Real-time Analytics
Real-time analytics lets you monitor your website activity as it happens. See who's visiting your site right now, what pages they're viewing, and where they're coming from - all in real-time.
Accessing Real-time Analytics
- Log into your AnalyticsCloudMonitor account
- Select a website from the dropdown in the top navigation
- Click "Real-time" in the left sidebar
- Or click "Real-time" from your main dashboard
Real-time Dashboard Overview
Live Activity Feed
The main section shows live visitor activity:
- Current Visitors: Number of people on your site right now
- Active Pages: Pages currently being viewed
- Recent Pageviews: Latest page visits with timestamps
- Visitor Locations: Geographic locations of current visitors
Real-time Metrics
Key metrics displayed in real-time:
- Active Sessions: Number of ongoing user sessions
- Pageviews per Minute: How many pages are being viewed
- Top Pages: Most viewed pages in the current session
- Traffic Sources: Where current visitors came from
Understanding Real-time Data
Visitor Information
For each active visitor, you can see:
- Location: City and country
- Device: Desktop, mobile, or tablet
- Browser: Chrome, Safari, Firefox, etc.
- Current Page: What page they're viewing
- Session Duration: How long they've been on your site
- Referrer: Where they came from (Google, social media, etc.)
Page Activity
Real-time page tracking shows:
- Active Pages: Pages currently being viewed
- Pageview Count: How many times each page is being viewed
- Average Time on Page: How long visitors stay on each page
- Bounce Rate: Percentage of single-page visits
Using Real-time Features
Filtering Real-time Data
- Use the date range picker to view historical real-time data
- Filter by specific pages or traffic sources
- Focus on particular geographic locations
- Filter by device type or browser
Exporting Real-time Data
- Click the "Export" button in the top navigation
- Choose between CSV or JSON format
- Select the time range for export
- Download the file with real-time data
Real-time Use Cases
Marketing Campaign Monitoring
Use real-time analytics to:
- Monitor the immediate impact of social media posts
- Track email campaign performance in real-time
- See which traffic sources are driving current visitors
- Identify which content is resonating right now
Website Performance Monitoring
Real-time data helps you:
- Identify traffic spikes and their causes
- Monitor the impact of website changes
- Track the success of A/B tests
- Respond quickly to technical issues
Customer Support
Use real-time insights for:
- Understanding current user behavior
- Identifying pages with potential issues
- Monitoring the impact of support interventions
- Providing better customer assistance
Real-time Alerts and Notifications
Setting Up Alerts
- Go to Account → Preferences
- Find the "Real-time Alerts" section
- Configure alert thresholds (e.g., traffic spikes)
- Set up email or push notifications
- Save your alert settings
Types of Alerts
- Traffic Spikes: Notify when visitor count increases significantly
- Page Performance: Alert when specific pages get high traffic
- Geographic Activity: Notify when visitors from specific locations increase
- Error Monitoring: Alert when page errors occur frequently
Real-time vs Historical Data
Real-time Data
- Shows current activity as it happens
- Updates every few seconds
- Best for immediate monitoring and response
- May show temporary spikes or anomalies
Historical Data
- Shows patterns and trends over time
- Processed and cleaned for accuracy
- Better for long-term analysis and planning
- Provides more reliable insights
Real-time Analytics Best Practices
Monitoring Schedule
- Check real-time data during peak business hours
- Monitor during marketing campaign launches
- Watch for unusual traffic patterns
- Use real-time data to inform immediate decisions
Data Interpretation
- Don't overreact to temporary spikes
- Compare real-time data with historical averages
- Consider external factors (news, events, etc.)
- Use real-time insights to complement long-term analysis
Troubleshooting Real-time Analytics
No Real-time Data Showing
- Verify your tracking code is properly installed
- Check that your website is not paused
- Ensure you're viewing the correct website
- Wait a few minutes for data to appear
- Test by visiting your own website
Inconsistent Real-time Data
- Check for multiple tracking codes on your site
- Verify your website URL is correct
- Clear browser cache and test again
- Check for ad blockers or privacy tools
- Contact support if issues persist
Real-time Analytics Limitations
Keep in mind these limitations:
- Data Lag: Real-time data may have a 30-60 second delay
- Sample Size: Real-time data represents a small sample
- Temporary Anomalies: May show temporary spikes or drops
- Browser Caching: Some data may be cached by browsers
- Privacy Tools: Ad blockers may affect data collection
💡 Pro Tip
Use real-time analytics during major events, product launches, or marketing campaigns to monitor immediate impact and make quick adjustments.
Next Steps
Now that you understand real-time analytics, explore these related features: