Mixpanel is a powerful analytics tool that helps companies track and analyze user behavior on their websites and products. By collecting data on events such as button clicks, form submissions, and page views, companies can gain valuable insights into how users interact with their website and identify opportunities for optimization and improvement.
In the following article we will introduce and review Mixpanel’s core tracking methods and features:
Tracking Events with Mixpanel
One of the key features of Mixpanel is the ability to track events on a digital asset (website, application, etc.). The mixpanel.track method is used to send events to the Mixpanel servers, and can be used to track any type of user interaction on the digital asset. The mixpanel.track method can also accept optional properties, which are additional pieces of information that can be attached to the event to provide more context. For example, a company might use the mixpanel.track method to record a user clicking on a "Log In" button, and attach the property "button type" with the value "Log In" to provide more context about the event.
Setting Super Properties with Mixpanel
Another useful feature of Mixpanel is the ability to set "super properties" that are linked to the client side Mixpanel libraries. These properties are stored locally in the user's browser and are automatically appended to any events that are sent to the Mixpanel servers, even if they are not explicitly declared in the event. This is a convenient way to add properties to events without having to manually set them each time. For example, a company might use mixpanel.register to set a super property called "user type" with the value "paid" for all users who have a paid subscription to the website. Then, every time a user performs an event on the website, the "user type" property will be automatically attached to the event, providing additional context about the user.
Mapping Anonymous IDs with Distinct IDs in Mixpanel
The mixpanel.identify method is used to map anonymous IDs with distinct IDs that are unique to a company's users. This helps Mixpanel understand which events are being generated by the same user, even if they are using different devices or browsers. The distinct ID can be any unique identifier that is meaningful to the company, such as a user's email address or customer ID. By calling mixpanel.identify and passing in the distinct ID, companies can associate all of a user's events with a single, consistent ID.
Using Reserved Properties in Mixpanel
In addition to these methods, the Mixpanel library also has reserved properties, which are denoted by a dollar sign and have a specific purpose within the Mixpanel system. These properties are set by the Mixpanel client side library and are standardized, so that Mixpanel knows how to interpret the values. Some examples of reserved properties include "$device_id", which is a unique identifier for the device that the user is using, and "$distinct_id", which is the distinct ID that has been set for the user with the mixpanel.identify method.
Setting Attributes on Users with Mixpanel
The mixpanel.people.set method is another useful tool in the Mixpanel library. It allows companies to set attributes on users, rather than properties on events. This can be used to track user characteristics or preferences, such as the user's location or the types of products they are interested in. By calling mixpanel.people.set and passing in an attribute name and value, companies can store information about their users in Mixpanel and use it to segment and analyze their data.
Both for client and server-side tracking
Finally, it's worth noting that the Mixpanel library can be used on both the client side (i.e. the website or application being visited by the user) and the server side (i.e. the server hosting the website). This allows companies to track events and analyze data both on the front-end (client side) and the back-end (server side) of their digital assets. Overall, the Mixpanel library is an extensive and easy-to-use tool that provides a wealth of information and insights to help companies improve their websites and better understand their users.
If you need support in implementing, auditing or enhancing your Mixpanel implementation feel free to reach out. Our team would be happy to help.