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updatedAt: 2025-08-27T00:55:01.000Z
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# Add the base pixel in Google Tag Manager (using custom HTML)

Set up the base pixel in GTM (Google Tag Manager), using a code snippet from Taboola.

# Overview

To add the  *base* pixel using custom HTML (*no editing required*), follow the guidelines below.

> 👍 Advantages of using this flow
>
> No editing required - just copy a *ready-to-go* code snippet from **Realize**.

> 📘 See also
>
> * For a list of available flows, see: [The base pixel](https://developers.taboola.com/pixel/docs/the-base-pixel)
> * For an overview of conversion tracking, see: [Conversion tracking](https://developers.taboola.com/pixel/docs/conversion-tracking-overview)

> 🚧
>
> **Shopify** store owners should use our [Shopify app](https://developers.taboola.com/pixel/docs/conversion-tracking-for-shopify).

# Realize

## Obtain the base pixel code snippet

1. Open <a href="https://ads.realizeperformance.com/tracking" target="_blank">Realize</a>, and select the account (*top, left*) that you will use to track conversions.
2. In the sidebar (*left*), select `Tracking`.
3. Click on `Account Tracking Setup` (*top, right*):

   ![](https://files.readme.io/75ed47f71d7e83a8ed10a7bf8006a9046165d3cb612a1a3fd57439a6c5128380-image.png)
4. Select `Manually` as the `Setup Method`, and click on `Continue`.
5. Mouse over the code snippet and click on `COPY TO CLIPBOARD`.
6. Leave **Realize** open and continue with the **GTM** setup below.

# GTM

## First steps

If you have not already done so, open your **Google Tag Manager** workspace:

1. Open <Anchor label="Google Tag Manager" target="_blank" href="https://tagmanager.google.com/">Google Tag Manager</Anchor>.
   > (You may be prompted to log in with Google.)
2. Under **`Container Name`** (*left*), click on the relevant container.
   > Note the `Container ID` (`"GTM-XXXXXXXX"`) on the *far right*.
   >
   > (You can change your selection later, by clicking in the *top, left* corner.)
3. Select a workspace (*top, left*), or just use the `Default Workspace`:

   <Image align="left" border={false} src="https://files.readme.io/6f7a4f684adda8889bab96f26eef2f3f4978941f46c35ae722943322a2d278fc-image.png" />

> 📘 Containers & workspaces
>
> * <a href="https://support.google.com/tagmanager/answer/6261285" target="_blank">Containers</a> (Official docs)
> * <a href="https://support.google.com/tagmanager/answer/7059647" target="_blank">Workspaces</a> (Official docs)

## Add the base pixel custom HTML

In your **GTM** dashboard:

1. In the navigation panel (*left*), select **`Tags`**.

   <Image align="left" src="https://files.readme.io/4ed41ffb8261d24776b36e2b0630023020e78409a8af4aa5f07afb52f131e6da-image.png" />

   <br />
2. Click on **`New`** (*top, right*):

   <Image align="left" src="https://files.readme.io/f292e02e9593a43ac1d4d8fed49e54784dc58069fe9f4cb5696579adb5df5643-image.png" />

   <br />
3. Click on the **`Tag Configuration`** card.
4. Under **`Custom`**, select **`Custom HTML`**.
5. Paste in the code snippet that you obtained from **Realize** (*previous section*).
6. Click on the **`Triggering`** card.
7. Select **`All Pages`**.
8. Click on **`Save`** (*top, right*):

   <Image align="left" className="border" border={true} src="https://files.readme.io/1bec119df693baf55fdd1717ef3d60b948b2a0dd7293d458ca3b4aeec8702ce8-image.png" />
9. When prompted, enter a descriptive name for the tag - e.g. **`Taboola Base Pixel`**.

> 🚧
>
> At this stage, your changes are not live - you still need to *publish* them.

## Preview your changes (*optional*)

Although, you have added the tag within **GTM**, your changes are not live yet - you still need to *publish* them.

