1. Define one decision before you count
Start with the decision you want the observation to support. Are you comparing two storefronts, checking the effect of an operational change, or estimating how people move past a venue entrance?
Choose one counting mode that matches that question. Total footfall, direction, audience fit, and venue visits answer different questions and should not be mixed casually.
2. Fix the observation point
Stand where the same person can be seen once and the boundary is easy to describe. Record the place name and a short note about the exact point so another round can be repeated from the same position.
3. Keep categories mutually exclusive
If you split people by direction or audience fit, assign each person to one best-matching button. The categories can then be added without double-counting the same person.
4. Hold the time window steady
Use the same 15-minute duration when comparing rounds. If you finish early, keep that duration visible and avoid treating it as directly comparable to a complete round without adjustment.
5. Record the context
Add the date, weekday, holiday or event context, and a short note about weather, closures, queues, or unusual activity. A count is stronger when you can explain the conditions around it.
6. Repeat before deciding
One round is a snapshot. Repeat at the same place across relevant time windows, then compare full-round averages, peaks, and the underlying records before making a location decision.