How to set up Hotjar?

Setting up Hotjar on your website is a straightforward process, even if you’re not a tech expert. Hotjar provides a simple installation method that involves adding a tracking code to your website. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to set up Hotjar, which can help you start gathering insights into your website visitors’ behavior quickly.

Step 1: Create a Hotjar Account

1. Go to the Hotjar website at www.hotjar.com.
2. Click on the Sign Up button in the top right corner.
3. Fill in your details such as your email address, password, and website URL.
4. Choose a plan that suits your needs (Hotjar offers a free plan for small websites or low-traffic sites).

Step 2: Add Your Website to Hotjar

Once you’ve signed up, you’ll be prompted to add your website to Hotjar’s dashboard.

1. In the Hotjar dashboard, click on New Site to add the site you want to track.
2. Enter your website’s URL and click Add Site.

Step 3: Install the Hotjar Tracking Code

After adding your website, Hotjar will generate a tracking code. This code needs to be added to your website to begin tracking user behavior.

Installing Hotjar Manually:

1. Copy the tracking code that Hotjar provides after creating your account.
2. Go to your website’s HTML header or use a plugin like Insert Headers and Footers (if you’re using WordPress).
3. Paste the tracking code right before the closing </head> tag in your website’s code.

For WordPress users:

1. Install and activate the Insert Headers and Footers plugin.
2. In your WordPress dashboard, go to Settings > Insert Headers and Footers.
3. Paste the Hotjar tracking code into the Header section and save your changes.

For Google Tag Manager users:

1. Log in to Google Tag Manager and create a new tag.
2. Select Custom HTML as the tag type and paste your Hotjar tracking code.
3. Set the trigger to fire on All Pages.
4. Publish the changes to add Hotjar to your site.

Step 4: Verify Your Installation

1. Go back to your Hotjar dashboard.
2. Click on Verify Installation to check if the tracking code is properly installed on your website.
3. If everything is set up correctly, you’ll see a confirmation message. You can now start using Hotjar’s features.

Step 5: Set Up Heatmaps, Recordings, and Funnels

Now that your website is connected, it’s time to start gathering data. You can begin setting up different tools like heatmaps, session recordings, and funnel tracking.

Creating a Heatmap:

1. In your Hotjar dashboard, navigate to the Heatmaps tab.
2. Click on New Heatmap.
3. Choose which page or pages you want to track (you can specify URLs or patterns).
4. Set a name for your heatmap, and click Create Heatmap.
5. Hotjar will begin collecting data on where users are clicking, scrolling, or spending the most time.

Setting Up Session Recordings:

1. Go to the Recordings tab in the dashboard.
2. Click on Start Recording.
3. Hotjar will start recording user sessions so you can watch how users navigate your website.

Setting Up a Conversion Funnel:

1. Go to the Funnels tab in your dashboard.
2. Click on Create Funnel.
3. Define the steps users take to reach a goal (e.g., Homepage > Product Page > Checkout).
4. Hotjar will track the percentage of users completing each step in the funnel and where they drop off.

Step 6: Use Hotjar Insights to Optimize Your Website

Once Hotjar starts collecting data, you can begin using the insights to optimize your website’s SEO and user experience. Whether it’s through heatmaps, recordings, or user feedback surveys, Hotjar provides you with detailed information that can help you improve your site’s design and overall user engagement.

Setting up Hotjar is simple and provides you with powerful insights into your website’s user behavior. By following the steps above, you’ll be able to install Hotjar, start tracking visitor interactions, and gather actionable data to optimize your website for both SEO and user experience.