Marker.io lets you gather issues and bug reports from anyone visiting your live website or web app. Instead of sorting through endless emails or scattered messages, you can collect issues right where they happen. This guide will show you how to get started, choose who can submit issues, and keep improving your site over time.
Why Use Marker.io on Your Live Website?
Websites are always a work in progress. Whether you’re fixing bugs, refining features, or planning new updates, feedback is essential. But feedback often gets lost in emails, spreadsheets, or casual conversations. Marker.io changes that by turning your website into a space for structured, actionable input.
Internal Teams: Marker.io lets your team report bugs and suggest improvements directly from the website. No more guessing about what someone means—reports come with detailed context like screenshots, browser details, and page URLs.
Client-Agency Relationships: For agencies, Marker.io is a game-changer. It allows clients to report bugs or request changes without endless email threads. They can point to exactly what they’re talking about, and their input goes straight to your project management tool.
Marker.io simplifies the feedback loop, helping you and your stakeholders stay on the same page.
Setting Up the Marker.io Widget
First, you'll need to install the Marker.io widget on your website. You can do this using a JavaScript snippet, which gives you full control over who can report issues and when they can do so.
To access these settings:
Go to your Marker.io dashboard.
Select your project.
Navigate to Project Settings > Widget > Button > Button Visibility.
From here, you can choose from a few different options on how to manage who can submit reports.
Controlling Who Can Report Issue
Marker.io gives you flexible options for managing feedback. You decide who can submit reports, whether it’s everyone visiting your site or a select group of users.
1. Allow Anyone to Submit Issues (Default Setting)
This option is perfect for staging environments or public-facing testing. Anyone who visits your site can report bugs, making it ideal for gathering wide-ranging input.
2. Limit Reporting to Specific Members or Guests
If you want to restrict access, you can limit reporting to people logged into your Marker.io account. This is great for internal projects or live websites where you only want input from your team or trusted users.
3. Keep Reporting Button Hidden (For Selected Users Only)
For a more private approach, you can hide the reporting button. Only users who know the access methods can submit issues. They can:
Add
?bugto the end of the URL.Use the keyboard shortcut (
⌘ Ufor Mac,Alt Ufor Windows/Linux).
This method keeps marker available for those who need it while staying out of sight for others.
Using the Browser Extension for Feedback
Marker.io also offers a browser extension for reporting issues. This is especially handy for team members or clients who frequently submit feedback. To use this feature:
Invite users to your Marker.io account.
Ask them to install the Marker.io browser extension.
Only invited users with the extension can report issues, giving you another layer of control.
Why Continuous Feedback Matters
Collecting feedback shouldn’t be a one-time event. Websites and web applications evolve constantly, and Marker.io helps you keep up. With ongoing input from your team or clients, you can:
Catch Bugs Early: Fixing issues on a live site can feel like finding a needle in a haystack. Marker.io helps you pinpoint problems quickly, complete with all the context you need.
Prioritize Improvements: Not all feedback is equal. Marker.io organizes input in a way that makes it easy to prioritize what matters most.
Build Trust with Clients: For agencies, Marker.io strengthens client relationships. When clients see that their feedback is heard and acted on, it builds confidence in your work.
Wrapping Up
Marker.io offers a flexible setup, whether you’re looking for wide-open issue reporting or a more controlled environment. By configuring the widget visibility and access methods, you can perfectly tailor the tool to your needs.