When you build a landing page for your community, you’re making your best guess about what members need most, kind of like bundling up before stepping outside. You think you know what will keep everyone warm and engaged, but you won’t really know until you see how people move through the space.
That’s where heat maps bring the glow.
Tools like Hotjar give you a cozy, color-coded look at how members actually interact with your landing page. Instead of guessing in the winter fog, you get a clear view of where members click, scroll, hover, and freeze. With this insight, you can quickly tell whether your page is guiding people toward the content that matters most.
What Heat Maps Can Reveal
A heat map can help you discover:
- Hot spots where members naturally gravitate
- Cold zones where content is being ignored or buried
- Scroll depth, so you know whether key resources are “above the snowline”
- Frosty friction points, like clicks on elements that aren’t actually clickable
It’s like giving your landing page its own weather forecast and you get to control the climate.
Why This Matters in Vanilla Communities
Your landing page is the front door of your community. The digital equivalent of walking into a warm lodge after being out in the cold. If members quickly find what they need, they’re more likely to explore, participate, and settle in. But if the layout isn’t aligned with what they’re looking for, their experience can feel more like slipping on ice.
Heat maps help you answer questions like:
- Are members seeing the resources we spotlight?
- Should we move key elements higher to avoid the “frozen tundra” no one scrolls to?
- Which areas spark engagement and which leave people out in the cold?
With just a few insights, you can make adjustments that melt barriers and warm up engagement.
A Simple First Step
If you’ve never used a heat map before, here’s an easy way to dip your toes in (no snow boots required):
- Install a tool like Hotjar on your landing page.
- Let it run for 1–2 weeks to gather activity.
- Review the hot and cold zones.
- Make a few small layout adjustments.
- Re-run the heat map to watch engagement warm up.
It’s a quick, low-effort way to keep your community homepage feeling inviting, even in the chilliest months.
