Session Recordings

See What Your Visitors Do on Your Page!

The Session Recordings feature enables you to actually see what your users are doing on your website. You can view actual video recordings of a visitor's actions during their session – illustrating where clicks occurred, content viewing patterns, and overall actions taken. Analyzing this valuable information empowers you to optimize your website for a better user experience.

This submodule offers two views for Session Recordings: the Main Table Overview and the Detail Page. To provide a clearer understanding of this feature, we've organized the article into the following sections:

  1. Main Table Overview
  2. Detail Page
  3. Session Recording Settings

Right above the tiles, you can see a date picker. This enables you to select a certain time period, or specific day, for which you want the dashboard's data to correspond.

It is crucial to limit the presentation of data to specific dates or time frames during which you executed potential campaigns or implemented other strategies. This will allow you to assess the effectiveness of these actions and use the insights gained for future planning.

  • At the Session Recordings Overview, you'll find the current number of active recordings and the count of recordings left in the top left corner.
  • The number of recordings you can have depends on your subscription and doesn't reset every month. Note that once you reach the limit, our app stops recording new visits. To manage this, you can either delete old recordings or upgrade your plan for a higher limit.
  • This list is dependent of the time range selector in the header so make sure the desired time period is selected, so that the data matches what you want to see. The default is "Last 30 Days".
  • Many of  the present elements contain options to hover information or further actions. Just let your cursor run over various elements and discover how much data is actually packed into a tile.
  • At the upper right corner of this interface, you'll see the displayed number of entries compared to the total number of entries. Pagination is also provided for seamless navigation through pages.
  • Access to certain actions may be restricted based on your role and website permissions.
  • The access to visitors' information depends on the selected Data Privacy Mode. For additional details, you can find more information in our Privacy Center.

The Session Recordings Main Table Overview provides a comprehensive view of your visitors' session recordings, offering valuable insights into how they interact with your website. Each row in the table represents a visitor's session recording, encapsulating their interactions and details.

The main table is organized with key columns:

  1. Recording ID & Date: Displays the Recording ID, date, and time of the recording.
  2. Recording Duration: Represented by the "clock" icon, it shows the duration of the recording.
  3. Visited Pages: Indicates the number of pages visited during the session recording. Hovering over the purple stack icon provides detailed information about the visitor's visited pages, including the exact URL, duration, and date/time of visit.
  4. Visitor Details: Displays the type of visitor (new, returning or converting), and clicking the country flag icon provides approximate location information.
  5. Referrer: Reveals the source from where the visitor accessed your site, such as Direct Visit or other external sources like search engines or referral links.
  6. Recording Details: Provides information about the device (mobile, tablet, desktop), operating system (OS), and browser used by the visitor. Hovering over the icons yields more details.
  7. Actions: This column features two symbols:
    • View Session Recording IconDirects you to the actual video of the session recording.
    • Three Vertical Dots Icon: Offers additional recording actions, including Mark as Favorite, Add a note, Mark as Watched, Copy Recording's Link, and Delete Recording. You can get all the information by reading it here.

Important Hints: 

  • For the feature to become accessible, it is essential to correctly install the tracking code, enabling the recording of visitor sessions.
  • You can always pause or activate the recording of new visitor sessions by clicking on the "Active" button in the upper right corner of this view(next to the reload icon).
  • Accessibility to visitors' information depends on the selected Data Privacy Mode. You can read more information about our Privacy Center here.
  • You can also change the table to the Card View by tapping the Menu Icon then select "Card View" from the drop-down list. The information will be displayed like this:

This table allows various filter options that mostly refer to attributes of the visitor or the session recording itself. It streamlines your search by letting you select and display only the data that matches what you're looking for, making it easier to find exactly what you need. 

