4 Ways to Check Your Website’s Google Consent Mode Setup

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. 1. Check Your Consent Mode Configuration in Google Ads
  3. 2. Checking Consent Status in Google Analytics 4
  4. 3. Checking Consent Configuration of Tags in Google Tag Manager
  5. 4. Check Consent Status Changes with Google Tag Assistant
  6. Conclusion
  7. FAQ

Introduction

In March, Google rolled out Consent Mode v2 for its properties in the European Economic Area (EEA), ensuring compliance with the Digital Markets Act (DMA). This update introduced new parameters that have become essential for PPC marketers aiming to comply with Google’s updated requirements. However, many advertisers risk penalization due to incomplete adoption of consent mode. This blog post offers a detailed guide on how to verify your Google consent mode configuration across Google Ads, GA4, and more, helping you stay compliant and avoid potential penalties.

By the end of this post, you will understand the various methods to check your consent mode setup, the importance of compliance, and the steps needed to ensure your configurations are correctly implemented. Let's dive into how you can effectively manage your consent mode setup.

1. Check Your Consent Mode Configuration in Google Ads

Initial Configuration Check

The first step to verify your consent mode setup is within Google Ads. Navigate to your ad account and follow these steps:

  1. Go to Tools and Settings > Measurement > Conversions > Diagnostics.
  2. Look for a widget under Diagnostics that indicates whether consent mode is active.

This diagnostic tool confirms if Google acknowledges your consent settings. However, it does not guarantee if the correct statuses are passed, necessitating further verification steps.

Configuring Consent Mode via Google Ads

If the initial step did not show an active consent mode widget, you'll need to set up consent mode through Google Ads. Google offers direct integrations accessible via your Ads account, providing step-by-step instructions on setting up consent mode.

Here's what you can do:

  1. Select either your web platform or Consent Management Platform (CMP).
  2. Follow the provided instructions to integrate and configure your consent mode.
  3. If needed, set up a consent banner to ensure users can manage their consent preferences.

Proper configuration in Google Ads is crucial for ensuring your campaigns comply with new regulations and avoid penalization.

2. Checking Consent Status in Google Analytics 4

Using GA4 to Verify Consent

Google Analytics 4 (GA4) offers a robust feature for checking consent status. This tool allows you to verify the consent choices made by users and how Google processes this data. To use this feature:

  1. Open your GA4 account.
  2. Navigate to Admin > Tracking Info > Data Collection.
  3. Check the status under the consent settings section.

GA4 provides a detailed breakdown, showing whether measurement and personalization consent signals are active and how Google shares data among its services. This verification ensures that your data collection practices comply with consent preferences.

Detailed Breakdown

In GA4, the consent settings status consists of three components:

  1. Measurement Consent: Indicates whether data collection for measurement is permitted.
  2. Personalization Consent: Shows if user data can be used for personalized experiences.
  3. Data Sharing Settings: Verifies how data is shared across Google services.

Ensuring these settings align with user preferences is a key step toward compliance.

3. Checking Consent Configuration of Tags in Google Tag Manager

Enabling Consent Overview in GTM

Google Tag Manager (GTM) includes features to help marketers ensure that their tags’ consent settings are correctly configured. Start by enabling the consent overview setting:

  1. In your GTM account, go to Admin > Container Settings.
  2. Enable Consent Overview.

Verifying Tag Consent Settings

Once enabled, navigate back to the workspace and perform the following steps:

  1. Switch from overview to Tags.
  2. Near the blue New button, click the shield icon.

This action displays each tag in your account, detailing whether consent preferences are configured correctly. Built-in Google tags, for instance, automatically adjust based on consent settings. This step is crucial for ensuring all deployed tags comply with consent preferences.

4. Check Consent Status Changes with Google Tag Assistant

Running Checks with Google Tag Assistant

Google Tag Assistant is another effective tool to verify consent status across your website interactions. You can use it to see how consent choices are passed and updated as users navigate through your site. There are two primary methods:

  1. Tag Assistant Extension: Use the browser extension to check live consent status.
  2. Preview Mode in GTM: Offers detailed insights into tag firing at each triggered event.

Detailed Steps for Verification

To check consent updates:

  1. Load your URL in debug mode within Tag Assistant.
  2. Click through each event on the left-side navigation.
  3. Toggle between Tags and Consent to see consent choices and tags fired.

This detailed examination helps you ensure tags only fire under the correct consent settings. Note that, in preview mode, Google tags always appear as firing due to their built-in consent settings.

Conclusion

Ensuring your compliance with Google’s Consent Mode v2 is essential to avoiding penalties and maintaining the integrity of your PPC campaigns. By following these steps to verify your consent mode configuration in Google Ads, GA4, GTM, and using Google Tag Assistant, you can ensure your setup aligns with regulatory requirements.

Consent mode is not just a regulatory requirement but also an opportunity to build trust with your users by respecting their data preferences. Regular checks and configurations help maintain compliance and optimize your marketing strategies effectively.

FAQ

What is Google Consent Mode?

Google Consent Mode is a framework that allows your website to adjust data collection based on the user's consent status for cookies and other tracking technologies.

Why is compliance with Consent Mode v2 necessary?

Compliance ensures that your website meets regulatory requirements, such as the Digital Markets Act (DMA), thus avoiding potential penalization and fostering user trust.

Can I use Google Tag Manager for Consent Mode setup?

Yes, Google Tag Manager has built-in features to help configure and check consent preferences on every tag deployed through GTM.

What happens if I don’t set up Consent Mode correctly?

Failure to set up Consent Mode correctly can result in penalization of your ad accounts, loss of data integrity, and potentially breaching user privacy regulations.

By staying proactive about your consent mode settings, you ensure compliance and uphold best practices in data management and user privacy.

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