Track article rereads

To track article rereads, you can implement a combination of frontend event tracking, cookies or local storage, and backend logging or analytics integration. Here’s a practical approach depending on your tech stack:

---

1. Define a Reread

First, decide how you’ll define a “reread.” Options include:

• A user returns to the same article after a set period (e.g., 1 day).

• A user reopens the same article more than once in a session.

• The article is viewed multiple times by the same user/device/browser.

---

2. Frontend Tracking (JavaScript)

Use JavaScript to detect repeated visits:

javascript
CopyEdit
const articleId = 'article-123'; // Unique identifier for the article
const readKey = `read-${articleId}`;
const now = Date.now();
const rereadWindow = 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000; // 24 hours

const lastRead = localStorage.getItem(readKey);

if (lastRead) {
  const lastTime = parseInt(lastRead, 10);
  if (now - lastTime > rereadWindow) {
    console.log('Reread detected');
    // Trigger reread tracking event
    trackReread(articleId);
  }
} else {
  // First read
  console.log('First read detected');
}

// Always update timestamp
localStorage.setItem(readKey, now);

function trackReread(id) {
  fetch('/api/track-reread', {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: {'Content-Type': 'application/json'},
    body: JSON.stringify({ articleId: id, timestamp: Date.now() })
  });
}

---

3. Backend Logging

Create an endpoint (/api/track-reread) that saves rereads to a database or sends them to analytics.

Example with Node.js (Express):

javascript
CopyEdit
app.post('/api/track-reread', (req, res) => {
  const { articleId, timestamp } = req.body;
  // Store in database or analytics
  console.log(`Reread: ${articleId} at ${new Date(timestamp)}`);
  res.sendStatus(200);
});

---

4. Analytics Platform Integration

If you’re using Google Analytics, Mixpanel, or another analytics platform:

Google Analytics 4 (GA4):

javascript
CopyEdit
gtag('event', 'article_reread', {
  article_id: 'article-123',
  event_category: 'engagement',
  event_label: 'Reread',
});

Mixpanel:

javascript
CopyEdit
mixpanel.track('Reread Article', {
  article_id: 'article-123',
  timestamp: new Date().toISOString()
});

---

5. User Authentication or Anonymous Tracking

• If users are logged in, track rereads by userId.

• For anonymous users, use cookies or localStorage to associate the browser with reread behavior.

---

6. Dashboard or Reports

Set up a dashboard to visualize reread metrics:

• Number of rereads per article

• Most reread articles

• Reread-to-read ratio

You can use tools like:

• Google Data Studio (with GA4 or BigQuery)

• Metabase (for SQL-based backends)

• Custom admin dashboard with chart libraries (e.g., Chart.js, Recharts)

---

7. Optional Enhancements

• Timestamp history: Store a list of timestamps for better behavioral analysis.

• Heatmaps: Combine with scroll and time-on-page data to gauge deep rereading.

• Personalization: Suggest reread-worthy articles to engaged users.

---

Let me know your platform (WordPress, custom HTML, React, etc.) if you need a tailored code snippet.