We have two options that you can use to filter your data:

  1. New Filter: You can select one or combine different filters to help you focus on specific information by sorting through a large set of data and displaying only what meets certain criteria. The following filters are available for you:
    • Browsers: Filter the list based on the browsers used
    • Contains Page: Search for visitor session recordings that contain certain URL elements (i.e. "/en")
    • Countries: Look for session recordings done by visitors from a certain country
    • Devices: Filter Session recordings based on device types (Desktop, Tablet, Phone)
    • Does Not Contain Page: Filter session recordings for URLs that do not contain certain URL elements (i.e. "/product-x")
    • Duration: Look for visitor session recordings that have a certain range of duration (Minimum Duration (Seconds) or Maximum Duration (Seconds))
    • Entry Page: Filter based on the initial page visitors entered or viewed when they first arrived at your website
    • Exit Page: Search for pages where your visitors left your website during their browsing session
    • Funnel Filter: Filter the recordings where your visitors based on your funnel name or level dropout
    • Operating System: Filter session recordings by operating system
    • Page Count: Search for visitor session recordings that have a certain range of pages visited during the session
    • Referrer URL: Filter the list by the Referrer URL
    • Starred: Filter the session recordings that you have starred
    • Traffic Channel: Filter the session recordings by traffic sources (Direct Visit, Email, Paid Ads, Organic Search, Social Media or Referrals)
    • UTM Campaign Name: Filter the list by campaign name
    • Visitor Status: Filter the recordings by visitor status (New, Returning or Converting Visitor)
    • Watched: Search for all session recordings you already watched
  2. Filter Templates: You can save your customized filters for later use by clicking the "Save Filters as a Template" button on the right side of the selected filters. You'll be required to enter a Filter Template Name. For this example, we can name it as “Germany Desktop users” (or anything that can best describe the selected filters) and hit “Save Changes”.
    • Use a Filter Template: To use a filter template, click the filter icon then go to Filter Templates. Select the template from the list then click “Submit”.
    • Edit or Delete: If you need to edit or delete a filter template, click the "pencil" icon next to the template to rename it or click “Delete Template” to delete it. A confirmation modal will appear before deletion.

     

    In this part of the table, you'll see a feature allowing you to select all the session recordings at once and perform an action. Click the "Select" button to select all the recordings, and then tap "Select an Action" to manage them. Below are the available mass actions:

    1. Mark as Favorite:  By clicking here, the recording will be marked as a favorite, and you'll notice an orange star icon displayed next to the Recording ID.
    2. Unmark as Favorite: You can remove a session recording from your Favorites by selecting this option.
    3. Mark as Watched: Navigating through multiple recordings, especially without a specific order, can get confusing. Once you've finished viewing a recording and taken all necessary steps, click here and select "Mark as Watched".
    4. Mark as Unwatched: If you want to revisit a recording that has been watched, you can choose "Mark as Unwatched".
    5. Delete Recording(s):  To delete a recording, simply click "Delete Recording(s)". A confirmation box will pop up to ensure you're sure about the deletion because this action can't be undone. Please note that only users with owner or admin access can perform this action.

    The sections we have just seen are mainly for information purposes with the exception of the Actions column. As the name would suggest, this is a section where you can manage your session recordings and tailor things a little more.

    You can find the Actions column on the rightmost part of this view and below are the following options available for you:

    1. Mark as Favorite: If you click here, a star will be added to the Recording ID & Date column so you can easily see the recordings you wish to go back to.
    2. Add a Note: If there is something you have found particularly insightful in this recording and want to take note of, you can do so here. Clicking on this option will open a separate text bubble on the screen for you to add a note to that recording. 
    3. Mark as Watched: Watching many recordings (and not necessarily in order) can get confusing - so if you have finished watching one and done all you need to for now, just click here and select "Mark as Watched". If at some point, you want to add it to a list to go back and view it again, simply select the Actions tab and select "Mark as Unwatched".
    4. Copy Recording's Link: If you need to share a recording with a colleague or perhaps put together a document with a selection of your VisitorRecordings, simply click on the Copy Recording's Link button and the link will automatically be copied to your clipboard. 
    5. Delete Recording: In the event that you wish to delete a Visitor Recording, you are able to do so by clicking Delete Recording. As a safety measure, a box will open to ask if you are sure you want to delete it. This cannot be undone. Note that this action can only be performed by a user with admin or owner access permissions. 

    Important Note: Some actions may be limited based on your role and website permissions. Please check with your website admin if you are unable to select an option.

    The next part of this submodule is the Detail Page View. After getting acquainted with the functionalities of each button, let's now explore the highlight of it all – the recording view!

    The majority of the screen is dedicated to showcasing the Session Recording, offering a detailed perspective. Now, let's uncover the remaining features on this page. Within this section, you have the option to choose between two views, Recording Details and Visitor's ActionsKeep reading to discover more about these views!

     

    In the Recording Details view, you will see all of the information from the dashboard in one place for each recording - such as Recording Date and Time, Visitor Type and Country.

    Here is the information and set of actions available in this view:

    1. Recording ID: We saw the Recording ID in an earlier slide. Here, it is visible at the top of the screen and in the bottom right. The Recording ID is unique to this visit and is anonymized
    2. Recording User ID: This is another anonymized unique visitor ID but is this time unique to the visitor rather than the recording
    3. Add a Note (Optional): Although you may add a note to a recording in the main table view, this box allows you to write a note directly into the recording as you are viewing it. Note: Remember that use of this function will depend on your website permissions
    4. Copy Link to Recording: As with the Add a Note option, you are also able to copy the link from within the recording view without having to go in and out of it
    5. Delete Recording: Deleting a recording is also available from within this view, but please remember, if you choose to delete the recording, this cannot beundone. And, as with other functions, you will need the relevant website permissions
    6. Favorite: Yep, you guessed it! Give this button a click from within the Recording View as well as the dashboard view and it will add it to your favorites - marked with a star
    7. Previous Recording & Next Recording: Easily toggle between recordings without having to go back to the dashboard view
    8. The Video Control Bar: This bar allows you to do many things. In the bottom left, you can "play" and "pause". You will also see here, the "Time" counter. On the right hand side, if you hit the 1x button, you can forward the video playback to up to 8x speed!

    Finally, let's check out the handy features on the edges of the Video Control Bar: "Skip Inactivity" and "Expand Screen".

    Need to focus on important parts of a lengthy video? Hit "Skip Inactivity"! Want a distraction-free, full-screen view when everything's set up perfectly? Just simply click "Expand Screen."

    Important Note: Some functions can only be accessed by a user with admin or owner access.

    This feature is a game-changer! Depending on the insights you seek from watching a Session Recording, you might consider this absolutely essential.

    With Visitor's Actions, you get to observe every single interaction made by the visitor—whether it's scrolling, mouse clicks, or focusing; you name it! This proves incredibly useful, especially when you're on a mission to identify a bug on your site and need to grasp precisely where the issue lies.

    The "Session Recording" screen remains on the left. The only difference is that the screen opening on the right displays all the "movements" that constitute the visit, second by second. This allows you to pause the video when needed, enabling you to pinpoint the exact visitor action corresponding to your investigation.

    In this section, you'll find a comprehensive display of all the movements, complete with timestamps and the "Jump to Action in Recording" button, symbolized by a clock icon. This tool simplifies the process of moving through the recording, enabling you to effortlessly locate and review the key moments.

    This section of the Module Settings allows you to define how you want to set the recordings based on your preference. These configurations pertain exclusively to the "Session Recordings" module and do not impact your website or account settings in any way.

    Essentially, there are five aspects that can be customized within this module:

    1. Record All Pages: This activates the feature to capture sessions for every visitor navigating any page on your website. Once this option is chosen, no further customization choices will be available. In essence, it implies that every interaction by visitors on your website will be documented, with the recording influenced by the conditions you've defined for individual visitor sessions.
    2. Record Only Specific Pages: Once this option is selected, only visits to your defined pages within your website will be recorded. Two further options are available to you:
      • Select Page From Website: Select a page from the autogenerated suggestion list or search for a URL by typing parts of the URL into the field. Note: Please make sure that all “/” are placed correctly in the URL. Otherwise, you may experience problems with the tracking of visitors.
      • Select Custom URL Pattern: Select one of the options in the drop-down list to define which rule should be utilized for this funnel level to count visits.
    3. Sessions to Record: This allows you to choose between recording all sessions or only those with activity.
    4. Only record sessions with a minimum duration of X seconds. It allows you to define the minimum session length. If you don’t want those quick visits to be recorded, then this option would work best for you. Once selected, another option will appear below:
      • Minimum Duration Recording (in Seconds): Simply type in the duration (in seconds) in the text field.

    Important Note: If you update your settings for the session recordings module in any way, you always have to click on the button "Save Changes" at the top right of this view.