Here's a tool I shared in yesterday's Q&A session which some of you have asked about.
Its called Clicky - it's an analytics tool and complimentary/alternative to GA4 Analytics are important to know what's actually working on your site. Are people seeing your portfolio? Are they getting in touch? Or are they leaving your site without taking action?
This is where understanding your website traffic is incredibly helpful.
This is why Clicky is really useful. Why Should You Bother With Analytics?
I know that you're a photographer, not a data analyst. But understanding what's happening on your site can help you figure out:
- Which of your photos are the most popular with your visitors.
- How people are finding your website (e.g., Google, Instagram, or a link from another site).
- What pages they view right before they decide to contact you.
- If your marketing efforts, like a Facebook ad, are actually bringing people to your site.
Knowing this information is valuable. It means you can stop guessing and start making informed decisions to attract more of the clients you want.
What Is Clicky and Why Is It Different?
While Google Analytics is a well-known option, many people find it complex. Clicky is a great alternative because it’s built to be straightforward and gives you the information you need without a steep learning curve.
One of its best features is that it shows you what's happening on your site in real-time.
Useful Features in Clicky
Clicky has some great features that are especially helpful for photographers:
- Real-Time Visitor Info: You can see visitors as they arrive on your site, where they came from, and what pages they're looking at. This is great for seeing the immediate impact of a new blog post or social media share.
- Heatmaps: This is a fantastic feature that shows you exactly where people are clicking on your pages. Are they clicking on a specific portrait? Or is a landscape photo getting all the attention? It helps you understand what your visitors are drawn to.
- Uptime Monitoring: If your site ever goes down, Clicky can send you an alert so you can get it fixed quickly.
- Cleaner Data: It’s very effective at filtering out bots and spam traffic, so the stats you're looking at are from real people.
- Privacy-Focused: Clicky respects visitor privacy and is GDPR-compliant by default, which is important for building trust with your audience.
How You Can Use This for Your Photography Business
Here are a few practical ways you can use Clicky:
- Optimize Your Portfolio: Use heatmaps to see which images get the most clicks. If you notice everyone is drawn to your wedding photos, you might want to feature them more prominently.
- Refine Your Marketing: See if most of your visitors are coming from Pinterest or Instagram. This can help you decide where to focus your marketing efforts.
- Improve Your Website Experience: Look at the path people take through your site. If they seem to be leaving before they get to your contact page, you can investigate why and make it easier for them.
- Track Your SEO: See how many people are finding you through Google and what they're searching for. It’s a simple way to monitor your SEO performance.
What About the Price?
Clicky has a pricing model that works for everyone. There's a free plan that's great for getting started with one website.
If you find you need more features, the paid plans start at a reasonable $9.99 per month.
They also offer a 21-day free trial of their premium features, which is a great way to test everything out.
Is It Worth It?
If you're looking for a simple, effective way to understand your website's performance, I highly recommend it. Clicky provides the important insights you need without feeling overwhelming.
I'd suggest giving the free trial a go to see what you can learn about your website visitors. I think you'll find it very helpful!