Hotjar + Google Analytics: reveal the behavior behind the numbers
Graphs and numbers can only tell you so much, so we created a way for you to connect quantitative and visual data for a more accurate understanding of user behavior. The new Hotjar and Google Analytics integration reveals the behavior behind the numbers, and makes it much easier for you to combine insights from both tools.
Find out what is happening in Google Analytics, and understand why it’s happening in Hotjar to discover and fix issues faster, find optimization opportunities, and get stakeholders on board with more compelling insights.
How does it work?
This first version of the integration syncs data in both directions between Hotjar ↔️ Google Analytics: You can send Hotjar User IDs to Google Analytics and Google Analytics events to Hotjar. To use this first iteration of the integration, Google Analytics should be added to your site directly, not via Google Tag Manager
1. Set up Hotjar User ID as a custom dimension
By creating a new custom dimension, you can send Hotjar User IDs to the User Report in Google Analytics and watch recordings of user sessions. For example, if you notice an increase in bounce rates in Google Analytics, drill down to the User Report for the Bounced Sessions segment to find the user's Hotjar ID. Filter for their associated recordings in Hotjar to see what they are doing and understand why they are bouncing.
2. Send Google Analytics events to Hotjar
Find problems (and solutions!) by analyzing recordings or heatmaps of user flows that are filtered by events already set up in Google Analytics, like “GA_started_checkout” and “GA_didnt_complete_order”. See where users are getting stuck or frustrated and find ways and opportunities to optimize their journey. Get even more targeted and set up a Hotjar survey that displays when a user triggers a Google Analytics event.
Google Analytics tells you there is a problem, Hotjar helps you understand it
Here are some other ways you can use the integration to connect the dots and combine insights
- Funnel optimization: If there’s a drop-off in your funnel in Google Analytics, find out why by watching recordings of where users are getting stuck.
- Optimize product pages: Filter heatmaps by Google Analytics events like “item_viewed” on your product pages to see where users click and what’s getting ignored.
- Understand trends: Find out what’s driving trends in sign-ups by filtering Hotjar recordings by sign-up flow events already set up in Google Analytics.
- In-context feedback: Trigger a survey to appear after a user completes an action like “GA_purchase_completed” to get in-context feedback about the user experience.
The Google Analytics integration saves you time by easily connecting data sources and giving easier access to what users are doing, and why. The integration is available on the Observe and Ask Business and Scale plans.
