Tell me about a time you had to diagnose a broken JavaScript tracking tag on a client's website. How did you identify and fix the issue?

Situation

A client using our analytics service contacted us saying their conversion data had flatlined for two days. Their website had recently undergone a redesign, and the tracking code might have been affected.

Task

I needed to quickly determine why the tracking tag stopped working, fix it, and restore data collection to prevent further loss.

Action

I first verified the tag's status using browser developer tools, checking the network tab for requests to our analytics endpoint. The requests were absent, indicating the script wasn't loading. I reviewed the website source code and found the tag was placed inside a section that was removed during the redesign. I instructed the client to reinsert the tag snippet just before the closing </head> tag on all pages. I also recommended using Google Tag Assistant to confirm it fired correctly. Lastly, I documented the cause and resolution for their future reference.

Result

Within an hour, data started flowing again, and the client confirmed their reports were accurate. They avoided two more days of data loss, and I received a recognition for efficient troubleshooting.