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Tracking Scripts - New Patients - Online Scheduling

Google Adwords, Google Tag Manager (GTM), Google Analytics, Meta Pixels, Tracking Scripts, Whatconverts,

Updated today

Purpose

This article explains how to correctly set up conversion tracking for TrackStat Online Scheduling using Google Ads, Google Tag Manager, Meta (Facebook), and other advertising platforms. It ensures conversions fire only after a patient successfully schedules and that tracking can be reliably tested using browser tools.

Audience

This article is for:

  • Marketing agencies

  • Practice owners

  • Administrators with access to Online Scheduling > Sites & Settings > Tracking Scripts

  • Users with permission to manage Google Ads, Google Analytics, or ad platform pixels

Definitions

Scheduling Page
The page where a patient selects an appointment date and time.

Thank You Page
The confirmation page shown after a patient successfully schedules an appointment. This page confirms completion and is used for conversion tracking.

Global Site Tag (gtag.js)
Google’s base tracking script used to identify visitors across pages.

Event Snippet
A Google Ads script that fires a conversion when a specific action is completed.

Base Pixel / Base Script
The primary tracking script for platforms like Meta, TikTok, or LinkedIn. It initializes tracking but does not count conversions by itself.

Conversion Event Script
A script that fires only when a conversion is complete (for example, a scheduled appointment).

Google Tag Manager (GTM)
A tag management system used to load and control analytics and advertising scripts without hard-coding each platform.

Rules and Constraints

  • Conversions must only fire on the Thank You page.

  • Scheduling pages must never fire conversion events.

  • Base/global scripts should load on both Scheduling and Thank You pages.

  • A real Thank You URL is required to allow refresh-based testing.

  • Embedded schedulers must remain on the Thank You page after refresh.

  • Scripts placed incorrectly may cause double-counting or false conversions.

Navigation Paths

Add tracking scripts:
Online Scheduling → Sites & Settings → Tracking Scripts

Google Ads conversion setup:
Google Ads → Goals → Conversions

Step-by-Step Instructions

Set up Google Ads tracking in TrackStat

TrackStat provides dedicated fields for Google Ads tracking.

  1. Open Google Ads and create or edit a conversion action.

  2. Copy the Global Site Tag (gtag.js).

  3. In TrackStat, paste the Global Site Tag into the Global Site Tag field.

  4. Ensure it loads on:

    • Scheduling page

    • Thank You page

  5. Copy the Event Snippet from Google Ads.

  6. Paste the Event Snippet into the Event Snippet field in TrackStat.

  7. Confirm the Event Snippet is configured to fire only on the Thank You page.

Why this matters: firing the event snippet anywhere else will count incomplete bookings as conversions.

Set up tracking with Google Tag Manager (recommended)

If you use Google Tag Manager, connect Google Analytics (GA4) to it.

  1. Install the GTM container on:

    • Scheduling page

    • Thank You page

  2. In GTM, add a GA4 Configuration tag.

  3. Add GA4 event tags for conversions (example: schedule_complete).

  4. Link Google Ads to GA4.

  5. Import GA4 events into Google Ads as conversions.

Why this matters: GTM becomes a single source of truth for analytics and ad platforms, making troubleshooting and future changes easier.

How to Add a Facebook (Meta) Tracking Pixel in TrackStat

Follow these steps to track scheduled appointments using the Meta (Facebook) Pixel.

Add the Meta base pixel

  1. Open Meta Events Manager.

  2. Select your Pixel.

  3. Copy the Base Pixel code.

  4. In TrackStat, go to:

Online Scheduling → Sites & Settings → Tracking Scripts

  1. Paste the Base Pixel code into the </head> section.

  2. Ensure it applies to:

    • Scheduling page

    • Thank You page

The base pixel tracks page views and allows Meta to identify visitors.

Add the Meta conversion event

  1. In Meta Events Manager, choose the event you want to track (for example: Lead or Schedule).

  2. Copy the event code.

  3. In TrackStat, paste the event code on the Thank You page only.

  4. Place the event code in either:

    • <head>, or

    • Just before </body>

Do not place Meta conversion events on the Scheduling page.

Verify the Meta Pixel

  1. Install the Meta Pixel Helper Chrome extension.

  2. Complete a test scheduling flow.

  3. Confirm:

    • PageView fires on Scheduling and Thank You pages

    • The conversion event fires only on the Thank You page

  4. Refresh the Thank You page to confirm the event fires again for testing purposes.

Ensure the Thank You page supports refresh and embeds

TrackStat allows you to redirect patients to any Thank You page URL you choose after scheduling.

You configure this in:

Online Scheduling → Sites & Settings

Use this setting to enter a custom Thank You URL (for example, /thank-you).

  • After scheduling, patients are redirected to the specified Thank You page.

  • You can use a TrackStat-hosted page or your own page on your clinic domain.

  • This page is where all conversion tracking should fire.

When scheduling is embedded:

  • The embedded experience should display the Thank You page after booking.

  • Refreshing the page should keep the patient on the embedded Thank You page.

This allows:

  • Reliable conversion tracking

  • Chrome extension testing

  • No need to create fake patients

Completion Criteria

You should be able to confirm:

  • The Thank You page loads as a real URL

  • Refreshing the page does not restart scheduling

  • Google Ads, Meta, and other platforms show exactly one conversion per page load

  • Chrome extensions (Tag Assistant, Meta Pixel Helper) detect active scripts

FAQs

Should conversion scripts be placed on the scheduling page?
No. Conversion scripts must only fire on the Thank You page.

Do I need Google Analytics if I use Google Tag Manager?
Yes. Connecting GA4 to GTM allows cleaner Google Ads integration and easier debugging.

Where do I place WhatConverts tracking scripts?
Add the WhatConverts tracking script in:

Online Scheduling → Sites & Settings → Tracking Scripts

Place the script in the </head> section on:

  • Scheduling page

  • Thank You page

Does WhatConverts require domain authorization?
Yes. WhatConverts must add the following authorized URL:

clinic.patienthealthcenters.org

Can I use GTM and WhatConverts together?
Yes. Ensure the script loads on both pages and does not fire conversion events on the Scheduling page.

Why do Chrome testing tools require a Thank You page?
Many testing tools require a page refresh to re-fire scripts. A real Thank You page makes this possible.

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