Overview #
The Easy Social Share Buttons plugin now includes a completely redesigned internal analytics dashboard that helps you understand how your audience interacts with your share buttons. This guide will walk you through every feature of the new dashboard, showing you how to use the data to optimize your social sharing strategy.
The internal analytics functions of Easy Social Share Buttons for WordPress can help even a newbie to analyze and improve the work of social share buttons. You don’t need an expert anymore – everything you can use daily is now part of Easy Social Share Buttons for WordPress.
You can activate any of the analytics functions from the Social Sharing -> Analytics menu.
All collected internal analytics data is privacy safe. The plugin will not store any personal information, browser information, IP address or anything else. The device is recorded only as a generic mobile or desktop and no other information (including the brand is kept). It is a fully privacy safe and GDPR compliant.
The internal analytics is made to collect click over share buttons. When a user clicks on the share button anywhere on your site the logger saves position, template, device type, and post. The collected data is fully anonymous and does not include any personal or device information from the visitor. The data that appears in analytics is not the data that represent the real shares. The click over share buttons is logged each time a user click over share buttons, no matter is a real share made or not. The nature of social networks work does not allow us to provide proof of share is made and we use a timeout of a few seconds to register a possible share.
What type of information is collected #
The internal analytics is made to collect click over share buttons. When user click on share button anywhere on your site the logger saves position, template, device type and post. The collected data is fully anonymous and does not include any personal or device information from the visitor. The data that appears in analytics is not the data that represent the real shares. The click over share buttons is logged each time a user click over share buttons, no matter is a real share made or not. The nature of social networks work does not allow to provide a prove of share is made and we use a timeout of few seconds to register a possible share.
Why the data inside internal analytics is different from the share values I see on site? #
As the data that you see in internal analytics is generated with click over share buttons there will be different from the real shares. Here are just a few reasons for this:
- User click a share button on site and close it after a white without making a share
- User click and share a post but that share is private (private shares since latest changes does not appear anymore in the share counter)
- User remove share from social network once it is made
- You have shares that are not made from Easy Social Share Buttons for WordPress buttons
- You have past shares before activating the logging function
There are few other reasons but those above are the most common situations causing the difference between share analytics and real shares.
Getting Started #
To access the internal analytics dashboard, navigate to Easy Social Share Buttons > Analytics in your WordPress admin menu. The dashboard loads with data from the last 30 days by default, but you can change this period at any time using the period selector in the top right corner.
Understanding the Period Selector #
The period selector allows you to analyze your data over different time frames:
- Today – Shows only current day activity
- Yesterday – Compare with the previous day
- Last 7 Days – Good for weekly trends
- Last 14 Days – Better for spotting weekly patterns
- Last 30 Days – Default view, excellent for monthly analysis
- This Year – Annual overview
- All Time – Complete historical data
- Custom Range – Select any start and end date
Dashboard Overview #
The main dashboard gives you a quick snapshot of your share button performance with four key metrics and a detailed trend analysis.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) #
At the top of the dashboard, you will find four KPI cards:
Total Clicks Card
This card shows the total number of share button clicks during your selected period. It also displays the percentage change compared to the previous period and breaks down clicks between desktop and mobile devices. A green upward arrow indicates growth, while a red downward arrow signals decline.
Best Network Card
This card identifies your top performing social network. It shows the network name, total clicks, and what percentage of all clicks this network represents. If the best network changed from the previous period, you will see that information here as well.
Best Position Card
This card reveals which share button placement works best for your audience. It displays the position name, total clicks, and any changes from the previous period.
Best Device Card
This card shows whether your audience prefers desktop or mobile devices when sharing content. It includes the device type, total clicks, and the desktop versus mobile percentage split.
Activity Trend Chart #
Below the KPI cards, you will find a line chart showing your share button activity over time. The chart displays daily click totals with smooth curved lines, making it easy to spot patterns and trends. You can hover over any data point to see the exact number of clicks for that day.
Key features of the chart:
- Filled gradient area under the line for visual clarity
- Interactive tooltips with formatted numbers
- Responsive design that works on all screen sizes
- Smooth curves for better readability
Top Content Table #
The bottom section of the dashboard shows your ten most shared posts and pages. For each piece of content, you can see:
- Total clicks
- Desktop click count
- Mobile click count
- Percentage of total clicks
- Top performing network for that content
Each post title links directly to the frontend view, so you can easily review your top performing content. The “View All Content” button takes you to the detailed content report where you can analyze all your content with sorting and filtering options.
