Step by Step Guide to Building a Hotjar API Integration in JS

Introduction

Hey there, fellow developer! Ready to supercharge your website with some sweet user insights? Let's dive into integrating Hotjar's API using the @hotjar/browser package. Trust me, it's easier than you might think, and the payoff is huge.

Prerequisites

Before we jump in, make sure you've got:

• Node.js and npm (you're a dev, so I'm sure you're covered)
• A Hotjar account and your Site ID (if you don't have one, go grab it real quick)

Setting up the project

Alright, let's get this show on the road:

mkdir hotjar-integration
cd hotjar-integration
npm init -y
npm install @hotjar/browser

Boom! Project set up. That was easy, right?

Integrating Hotjar

Now for the fun part. Let's get Hotjar up and running:

import { hotjar } from '@hotjar/browser';

hotjar.initialize(YOUR_SITE_ID, 6);

Replace YOUR_SITE_ID with your actual Hotjar Site ID, and you're golden.

Implementing key features

Tracking page views

Good news! This happens automatically once you've initialized Hotjar. But if you're using a single-page app, you'll want to manually trigger it:

hotjar.stateChange('/new-page');

Identifying users

Got user data? Let's put it to good use:

hotjar.identify('USER_ID', { name: 'John Doe', email: '[email protected]' });

Tracking events

Capture those important user actions:

hotjar.event('button_clicked');

Setting up heatmaps and recordings

These are configured in your Hotjar dashboard. The API takes care of sending the data; you just need to analyze it. Easy peasy!

Advanced usage

Customizing data collection

Want to exclude sensitive data? No problem:

hotjar.excludeElement('.sensitive-info');

Handling consent management

Be a good netizen and respect user privacy:

if (userConsented) {
  hotjar.initialize(YOUR_SITE_ID, 6);
} else {
  // Don't initialize Hotjar
}

Error handling and debugging

Ran into issues? Don't sweat it. Check the console for Hotjar-specific messages. If you're not seeing data in your dashboard, double-check your Site ID and make sure you're not blocking the script with an ad blocker.

Best practices

• Keep an eye on performance. Hotjar is pretty lightweight, but every bit counts.
• Be mindful of data privacy. Only collect what you need and be transparent about it.
• GDPR is a thing. Make sure you're compliant if you're dealing with EU users.

Conclusion

And there you have it! You've just leveled up your website with Hotjar integration. Pretty painless, right? Now go forth and gather those invaluable user insights. Your future self (and your users) will thank you.

Want to dive deeper? Check out the Hotjar documentation for more advanced features and tips.

Happy coding!