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Complete 2025 Guide to GTM Server-Side Tagging Implementation

facebook-pixelserver-sidegdprprivacyintermediate
3/5The video provides a practical walkthrough of setting up server-side tagging with GTM and Facebook, covering essential implementation steps. However, the presentation suffers from network issues, unclear explanations at times, and lacks polished production quality. The content is valuable but could benefit from better organization and clearer demonstrations.
How To Set Up GTM Server-Side Tagging (2025) | Tutorial

This comprehensive tutorial walks you through setting up server-side tagging with Google Tag Manager (GTM) and Facebook in 2025, offering a practical solution for businesses looking to overcome tracking limitations. The video demonstrates the entire process from creating a server container in GTM to configuring Facebook Conversion API tracking on Google Cloud Platform. The presenter provides a step-by-step guide on how to establish the connection between your browser-side GTM container and your server container, including how to properly set up event parameters and handle deduplication. You'll learn how to generate and implement the necessary Facebook pixel ID and access tokens, as well as how to verify that your server-side implementation is working correctly. Key topics covered include: - Creating and configuring a GTM server container - Setting up the connection between client-side and server-side containers - Implementing Facebook Conversion API through server-side tracking - Handling event deduplication to ensure data accuracy - Testing and verifying your server-side tracking implementation The tutorial highlights how server-side tracking helps bypass ad blockers and browser limitations while improving data accuracy. According to the presenter, this approach can reduce ad costs by 30-33% through more efficient tracking. ## Our Perspective at GDPR-Server-Tracking.EU While this tutorial provides an excellent foundation for implementing server-side tracking, businesses concerned about GDPR compliance might benefit from our specialized EU-based server-side tagging solution. Unlike the Google Cloud Platform approach shown in the video, our service offers: - EU-based servers (located in Finland) with a fully EU-based hosting company (Hetzner) - Complete EU ownership, eliminating data transfer risks - Bare metal hosting of server-side tracking containers, avoiding third-party access via cloud provider subprocessors - Advanced features for hashing and filtering query parameters and cookies - Competitive pricing compared to cloud platform solutions You can follow the same implementation steps shown in this tutorial but deploy on our GDPR-compliant infrastructure for enhanced data protection and potentially lower costs. This alternative is particularly valuable for European businesses or any company serving European customers who need to maintain strict data sovereignty and compliance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about "How To Set Up GTM Server-Side Tagging (2025) | Tutorial"

Server-side tagging moves data collection from the user's browser to a server you control, helping bypass ad blockers and browser limitations while improving data accuracy. According to the video, this approach can reduce ad costs by 30-33% through more efficient tracking and provides cleaner, more reliable data for marketing decisions.

First create a server container in GTM, then set up a Google Cloud Platform instance (or alternative hosting) and copy your container configuration code. In your client-side GTM, add a Google tag with your server container URL and configure parameters like event ID for deduplication.

You'll need your Facebook Pixel ID, an access token generated from Facebook Events Manager, and optionally a test event code. In your server container, add the Meta Conversion API tag with these credentials and configure event parameters to match your client-side events.

Deduplication prevents the same event from being counted twice when it's sent from both client-side and server-side implementations. This is achieved by assigning a unique event ID to each event and configuring your tags to recognize and filter duplicate events.

Server-side tracking gives you more control over what data is collected and shared with third parties, allowing for better data minimization and processing control. However, the location and ownership of your server infrastructure matters significantly for GDPR compliance, with EU-based servers providing additional legal safeguards.

EU-based solutions like gdpr-server-tracking.eu offer enhanced GDPR compliance through servers located in the EU (Finland), complete EU ownership eliminating data transfer risks, and bare metal hosting that avoids third-party access via cloud provider subprocessors. This approach provides stronger data sovereignty guarantees for businesses serving European customers.

Basic understanding of GTM and tracking implementation is helpful, but the video provides a step-by-step guide that makes it accessible. For more complex setups or ensuring proper GDPR compliance, you might consider working with specialists who offer server-side tracking services.

After setting up your implementation, check your server container's preview mode to confirm events are being received and processed correctly. You should also verify in your advertising platforms (like Facebook Events Manager) that events are being recorded without duplication, and use test event codes when available to validate the data flow.