Problem signals: launch-week failure modes you can catch fast

Even great launches stumble in the first 48 hours because real users behave differently than test cohorts.

• Tap/click clusters on non-primary elements siphon intent from the signup/checkout path.
• Rage taps on disabled CTAs when validation or feature flags delay state changes.
• Below-the-fold placement of key CTAs on mobile due to last-minute layout shifts.
• High attention, low progression: heatmaps show activity, while Funnels reveal the stall step.
• Promo code rabbit holes (ecom) and SSO hiccups (SaaS onboarding).

See Interactive Heatmaps

Root-cause map: a 48-hour decision tree

Hour 0–6 (launch live)

Is traffic spiking but conversions lag?

• Yes (mobile more affected): Check fold line and tap clusters; move CTA above fold; enlarge hitboxes.
• Yes (all devices): Check secondary-link hotspots pulling users away; demote or gate.
• No: Proceed to stability checks.

Any rage taps or “dead taps” near CTAs?

• Yes: Jump to Session Replay to inspect validation/error states and network timing.
• No: Continue monitoring; set alerts for rage metrics.

Hour 6–24 (steady state emerges)

Are hotspots near forms or payment?

• SaaS: Plan grid, SSO, billing validation.
• Ecommerce: Coupon Apply, shipping method toggle, address auto-complete.

Prioritize hotspots that coincide with funnel drop-offs.

Hour 24–48 (iterate)

• Ship micro-fixes behind flags (move CTA above fold on mobile; clarify validation copy; debounce coupon; add visible loading).
• Re-run heatmaps for 24 hours and compare predicted median vs observed median completion.

View Session Replay

How to run the checklist in 3 steps (deep-dive: Interactive Heatmaps)

Step 1 — Create real-time launch views (15 min)

Set Saved Views for: “Launch Lander (Mobile)”, “Onboarding Modal”, “Checkout/Paywall”, and “Post-Install Step.” Enable overlays: rage taps, dead taps, fold line, device/viewport filters. For ecommerce, add Coupon Apply and Order Summary views; for SaaS, add Plan Grid and Billing.

Step 2 — Tie heatmaps to outcome context (10 min)

Open Funnels in a split workflow: for each hotspot, jump to the adjacent drop-off step to quantify impact. Tag hotspots with Impact (H/M/L) and Effort (H/M/L); queue H/L changes first (copy, layout, hitbox, loading state).

Step 3 — Validate fixes within 24–48 hours (15–30 min)

Ship micro-fixes behind flags. Re-run heatmaps and compare predicted median completion to observed median—spot-check a handful of sessions with replay.

Case snippet

A PLG team launched a new “Pro” plan on a Friday. In the first two hours, real-time heatmaps showed dense mobile tap clusters below the fold on the pricing page. Funnels confirmed a sharp Plan → Billing drop on small viewports. Session Replay revealed a disabled “Continue” state that waited for plan confirmation from a feature flag service. The team moved the CTA above the fold for ≤700px screens, added a visible loading state, and pre-confirmed the plan client-side with a server check after. Within 24 hours, the mobile heatmap cooled, rage taps dropped, and observed median plan completion rose directionally. No sensitive inputs were captured—masking remained on by default. By Monday, they rolled out the fix to 100% of traffic and kept the real-time view pinned for the week.

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Next steps

• Pin real-time Saved Views for your launch-critical pages and steps.
• Review mobile-first heatmaps hourly for the first 6–12 hours.
• Use Funnels to quantify impact; ship H/L fixes behind flags.
• Recheck heatmaps after 24–48 hours; if stable, archive views and document learnings.

First 48 Hours: Real-Time Heatmap Starters (Updated Nov 2025)

FAQs

What makes heatmaps “real-time” and why does it matter at launch?

Near real-time rendering surfaces where users are struggling while traffic is hottest, so you can push micro-fixes before word-of-mouth or paid spend is wasted.

Can I segment by device and viewport quickly?

Yes—filter by device and breakpoint to locate below-the-fold CTAs and tap-target issues on mobile.

How do I connect heatmaps to outcomes?

Use Funnels to measure drop-offs adjacent to each hotspot; compare predicted vs observed median completion after fixes.

Do I need session replay for the launch window?

Replay is optional but powerful for validating why (validation states, API timing). Start with heatmaps, escalate to replay.

How do I avoid exposing PII during a hectic launch?

Keep masking on by default; allow-list only non-sensitive fields if absolutely necessary and document it.

Will adding capture slow pages under surge traffic?

FullSession capture is streamed/batched to minimize overhead and avoid blocking render.

What should be in my “first 48 hours” runbook?

Saved Views for launch lander, onboarding, and checkout; mobile-first checks; rage/dead-tap overlays; funnel linkage; flag-based micro-fixes; 24–48h validation.