Networks Report #
The Networks Report provides a comprehensive analysis of how each social network performs on your site.
Top Networks Panel #
At the top of the Networks Report, you will find three panels:
- Top Network (All) – Shows the best performing network across all devices
- Top Network (Desktop) – Reveals which network desktop users prefer
- Top Network (Mobile) – Shows which network mobile users prefer
Each panel displays the network name, click count, and the percentage of total clicks for that device category. A progress bar provides visual representation of the network’s share.
Detailed Network Table #
The main table lists all networks with their performance metrics:
- Total Clicks – The complete click count for each network
- Desktop Clicks – Clicks coming from desktop devices
- Mobile Clicks – Clicks coming from mobile devices
- Percentage of Total – How much of your total clicks each network represents
- Best Position – The placement where this network performs best
- Best Content – The top post where this network was used
You can sort the table by any column by clicking the column header. Use the search box to find specific networks, and adjust the rows per page selector to control how many networks you see at once.
The “View Details” button opens a detailed report for each network, where you can see performance by position and by content.
Positions Report #
The Positions Report analyzes how different share button placements perform on your site.
Top Positions Panel #
Similar to the Networks Report, you will see three panels:
- Top Position (All) – The best performing placement overall
- Top Position (Desktop) – Where desktop users click most
- Top Position (Mobile) – Where mobile users engage most
Detailed Position Table #
The table shows all share button positions with their metrics:
- Total Clicks for each position
- Desktop and mobile breakdown
- Percentage of total clicks
- Top network for each position
- Best performing content for each position
This data helps you decide which placements to prioritize and which might be wasting space on your site.
Content Report #
The Content Report gives you a complete view of how your content performs with share buttons.
This report includes all your posts and pages that have received share button clicks. The table provides:
- Post or page title with a link to view it live
- Total click count
- Desktop and mobile click breakdown
- Percentage of total clicks with a progress bar
- Top network used on that content
- Top position where clicks came from
The “View Details” button opens a detailed analysis for each piece of content, showing performance by network and position.
All table features work here too: search, sort, pagination, and adjustable rows per page.
Device Report #
The Device Report helps you understand how your audience behavior differs between desktop and mobile.
Device Comparison #
At the top, you will see a comparison card showing:
- Desktop click total
- Mobile click total
- Visual progress bar comparing both devices
- Which device is preferred by your audience
Device Performance Chart #
Below the comparison, a line chart displays daily activity for both devices on the same timeline. Desktop clicks appear in blue, mobile clicks in green. This makes it easy to spot when mobile usage peaks versus desktop.
Network and Position Performance by Device #
The bottom section splits into two columns:
Left Column – Network Performance by Device
Shows how each network performs on desktop versus mobile, including:
- Desktop click count and percentage
- Mobile click count and percentage
- Device preference indicator (Desktop Preferred or Mobile Preferred)
Right Column – Position Performance by Device
Shows the same breakdown for share button placements, helping you optimize positions for each device type.
Heatmap Report #
The Heatmap Report shows you exactly where your share button clicks happen by creating a matrix of networks versus positions.
Device Filter #
Use the device filter at the top to view:
- All Devices – Combined data
- Desktop Only – Desktop click data only
- Mobile Only – Mobile click data only
Understanding the Heatmap #
The heatmap displays networks on the left and positions across the top. Each cell shows:
- Click count for that network-position combination
- Percentage of that network’s total clicks
The cell color indicates click intensity:
- Light blue means low activity
- Dark blue means high activity
- White means no clicks
Reading the Data #
The heatmap helps you answer questions like:
- Which network works best in the floating sidebar?
- Does Facebook perform better in content top or bottom?
- Should you place Twitter in a different position on mobile?
Below the heatmap, you will find statistics showing the hottest cell, most active network, and most active position.
Trends Report #
The Trends Report goes beyond showing data to providing actionable recommendations based on your performance patterns.
