YouTube Video Tracking in HubSpot using Google Tag Manager

Overview

This guide explains how to track YouTube video interactions (such as plays, pauses, and completions) on your website using Google Tag Manager (GTM), and send that data to HubSpot as Custom Behavioral Events.It is designed for marketing and operations teams that want to analyze video engagement and trigger automated workflows based on user behavior.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure the following are in place:HubSpot Enterprise subscription
(Marketing Hub or Operations Hub Enterprise is required for Custom Behavioral Events)
Google Tag Manager access with publish permissions
YouTube videos embedded on your website
HubSpot tracking code is installed on your siteIf your site is hosted on HubSpot, the tracking code is automatically included
If external, you must add the HubSpot tracking code manually

Step 1: Prepare the YouTube Embed Code

The YouTube iframe must include the enablejsapi=1 parameter for GTM to detect video events.Correct Format:

				
					<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VIDEO_ID?si=YOUR_PARAMS"></iframe>
<!-- Missing enablejsapi=1 -->

Note: If you copied the embed code directly from YouTube, you will need to manually add &enablejsapi=1 to the video URL.

Step 2: Enable Built-In GTM Variables

In GTM, go to Variables > Configure

Under “Videos“, enable the following:

Video Current Time
Video Duration
Video Percent
Video Provider
Video Status
Video Title
Video URL

Step 3: Create a YouTube Video Trigger

Go to Triggers > New

Choose YouTube Video as the trigger type

Configure the following:

Capture: Start (add Pause or Complete as needed)
Check: Add JavaScript API support to all YouTube videos
Fire on: All Videos
Name the trigger: TRG - YouTube Video Start
Save the trigger

Step 4: Create the Custom HTML Tag for HubSpot

Go to Tags > New

Select Custom HTML as the tag type

Name the tag: TAG - HubSpot Video Tracking

Paste the following code:

				
					<script>
console.log('=== TRIGGER FIRED ===');
var lastEvent = window.dataLayer[window.dataLayer.length - 1];
if (typeof _hsq !== 'undefined' && lastEvent.event === 'gtm.video') {
if (lastEvent['gtm.videoStatus'] === 'start') {
_hsq.push([
'trackCustomBehavioralEvent',
{
name: "pe49646889_video_youtube_view",
properties: {
video_action: lastEvent['gtm.videoStatus'],
video_title: lastEvent['gtm.videoTitle'],
video_url: lastEvent['gtm.videoUrl'],
video_duration: lastEvent['gtm.videoDuration'],
video_percent: lastEvent['gtm.videoPercent'],
video_current_time: lastEvent['gtm.videoCurrentTime'],
video_provider: lastEvent['gtm.videoProvider'],
element_id: lastEvent['gtm.elementId'],
page_url: window.location.href,
page_title: document.title,
timestamp: Date.now()
}
}
]);
console.log('Event sent to HubSpot');
}
}
</script>

Assign the trigger TRG - YouTube Video Start

Save and publish the tag

Step 5: Test the Implementation

Enable Preview Mode in GTM

Open your website in a new tab

Play a YouTube video

In the GTM debug panel:

Confirm the gtm.video event appears
Verify the tag is firing correctly
Open the browser console to check the logs
Log into HubSpot and check the Custom Behavioral Events > Event Stream

Checklist

The YouTube iframe includes enablejsapi=1
All GTM video variables are enabled
JavaScript API support is checked in the trigger
The HubSpot tracking code (_hsq) is loaded before the video interaction
Console confirms successful event transmission

Step 6: Publish and Monitor

Publish your GTM container to the live environment
Re-test on the production site
Monitor event activity in HubSpot