- Missed sales opportunities
- Postponed project launches

⚡ Productivity Drain
- Context switching (takes 23 minutes to refocus)
- Meeting prep time
- Follow-up tasks

🧠 Mental Impact
- Decision fatigue
- Creative blocks
- Zoom fatigue

Want to see your actual numbers? I made this tool that calculates your true meeting costs, including the hidden ones.

👉 Check it out: 

https://meetingmanifesto.vercel.app/personal-toll



The results might make you rethink your calendar.

The hidden costs of meetings


I see a tremendous opportunity in employing generative AI to elevate marketing automation experiences.

Here are some ways I'm currently utilizing it:

1. Creating Custom Code Actions:
Writing code is in my skill set, but it's undeniably time-consuming. With ChatGPT, I've streamlined the process by generating Node.js and Python scripts. This allows me to seamlessly incorporate them into my HubSpot workflow, saving both time and effort.

2. Email Sentiment Analysis:
We executed an email campaign, reaching out to a massive audience of 1 million people. Managing the influx of email replies manually was impractical. Leveraging ChatGPT, we automated the process by summarizing responses, extracting sentiments, and categorizing emails. The consolidated data was then pushed through Segment into Redshift for further management and analysis.

I'm curious – how have you harnessed the power of ChatGPT to supercharge your automation? Share your experiences!

How do you integrate ChatGPT into your automation workflows?

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Javascript basics for Google Tag Manager

The hidden costs of meetings