You can optionally *preview* (test-drive) your changes before you publish them. If you prefer to publish your changes immediately, skip ahead to the [next section](#publish-your-changes).

> 🚧
>
> The **`Publish`** action will publish *all* recent changes - including changes made by other team members within this **GTM** workspace.

> 📘 When to use preview
>
> 1. Other team members are making changes in the *same* **GTM** workspace.
> 2. You want to confirm your setup *before* you publish it.
> 3. You want to test why a tag is not working as expected.

In your **GTM** dashboard:

1. Click on **`Preview`** (*top, right*).
2. Enter the URL of the page where the customer journey begins (e.g. the landing page). Then click on **`Connect`**:
   1. The **Tag Assistant** is opened in a new *tab*.
   2. If the connection is successful, your webpage is opened in a separate  *window*.
3. Once a connection is made, click on **Continue**.
4. Review the **`Output`** window to see which tags were fired:

   ![](https://files.readme.io/10447cfd550a0144a171037fa53565cd9f35b90d6fd6ba0df15003e026f1a77a-image.png)
5. Click on the **`Close`** icon (*top, left*) to stop debugging:

   <Image align="left" src="https://files.readme.io/3ac1b5abe294d190892c5b7114a6c758a9092799153566de39fd175df85f9dc4-image.png" />
6. Once you are done with the **Tag Assistant**, close the browser tab.

## Publish your changes

> 🚧
>
> The **`Publish`** action will publish *all* recent changes - including changes made by other team members within this **GTM** workspace.

1. Click on **`Submit`** (*top, right*).
2. Review the **`Workspace Changes`**.
   > This is the set of changes that will be deployed.
3. (*Optional*) Enter the following fields:
   1. `Version Name` - e.g. `"Taboola Base Pixel"`
   2. `Version Description` - e.g. `"Added the Taboola base pixel"`.\ <br />
      > The above fields can help when reviewing a history of changes to your **GTM** container.\ <br />
4. While you wait for **GTM** to publish your changes, sing like no one is listening :)
5. Once published, a summary page appears.

# What's next?

Well done - you have added the *base* pixel using **GTM**!

> 📘 Next...
>
> 1. [Verify](https://developers.taboola.com/pixel/docs/verification-overview) that the *base* pixel is running smoothly.
> 2. Add [*event* pixels](https://developers.taboola.com/pixel/docs/event-pixels)
>    > and [verify](https://developers.taboola.com/pixel/docs/verification-overview) that they are running smoothly.
> 3. Alternatively, add <a href="https://help.taboola.com/hc/en-us/articles/360003484314-Defining-and-Creating-Conversions" target="_blank">URL-based conversions</a>.
>    > and [verify](https://developers.taboola.com/pixel/docs/url-based-conversions) that they are running smoothly.

# Additional info

> 📘 Basic terms
>
> * **Taboola pixel** - a **Taboola** code snippet that tracks user activity and gathers information about browsing behavior.
> * **Tag** - (*aka* **marketing tag**) a code snippet that collects data from your website - e.g. **Taboola pixel**.
> * **GTM (Google Tag Manager)** - a dashboard provided by **Google** to manage your tags.
>   > Allows you to add, remove, disable and test-drive tags.
> * **GTM container** - A collection of your tag definitions in **GTM**.
>   > (You can create multiple containers.)
> * **GTM container code** - A **Google** code snippet that injects all tags from your **GTM container** into your web page.

> 📘 GTM resources
>
> * [Get started with Tag Manager](https://support.google.com/tagmanager/answer/6102821?hl=en\&ref_topic=15191151\&sjid=15346754790744832575-EU#) (Official docs)
> * [Set up your Google tag](https://support.google.com/tagmanager/answer/12002338?hl=en#zippy=%2Cin-google-ads%2Cin-google-analytics%2Cin-campaign-manager%2Cin-google-tag-manager)  (Official docs)
> * <a href="https://www.analyticsmania.com/post/google-tag-manager-id/" target="_blank">Google Tag Manager ID (*aka* Container ID) and how to get it</a> (An in-depth tutorial for beginners)