Overview
Media and publishing sites rely on engagement data to understand what content resonates with readers. Tag Insight ensures your content tracking captures every article view, video play, and reader interaction accurately.Why media sites need Tag Insight
Content performance
Know which articles and videos truly engage audiences
Ad revenue protection
Ensure ad impressions and clicks track correctly
Audience insights
Understand reader behavior and preferences
Real-time monitoring
Catch tracking issues before they impact reporting
What to monitor
Essential media tracking
Track these critical reader interactions:1
Content consumption
How readers engage with content
- Article views and read time
- Video plays and completion rates
- Audio/podcast listens
- Gallery interactions
2
Reader journey
Understanding user paths
- Homepage visits
- Category browsing
- Search usage
- Related content clicks
3
Engagement signals
Measuring true interest
- Scroll depth
- Time on page
- Social shares
- Comments and reactions
4
Subscription funnel
For paywalled content
- Paywall impressions
- Registration starts
- Subscription conversions
- Login events
Common media tracking challenges
What often breaks
Infinite scroll tracking
Infinite scroll tracking
Problem: Missing page views as readers scroll
- New articles load without tracking
- URL doesn’t change
- Analytics misses content views
Video engagement gaps
Video engagement gaps
Problem: Incomplete video analytics
- Play events fire but not completions
- Quality changes not tracked
- Ad views missing
Mobile app vs web
Mobile app vs web
Problem: Inconsistent cross-platform tracking
- Different event names
- Missing app data
- Can’t compare platforms
Ad blocker impact
Ad blocker impact
Problem: Lost data from blocked tracking
- Can’t measure true audience
- Revenue attribution gaps
- Engagement metrics skewed
Media-specific features
Content validation
Tag Insight offers specialized monitoring for publishers:Article metadata
Verify author, category, and publish date tracking
Video milestones
Check 25%, 50%, 75%, and completion events
Engagement depth
Monitor scroll tracking and read time
Social tracking
Validate share buttons and social interactions
Revenue optimization
Protect your monetization:- Advertising
- Subscriptions
- Sponsored content
Ad tracking essentials
- Impression counting
- Viewability metrics
- Click tracking
- Revenue per page
Setting up media monitoring
Quick implementation
1
Install Tag Insight
Add to your CMS or tag manager
2
Map your content events
Define what makes a “page view” or “video play” for your site
3
Set critical alerts
- Article tracking failures
- Video event drops
- Missing author/category data
- Ad tracking issues
4
Monitor in real-time
Watch as readers engage with your content
Priority tracking checklist
Start monitoring these first:| Content Type | Key Events | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Articles | Page views, read depth | Editorial decisions |
| Videos | Plays, completion rate | Content investment |
| Galleries | Views, interactions | Visual content ROI |
| Homepage | Impressions, clicks | Navigation optimization |
| Search | Queries, results clicked | Content discovery |
Success stories
How media companies use Tag Insight
Breaking news coverage
Monitor real-time engagement during major stories
Content optimization
Identify which topics drive most engagement
Technical performance
Ensure fast-loading pages track properly
Cross-platform insights
Unified view of web, app, and AMP tracking
Best practices for media sites
Daily monitoring routine
- Morning check: Verify overnight tracking worked
- Peak hours: Monitor during high traffic
- New content: Confirm new articles track properly
- End of day: Review any issues found
Content lifecycle tracking
- Pre-publish
- Launch
- Ongoing
- Test tracking in preview
- Verify metadata present
- Check category assignment
Common questions
How do I track paywalled content?
How do I track paywalled content?
Set up events for both teaser views and full article access. Tag Insight can validate that paywall events fire correctly before and after subscription.
What about AMP pages?
What about AMP pages?
Tag Insight works with AMP analytics. Create rules specific to your AMP implementation to ensure consistent tracking.
Can I track reading time accurately?
Can I track reading time accurately?
Yes, monitor engagement time events and scroll depth together for accurate reading time metrics.
How do I handle syndicated content?
How do I handle syndicated content?
Set up validation rules to ensure proper attribution and source tracking for syndicated articles.
ROI of accurate media tracking
When tracking works properly:- Editorial wins: Make data-driven content decisions
- Revenue growth: Optimize based on real engagement
- Audience insights: Understand true reader preferences
- Technical efficiency: Identify performance issues
Getting started
1
Audit current tracking
Run Tag Insight to find what’s missing
2
Fix critical gaps
Prioritize article and video tracking
3
Set up monitoring
Configure alerts for your KPIs
4
Train your team
Ensure editors understand tracking