{"id":8368,"date":"2021-11-22T14:23:22","date_gmt":"2021-11-22T13:23:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/den-ultimative-guide-til-marketing-attribution\/"},"modified":"2026-04-20T11:34:58","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T09:34:58","slug":"marketing-attribution","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/","title":{"rendered":"Marketing attribution explained: Track what really works"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Where on earth did those sales come from? The ultimate guide to attribution (and everything that comes with it)<\/p>\n<p>Sit back on your couch, on the couch and get comfortable like you&#8217;re about to start a meditation session.<\/p>\n<p>But my goal isn\u2019t to put you to sleep; it\u2019s to give you insights into what I believe is one of the biggest challenges modern marketers face.<\/p>\n<p>Where should I invest my money? Which channels are irrelevant? Is Facebook worth it? Should I really spend this much time and money on this particular channel? Why is there such a huge discrepancy between Facebook\u2019s data and Google Analytics\u2019? Is YouTube advertising worth the investment? Should I throw money at influencers?<\/p>\n<p>There are a lot of questions in marketing right now &#8211; and all of them orbit the same central issue: <strong>attribution<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 ez-toc-wrap-left counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Jump to section<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #000000;color:#000000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #000000;color:#000000\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/#What_does_attribution_really_mean\" >What does attribution really mean?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/#The_attribution_landscape_has_changed\" >The attribution landscape has changed<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/#The_old_mindset_of_attribution\" >The old mindset of attribution<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/#Cases_examples\" >Cases &amp; examples<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/#Same_goes_for_TV\" >Same goes for TV<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/#Attribution_models\" >Attribution models<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/#Last_interaction\" >Last interaction<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/#First_interaction\" >First interaction<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/#Linear\" >Linear<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/#Time_decay\" >Time decay<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/#Position_based\" >Position based<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/#Custom_models_data_driven_models\" >Custom models \/ data driven models<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/#Differences_between_systems\" >Differences between systems<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/#Facebook_Google\" >Facebook &amp; Google<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/#A_psychological_exercise\" >A psychological exercise<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/#Google_Analytics\" >Google Analytics<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/#Google_Analytics_%E2%80%93_Last_click\" >Google Analytics \u2013 Last click<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/#Google_Analytics_%E2%80%93_Attribution_beta\" >Google Analytics &#8211; Attribution beta<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/#Facebook_pixel_data_analysis\" >Facebook pixel &amp; data analysis<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/#Facebook_Attribution_system\" >Facebook Attribution system<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/#Which_numbers_should_you_trust\" >Which numbers should you trust?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/#Future_systems\" >Future systems<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/#Think_of_your_marketing_as_a_funnel\" >Think of your marketing as a funnel<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-24\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/#My_model_for_data_analysis_%E2%80%93_for_start-ups\" >My model for data analysis \u2013 for start-ups<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-25\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/#Glossary\" >Glossary:<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-26\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/#What_about_B2B_companies_and_attribution\" >What about B2B companies and attribution?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-27\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/#Conclusion_future_challenge_%E2%80%93_ITP_Intelligent_Tracking_Prevention\" >Conclusion &amp; future challenge \u2013 ITP (Intelligent Tracking Prevention)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-28\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/#FAQ\" >FAQ<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-29\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/#Do_small_businesses_even_need_marketing_attribution\" >Do small businesses even need marketing attribution?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-30\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/#Whats_the_difference_between_tracking_and_attribution\" >What\u2019s the difference between tracking and attribution?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-31\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/#How_do_I_know_if_my_attribution_model_is_accurate\" >How do I know if my attribution model is accurate?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-32\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/#Whats_the_biggest_mistake_with_marketing_attribution\" >What\u2019s the biggest mistake with marketing attribution?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-33\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/#Which_attribution_model_should_beginners_use\" >Which attribution model should beginners use?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-34\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/#How_do_long_customer_journeys_affect_attribution\" >How do long customer journeys affect attribution?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-35\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/#Can_I_trust_data_from_platforms_like_Meta_and_Google\" >Can I trust data from platforms like Meta and Google?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-36\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/#How_do_cookies_and_privacy_changes_affect_attribution\" >How do cookies and privacy changes affect attribution?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-37\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/#What_tools_should_I_use_for_marketing_attribution\" >What tools should I use for marketing attribution?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-38\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/#How_do_you_set_up_marketing_attribution_in_practice\" >How do you set up marketing attribution in practice?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-39\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/#How_does_attribution_affect_my_budget\" >How does attribution affect my budget?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-40\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/#When_does_advanced_attribution_make_sense\" >When does advanced attribution make sense?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-41\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/#How_do_you_work_with_attribution_on_an_ongoing_basis\" >How do you work with attribution on an ongoing basis?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_does_attribution_really_mean\"><\/span><strong>What does attribution really mean?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Instead of giving you a textbook definition of the word &#8220;attribution,&#8221; let\u2019s take a quick step back in time.<\/p>\n<p>A few years ago, marketing looked very different when the number of media outlets available to us on a daily basis was drastically limited compared to our lives today. We could read the newspaper, watch TV, listen to the radio, or be exposed to ads in the physical world.<\/p>\n<p>Since then, everything has changed. We now live in a world where we have unlimited access, not only to the number of devices, but to the number of touchpoints. Think social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, Twitter, Pinterest) the list is long.<\/p>\n<p>Not to mention emails, SMS, web push notifications, and traditional media.<\/p>\n<p>Marketers have also gotten much smarter about understanding the psychology behind the ads they show consumers. All of this leads to my main point: our attention spans are more cluttered than ever before.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_attribution_landscape_has_changed\"><\/span><strong>The attribution landscape has changed<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>This has completely changed how marketers work today.<\/p>\n<p>The big question is simple: Where do our sales actually come from, what can we shut down, and what should we ramp up?<\/p>\n<p>The animation below offers a humorous but insightful take on how hard it is to navigate this.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-301553\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/170731.attribution-1024x745-1.jpg\" alt=\"marketing attribution\" width=\"1024\" height=\"745\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Animation explained<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Looking at the animation, you might think the sale starts when the customer receives a flyer in the mail.<\/p>\n<p>But when we look into our analytics systems, we don\u2019t see \u201cpost\u201d as a data point. Instead, this sale might be credited to \u201cdirect traffic\u201d if the person typed the URL directly into their browser, or \u201cGoogle Ads\u201d if they searched for the product or brand before purchasing.<\/p>\n<p>So, attribution is a term we use to describe how we assess the interplay between channels; how each one influences the other and how we assign credit to one channel over another.<\/p>\n<p>This is all about figuring out where to place your marketing efforts.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_old_mindset_of_attribution\"><\/span><strong>The old mindset of attribution<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>After analyzing this, a marketing manager might naturally report to their CEO that mobile should be the focus and that print advertising doesn\u2019t work.<\/p>\n<p>The same goes for billboards or Facebook retargeting touchpoints that the customer may actually have been exposed to but that aren\u2019t credited.<\/p>\n<p>In companies with divided marketing departments, this can create serious conflict between those who handle traditional marketing and those who work with digital tools. So who&#8217;s right?<\/p>\n<p>As this example shows, there\u2019s no simple solution.<\/p>\n<p>But one sure way to end up with a distorted budget is to invest based solely on what appears in Google Analytics, often due to the traditional &#8220;last click model,&#8221; which we\u2019ll dive into shortly.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Cases_examples\"><\/span><strong>Cases &amp; examples<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>I\u2019ve seen wild examples of businesses increasing spend on Google Ads, even though the sales coming from that platform were actually driven by an increase in brand searches &#8211; something Google Ads doesn\u2019t directly influence unless you\u2019re running Display or YouTube campaigns.<\/p>\n<p>Brand searches, however, often spike due to efforts on social media, influencer marketing, TV ads, radio, etc.<\/p>\n<p>So here\u2019s your first tip: Monitor your brand searches on Google they reflect how top-of-mind your brand is with consumers.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Same_goes_for_TV\"><\/span><strong>Same goes for TV<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Even if you get a report from your media agency or TV team, you still won\u2019t directly see in your data if a customer saw your TV ad and then made a purchase. Unless they can click on the TV or you\u2019ve implanted a chip in their brain &#8211; neither of which is currently realistic &#8211; you won\u2019t get that level of visibility.<\/p>\n<p>What you will see, however, is a surge in brand searches &#8211; data you can pull from Google\u2019s Keyword Planner.<\/p>\n<p>For example, when the Danish version of Shark Tank (L\u00f8vens Hule) airs, there\u2019s a clear spike in searches for the businesses featured in the show. One example is \u201cMyselfie,\u201d which appeared in 2019.<\/p>\n<p>You can clearly see when their episode aired.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-301554\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/marketing-attribution-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"788\" height=\"279\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Attribution_models\"><\/span><strong>Attribution models<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>There are many attribution models. The ones most often mentioned and actively used are found in platforms like Facebook and Google Analytics.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-301555\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/marketing-attribution-3-1024x379-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"379\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Source:<\/strong> Medium &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/medium.com\/analytics-for-humans\/an-in-depth-look-at-attribution-modeling-in-digital-marketing-2ed0170c6f3b\">In depth digital marketing attribution<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s go through them quickly.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Last_interaction\"><\/span><strong>Last interaction<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The default model in Google Analytics. It gives 100% credit for the sale to the last touchpoint before the conversion.<\/p>\n<p>The downside? It ignores the entire customer journey and leads to conclusions based only on the final step &#8211; not necessarily the decisive one.