/ Marketing
What is a heat map and should I use one?
A heat map shows where users click, scroll and hover on your pages. Yes — free tools like Microsoft Clarity or Hotjar reveal problems analytics can't.
/ 01
The short version
Heat maps and session recordings are the single most useful tools for spotting UX problems on a site. They turn 'users must be confused' into 'this specific button is being missed on mobile'.
/ 02
Types of heat map
- • Click maps — where people click (and where they don't)
- • Scroll maps — how far down the page people scroll
- • Move maps — where the cursor hovers
- • Rage clicks — repeated frustrated clicks on non-interactive elements
/ 03
How to use them well
Look at 20+ real session recordings before jumping to conclusions. Segment by device (mobile vs desktop show completely different patterns). Look for surprising patterns — people clicking headings expecting links, missing your primary CTA, scrolling past your best content.
/ 04
Recommended tools
Microsoft Clarity is free, GDPR-compliant, and includes session recordings + heat maps + rage-click detection. Best value in the category. Hotjar and FullStory are more powerful for bigger sites but cost significantly more.
/ 05
Where RIOT fits in
We're a small Colchester studio helping UK SMBs get your UX insights right without agency waste or freelancer flake. If you've read this far and you want a second opinion on your specific setup, book a 20-minute call and we'll tell you honestly whether it's worth doing anything at all.
We work with clients across Essex, Suffolk, London and the wider UK — and remotely with brands abroad. No lock-in, no monthly retainer minimums, no pretending your problem is bigger than it is.
/ FAQs
Common questions
Are heat maps GDPR compliant?
If configured properly (masking PII, cookie consent, data retention limits), yes. Clarity handles this by default.
How much do I need to watch to spot problems?
20–30 recordings usually surface the top 5 issues on a small business site.
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