Intelligence Summary #
At the top, you will see key insights:
- Top Performer – Your fastest growing network
- Needs Attention – Networks showing decline (if any)
- Hot Position – Placements gaining traction
Action Plan #
The most valuable part of this report is the action plan. Based on your data, the dashboard provides specific recommendations such as:
- Which networks to promote or remove
- Which positions to add or eliminate
- How to optimize network order for desktop versus mobile
- What changes to make right now
Each recommendation includes an action item telling you exactly what to do.
Network and Position Trend Analysis #
Below the recommendations, you will find detailed trend analysis for networks and positions. Each item shows:
- Current period clicks
- Previous period clicks
- Percentage change
- Trend status (Rapid Growth, Growing, Declining, etc.)
- Specific insight about what the trend means for you
The visual trend bars make it easy to compare current and previous performance at a glance.
Recommended Network Order #
Based on your user behavior, the dashboard suggests the optimal order for your share buttons, separated by device type. This helps you maximize engagement by showing the most popular networks first.
Detail Report #
The Detail Report opens when you click “View Details” from any network, position, or content item.
For Networks #
When viewing a network detail report, you will see:
- Summary chips showing total, desktop, and mobile clicks
- Activity trend chart for that specific network
- Performance by Position – See where this network performs best
- Performance by Content – See which posts get the most shares on this network
For Positions #
Position detail reports show:
- Summary metrics for that placement
- Activity trend chart
- Performance by Network – Which networks work best in this position
- Performance by Content – Top content for this placement
For Content #
Content detail reports show:
- Post performance summary
- Activity trend over time
- Performance by Network – Which networks drive shares for this post
- Performance by Position – Where clicks on this post come from
Chart Filters #
In detail reports, you can filter the activity chart by:
- Device (All, Desktop, Mobile)
- Position (for network details)
- Network (for position details)
These filters update the chart instantly without reloading the page, allowing you to analyze specific segments of your data.
Post Editor Metabox #
When editing any post or page, you will find a Social Share Analytics metabox below the editor. This gives you immediate access to share data for that specific content.
The metabox shows:
- KPI cards for the current post
- Data from the last 30 days (customizable)
- Performance by Network table
- Performance by Position table
A “View Full Report” button opens the detailed report in a new tab, where you can change the date range and see more analysis.
Tips for Using the Internal Analytics Dashboard #
Regular Review Schedule #
Check your dashboard weekly to spot trends early. The Trends Report is especially valuable for identifying what is working and what needs attention.
Focus on Percentage Changes #
While total click numbers matter, percentage changes often tell a more important story. A 50 percent growth on a smaller network might indicate an emerging opportunity.
Compare Desktop and Mobile #
Audience behavior often differs significantly between devices. The Device Report helps you optimize separately for each platform.
Use the Heatmap for Placement Decisions #
The heatmap clearly shows which network-position combinations work best. If a network gets no clicks in a certain position, consider removing it from that placement.
Act on Trends Report Recommendations #
The recommendations are generated from your actual data. Following them can improve your share button performance without guesswork.
Export and Share Data #
While the dashboard does not have a direct export feature, you can use browser print or screenshot tools to share reports with your team.
Screenshot Suggestion: Add a final screenshot showing the complete dashboard with annotations pointing to key features.
Frequently Asked Questions #
How far back does the internal analytics data go? #
The plugin stores all share button click data from the moment you installed and activated analytics tracking. The “All Time” period shows everything since then.
Why do I see zero data? #
If you see no data, check that:
- Analytics tracking is enabled in plugin settings
- Your site has received actual share button clicks
- The selected date range includes periods with activity
How often is data updated? #
Click data appears in real-time as users interact with your share buttons.
Does the dashboard slow down my site? #
No. The dashboard loads only when you access the analytics page and does not affect frontend performance.
Can I reset or delete analytics data? #
Analytics data management options are available in the plugin settings under the Advanced tab.
Conclusion #
The redesigned internal analytics dashboard for Easy Social Share Buttons gives you everything you need to understand and optimize your social sharing performance. Use the insights from each section to make data-driven decisions about which networks to feature, where to place your buttons, and how to structure your sharing options for different devices.
Start by reviewing the main dashboard weekly, then dive deeper into specific reports when you notice patterns or want to test changes. The Trends Report will guide you with specific recommendations, saving you time and guesswork.