What you are analyzing and why it's important
CSQ Live helps you understand how users interact with specific elements on your pages—buttons, images, links, navigation menus, promotional banners, forms, and more. By viewing engagement metrics directly on your website, you can quickly identify what's working and what needs improvement.
Using the classic CS Live experience?
This article explains how to use the new CS Live experience. If you switch back to the classic experience, see How to use CS Live (classic experience) for instructions.
How to use CSQ Live
Step 1: Launch CSQ Live
- Make sure you are logged into the Contentsquare platform.
- Open a new browser window and navigate to the page on your website you want to analyze.
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Click the CSQ Live extension icon in your browser toolbar.
If the CSQ Live extension isn't visible in your browser toolbar, click the extension icon, find CSQ Live in the dropdown, and click 'Pin' to add it to your toolbar.
- Click 'Start analysis'. If you're not logged into the Contentsquare platform, you'll see 'Log in'.
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Click on 'Settings' and then 'CSQ Live position' to change the position of CSQ Live (top or bottom of your screen).
Note
Ensure you've selected the correct project. To switch projects, go to 'Account Settings' and then 'Projects.'
Step 2: Set your analysis settings
In the CSQ Live sidebar, set up your analysis:
- Metric: Select the metric to display.
- Device: Choose All, Desktop, Mobile, or Tablet.
- Date range: Select the time period to analyze.
- Filters: Filter the analysis by users, sessions, or segments.
- Select the filter you want to add.
- Set the filter conditions.
- Click Apply.
To change the page you are analyzing, select the URL field in the sidebar.
Step 3: Create zones to track key elements
A zone is an element on your page that you're tracking—like a button, image, or link. CSQ Live uses your site’s div structure to define where zones can be created. The number displayed in each zone corresponds to the metric selected in the ribbon.
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Click 'Edit mode' (the pencil icon).
- Choose the edit mode. You can select between:
- Single-zones: Create one single zone or a group of unrelated zones.
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Multi-zones: Create a group of zones that are at the same level in the HTML.
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Hover over elements on your page (a coloured frame appears when a zone can be created).
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Click the coloured frame to create the zone.
Tip
You can use the arrows on your keyboard to define which zones you want to create.
- Repeat for all elements you want to track.
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Once you have created all the zones you need you can save them. Learn more about how to save your zones in this article.
Tip
To analyze multiple pages, click the 'arrow' in the ribbon or press 'CTRL' to collapse CSQ Live and switch pages. The ribbon and zones will temporarily hide. Click the 'arrow' or press 'CTRL' again to reopen them.
Step 4: Analyze with metrics
Click on the metrics menu and select which metric you'd like to automatically apply to your analysis. (You can change the metric you are analyzing anytime during your analysis).
Recommended metrics, explained:
| Metric | What it tells you | How to interpret it |
| Attractiveness rate | Indicates how likely users are to click an element after being exposed to it. | Which sections of content draw user attention? |
| Exposure rate | Show how many users saw a particular element on the page. | How visible is an element on a page? |
| Conversion rate | Measure the percentage of users who completed a goal (E.g. clicked a CTA). | How many users completed a key navigation action on your platform |
| Revenue (requires Pro or Enterprise plans) | See which elements on a page are leading in revenue - and which are under performing. | How does engagement impact revenue? |
Learn more about metrics in Contentsquare.
Step 5: Review summaries and insights
CSQ Live generates a summary automatically for the selected metric.
Review the Signals card to see key findings from your analysis.
Select View all insights to open the Summary page. It includes:
- Key insights: Highlights the main findings from your analysis.
- Recommended actions: Suggests potential next steps based on these findings.
If you change the metric, select Generate new summary to generate a new summary.
Step 6: Switch modes
CSQ Live offers different analysis modes to help you investigate your website from different angles. Select an available mode from the sidebar:
- Zoning Mode (default)
- Page Stats: View overall page performance at a glance.
- Merchandising Mode (only if you have the Merchandising add-on)Allows you to use the same metrics as available inside the Visual Merchandising feature.
FAQs
Do I need to install anything on my website to use CSQ Live?
No. CSQ Live is a browser extension that works with your existing Contentsquare tracking tag. If Contentsquare is already tracking your website, just install the Chrome extension and start analyzing. No additional code or implementation required. Body
Why don't I see any metrics when I hover over elements?
Check these common causes:
- You're viewing the wrong project (click the cogwheel icon to verify)
- Your date range is too short or has no data (try Last 30 days)
- The Contentsquare tag isn't installed on this page
- The page has had very few visitors during your selected period Body
What happens if I close CSQ Live without saving my zones?
Any zones you created will be lost. You can save your zones, click More actions (...) > Save to CS Digital before closing CSQ Live to permanently save your zones to the Contentsquare platform.
How do I analyze mobile users specifically?
In Analysis Context, apply a segment like "Mobile Users" or "Mobile Devices" to filter all metrics to show only mobile user behavior. You can also use the Developer Tool in Chrome DevTools to view your mobile-responsive site side-by-side with CSQ Live metrics. Body
Can I use CSQ Live on any website?
You can only use CSQ Live on websites where the Contentsquare tracking tag is installed and where you have user permissions in the corresponding Contentsquare project. CSQ Live won't work on competitor sites or sites outside your Contentsquare account.
Are summaries and insights generated by AI?
Yes. CSQ Live uses AI to generate summaries and insights from your current analysis and selected metric.
Use these results to support your analysis and review the underlying data before taking action.
Do I need to accept the AI Service Schedule to use AI features in CSQ Live?
Yes. The AI Service Schedule must be accepted before you can use AI features in CSQ Live.
If you do not have permission to accept it, ask a user with the required permissions to do so.
Accepting the AI Service Schedule applies to all projects on your Contentsquare account, including future projects, and to existing and future generative AI products, features, and services included in your plan.
You can share the direct link to the AI Service Schedule here: https://contentsquare.com/legal/service-schedule-cs-ai
Which AI models is Contentsquare using?
Please refer to our AI Model List for information on the models used for each generative AI feature in the Contentsquare platform, as well as Contentsquare’s Sub-processors List for more information about what data is processed by Contentsquare AI feature.
Where can I learn more about the Privacy, Security and compliance of Contentsquare’s AI features?
Please visit our Trust Portal for further details.
Why hasn’t my summary changed?
When you change the metric, select Refresh analysis to generate a new summary for the selected metric.