what is
hotspot
in one line
a hotspot is a small pulsing marker placed on an interface element to draw attention to it, often opening a tip when clicked.
a hotspot, sometimes called a beacon, is a small animated dot placed on or next to part of the interface. it signals "there's something here" and usually opens a tooltip or short explanation when clicked.
hotspots are a lighter touch than a tour because they don't block the screen. users can ignore them or explore them in their own time, which makes them a common way to announce new features.
the risk is noise. a screen covered in pulsing dots trains users to ignore all of them, so hotspots work best sparingly.
where heytappr fits
heytappr's spotlight does the "look here" job on demand. instead of a permanent dot, the exact control lights up when a guide reaches that step, and then gets out of the way.
see it in practice
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