Analytics data storage uses WordPress post meta for efficient click tracking and engagement metrics.

Storage Method

Post Meta Integration
Analytics stored using _smi_click_analytics meta key:

• Single meta entry per post
• JSON-encoded structured data
• Atomic update operations
• WordPress cache integration

Data Structure

{
    "attachment_123": {
        "clicks": 15,
        "last_click": "2023-10-15 14:30:00",
        "first_click": "2023-10-10 09:15:00"
    },
    "attachment_456": {
        "clicks": 8,
        "last_click": "2023-10-15 12:45:00",
        "first_click": "2023-10-12 16:20:00"
    }
}

Click Tracking

Data Collection
Real-time button click recording:

• Attachment-specific metrics
• Timestamp precision
• Incremental counting
• First/last click tracking

Update Process

// Atomic click tracking
$analytics = get_post_meta($post_id, '_smi_click_analytics', true) ?: [];
$analytics["attachment_{$attachment_id}"] = [
    'clicks' => ($analytics["attachment_{$attachment_id}"]['clicks'] ?? 0) + 1,
    'last_click' => current_time('mysql'),
    'first_click' => $analytics["attachment_{$attachment_id}"]['first_click'] ?? current_time('mysql')
];
update_post_meta($post_id, '_smi_click_analytics', $analytics);

Performance Characteristics

Efficient Storage

• Single meta entry per post minimizes database overhead
• JSON encoding provides structured access
• WordPress object cache integration
• Minimal impact on site performance

Scalability

• Suitable for high-volume sites
• Efficient bulk data retrieval
• Aggregation-friendly structure
• Export capabilities

Analytics Calculations

Engagement Metrics
Post-level engagement analysis:

• Total clicks per post
• Most popular attachments
• Click distribution patterns
• Engagement trends over time

Conversion Analysis
Integration with job data for conversion tracking:

// Calculate conversion rates
$clicks = array_sum(array_column($analytics, 'clicks'));
$conversions = JobManager::get_count(['post_id' => $post_id, 'status' => 'completed']);
$conversion_rate = $clicks > 0 ? ($conversions / $clicks) * 100 : 0;

Data Retrieval

Single Post Analytics

$analytics = AnalyticsTracker::get_post_analytics($post_id);
// Returns: Array of click data by attachment ID

Bulk Analytics

$bulk_data = AnalyticsTracker::get_bulk_analytics($post_ids);
// Returns: Associative array indexed by post ID

Privacy Considerations

Data Minimization

• No personal information stored
• IP addresses not tracked
• Anonymous engagement metrics only
• GDPR-compliant data handling

Data Retention

• Configurable retention periods
• Bulk deletion capabilities
• Export functionality
• Right to erasure compliance

Integration Points

Admin Interface

• Analytics page data source
• Performance report generation
• Export functionality
• Trend analysis

REST API

• Click tracking endpoint integration
• Real-time data collection
• Frontend JavaScript compatibility
• Error handling

Database Optimization

Index Utilization
WordPress post meta indexes support efficient queries:

• Meta key index for _smi_click_analytics
• Post ID index for bulk operations
• Combined indexes for complex queries

Query Patterns

-- Get analytics for specific posts
SELECT post_id, meta_value 
FROM wp_postmeta 
WHERE meta_key = '_smi_click_analytics'
AND post_id IN (123, 456, 789);

-- Find posts with high engagement
SELECT post_id, meta_value
FROM wp_postmeta 
WHERE meta_key = '_smi_click_analytics'
AND JSON_EXTRACT(meta_value, '$.*.clicks') > 10;

Backup and Recovery

Data Export

• CSV export functionality
• JSON data format preservation
• Post association maintenance
• Time range filtering

Import Capabilities

• Analytics data restoration
• Migration between sites
• Bulk data processing
• Validation and cleanup