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FAQ: How Can Poor Element Selectors Cause Lost Analytics Data?
FAQ: How Can Poor Element Selectors Cause Lost Analytics Data?

analytics, selectors, product tiles, data tracking, element IDs, e-commerce, page elements, website optimization

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Written by Kenn Palm
Updated over 4 months ago

Quick Answer

Give important page elements (like product tiles) unique IDs to ensure reliable analytics tracking. Without proper element identification, you may lose valuable click and revenue data.

Detailed Explanation

The Problem with Default Selectors

Many e-commerce platforms and page builders generate complex, dynamic selectors for page elements. These selectors can change between page loads, making it impossible to consistently track user interactions. Here's an example of a problematic selector:

#shopify-section-template--17827025387689__collections_list_XNbTEd > div > div > div.collection_list_main > div:nth-child(2) > a > div.image > img

Notice the random numbers and strings? These can change with each page load, breaking your analytics tracking.

The Solution: Unique IDs

Assign meaningful, unique IDs to important elements on your page. For example, instead of relying on the default selector above, you could use:

#product-tile-summer-dream-baby-swimsuit > div.image > img

This creates a reliable, consistent way to track interactions with your product tiles.

Best Practices

  • Give unique IDs to all important page elements

  • Use descriptive, meaningful names for your IDs

  • Keep IDs consistent across page loads

  • Apply IDs to container elements when possible

Common Elements That Need Unique IDs

  • Product tiles

  • Navigation menu items

  • Call-to-action buttons

  • Add to cart buttons

  • Product images

  • Category links

Need Help?

If you're experiencing issues with analytics data on your site, our support team is here to help. Contact us at support@heatmap.com.

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