The Hidden Traps in Session Replay Analysis: A PM’s Guide

With research teams shrinking from layoffs, PMs are now expected to do more with less.

But without the right approach, PM-led session replays can lead to false insights.

Here are the 4 costly mistakes to avoid for real progress:

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗶𝘁𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀

Even experienced teams can fall into these traps.
Here’s how to steer clear of them.

𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝟭 — 𝗙𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗕𝗶𝗮𝘀 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗽

➔ What it is

Confirmation bias happens when we unknowingly seek out evidence that supports our assumptions.
It’s easy to go into session replays with a pre-formed theory about what users will do.

➔ What happens

Instead of observing objectively, we end up interpreting every click and pause as “proof” of our theory.

➔ How to fix it

Watch sessions with other team members who bring fresh perspectives and uncover what’s really happening.

𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝟮 — 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗠𝘆𝘁𝗵

➔ What it is

The assumption that only large-scale patterns or trends are meaningful.
The classic “But it’s just one user!” trap.

➔ What happens

Valuable insights are overlooked simply because they come from one or two users instead of thousands.

➔ How to fix it

Focus on depth, not numbers. A single user’s struggle can reveal a critical friction point. Treat each session as a deep dive into the user experience.

𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝟯 — 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸-𝗙𝗶𝘅 𝗧𝗲𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

➔ What it is

Product teams are naturally drawn to solving problems, so when we see an issue in a session replay, we want to fix it right away.

➔ What happens

By jumping to a solution too quickly, we might miss underlying patterns or broader issues that would have become clearer with a bit more patience.

➔ How to fix it

Slow down and watch at least three more sessions before you act.
This will give you a better sense of whether you require a more strategic fix.

𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝟰 — 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀

➔ What it is

Session replays are only as valuable as the data they capture.
Small but essential interactions, like mouse movements, and scroll patterns can reveal a lot about user friction.

➔ What happens

If these details aren’t captured, you’re left with an incomplete picture of the user’s journey, missing key friction points.

➔ How to fix it

Double-check that your session replay tool is configured to capture all critical interactions.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

The future of product management is about combining quantitative insights, qualitative depth (session replays — using tools like LogRocket), direct feedback (user research), and predictive foresight (AI).

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