A session, also known as a visit, in Adobe Analytics is a period of continuous activity by a user on a website or mobile app. The session begins when a user first interacts with the site or app and ends after a period of inactivity, typically 30 minutes.
Purpose of Sessions
The concept of a session is used to group user interactions that occur within a specific timeframe. By tracking sessions, Adobe Analytics can provide insights into how users are engaging with a website or mobile app, such as how many pages they visit, how long they stay, and what actions they take during a single visit.
How Sessions Work
A visit is inherently linked to a specific time frame, providing a basis for determining whether to count a repeat visit from the same individual on your site. The initiation of a visit occurs upon a user’s first arrival at your site and is considered concluded when any of the following conditions are met:
- 30 Minutes of Inactivity: This is the most common way sessions end. When there’s a gap of more than 30 minutes between hits, a new visit commences.
- 12 Hours of Continuous Activity: If a user sends image requests persistently without any 30-minute breaks for a period exceeding 12 hours, a new visit is automatically initiated.
- 2,500 Hits: In the case where a user produces a high volume of hits without initiating a new session, a visit is counted anew after 2,500 image requests have been made.
- 100 Hits in 100 Seconds: A visit is automatically terminated if it exceeds a total of 100 hits within the initial 100 seconds of the visit. This pattern generally suggests bot activity. The implementation of this limit aids in enhancing report performance.
Adobe Analytics tracks sessions using a combination of cookies, timestamps, and unique identifiers. When a user first interacts with a site or app, Adobe Analytics sets a cookie on the user’s device with a unique identifier. Each subsequent interaction by the user, such as loading a new page or clicking a link, updates the timestamp in the cookie.
If more than 30 minutes pass without any new interactions, Adobe Analytics ends the session and any new interaction starts a new session. The 30-minute inactivity period is a common standard in web analytics, but the exact duration can be adjusted based on the specific needs of the business.
The Benefits of Tracking Sessions
Tracking sessions in Adobe Analytics offers several benefits.
Firstly, it provides a clear picture of user engagement. By analyzing session data, businesses can understand how users interact with their site or app and identify areas for improvement, such as pages with high exit rates or features that are not being used.
Secondly, session data can help businesses understand the effectiveness of their marketing efforts. For example, by comparing the number of sessions before and after a marketing campaign, businesses can measure the impact of the campaign on user engagement.
Lastly, session data is crucial for personalizing the user experience. By understanding how users interact with a site or app during a session, businesses can tailor the user experience to individual user behaviors and preferences, leading to higher user satisfaction and loyalty.
In Conclusion
In Adobe Analytics, a session is a fundamental metric that provides valuable insights into user behavior and engagement. By tracking and analyzing sessions, businesses can optimize their website or mobile app, measure the effectiveness of marketing campaigns, and personalize the user experience. As such, understanding and leveraging session data is crucial for any business seeking to succeed in the digital space.