<\/p>\n<p>There are slight variations like &#8220;Last non-direct click&#8221; and &#8220;Last Google Ads Click,&#8221; but generally \u201clast interaction\u201d refers to this final touch approach.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"First_interaction\"><\/span><strong>First interaction<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>This model gives all the credit to the first touchpoint before the sale.<\/p>\n<p>Again, it ignores everything that follows even if that follow-up was crucial to convincing the user to buy. Maybe they saw a Facebook ad, signed up for a newsletter, and then got influenced by a creator. None of that counts here.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Linear\"><\/span><strong>Linear<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The linear attribution model distributes credit evenly across all touchpoints.<\/p>\n<p>While fairer in theory, it has the flaw of treating every channel equally even though some might\u2019ve had more influence than others.<\/p>\n<p>It works okay in businesses with few channels and short, consistent customer journeys. But it\u2019s rarely optimal.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Time_decay\"><\/span><strong>Time decay<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>This model gives increasing credit to touchpoints closer to the conversion.<\/p>\n<p>So if there are five touchpoints, the first might get 10% credit while the last gets 50%.<\/p>\n<p>The idea is that later interactions are more influential. But is that true? Maybe not. Without the first touchpoint, the journey wouldn\u2019t have even started.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Position_based\"><\/span><strong>Position based<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>This model assigns the most credit to the first and last touchpoints, typically 40% each, then splits the remaining 20% across the middle interactions.<\/p>\n<p>This is actually one of the better models, but again it assumes the first and last are the most important, which isn\u2019t always true. Still, it\u2019s a practical compromise.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Custom_models_data_driven_models\"><\/span><strong>Custom models \/ data driven models<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>As the number of devices and platforms has exploded, so too has the number of attribution models.<\/p>\n<p>Some companies are building their own platforms an incredibly complex and time-consuming task.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, machine learning\u2013based or <a href=\"https:\/\/support.google.com\/google-ads\/answer\/6394265?hl=en\"><strong>data-driven attribution models<\/strong><\/a> are on the rise.<\/p>\n<p>These models analyze vast amounts of data about your users and build customized models showing how they become customers. I believe this space will continue to grow and evolve.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Differences_between_systems\"><\/span><strong>Differences between systems<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>There\u2019s a big difference in how major platforms (especially Google and Facebook) report data. Many believe these platforms over-credit themselves to justify ad spend.<\/p>\n<p>But I don\u2019t think it\u2019s that simple. I think even these platforms struggle to explain how they influence user behavior because it\u2019s more psychology than data.<\/p>\n<p>The biggest challenge? They\u2019re run by different companies. So building a unified attribution system is nearly impossible.<\/p>\n<p>Plus, we as consumers behave differently across platforms, even when buying the same product.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Facebook_Google\"><\/span><strong>Facebook &amp; Google<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Google is typically where people search for products or brands they already know about. You don\u2019t go to Google asking, \u201cWhat should I buy today?\u201d you already have an idea.<\/p>\n<p>In contrast, Facebook and Instagram are more for inspiration, entertainment, and connecting. Comparing the two as if they\u2019re the same type of marketing channel makes no sense they\u2019re complementary, not competitive.<\/p>\n<p>There are also technical reasons these platforms show different results.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-301557\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/marketing-attribution-4-1024x536-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"536\" \/><\/p>\n<p><center><strong>Source:<\/strong> Smartly &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smartly.io\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">FB vs GA &#8211; Conversion Tracking<\/a><\/center>As shown above, both Facebook and Google take credit for the same sale &#8211; which creates major challenges in itself. After all, which channel should you invest in?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Cross-device tracking<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Facebook has the advantage of tracking users across devices, while Google mostly relies on cookies.<\/p>\n<p>People often switch between desktop and mobile during the buying process. Facebook recognizes this as a single user. Google, on the other hand, may log it as two sessions, because it\u2019s two devices.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">This difference becomes very apparent in behavior animations produced by analytics tools.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-301558\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/marketing-attribution-5-1024x534-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"534\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"greenbox\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_psychological_exercise\"><\/span><strong>A psychological exercise<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Next time you make an online purchase, try to remember how you were influenced. You\u2019ll go through 200+ subconscious decisions per minute leading to the purchase. Meanwhile, people like me are trying to reverse-engineer that process.<\/p>\n<p>Chances are, you won\u2019t even remember why you landed on ASOS and bought that scarf. Maybe it was a text, a newsletter, a friend\u2019s suggestion, a Facebook ad, or an influencer.<\/p>\n<p><strong>My point is:<\/strong> If you can\u2019t even recall how you got there, imagine how hard it is for marketers to determine what actually worked. Even with more data than ever, connecting cause and effect in customer behavior is harder than it\u2019s ever been.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Google_Analytics\"><\/span><strong>Google Analytics<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Google Analytics has for many years been the preferred tool for almost any kind of online presence. And thanks to Google for building such a powerful tool.<\/p>\n<p>However, it does have its limitations &#8211; especially if you&#8217;re not data-critical.<\/p>\n<p>Google Analytics contains several pitfalls, which I won&#8217;t go into here. Instead, I recommend you watch the webinar I created earlier.<\/p>\n<p>When it comes to attribution, the biggest mistake is that most people simply log into their Google Analytics account, see that Google Ads and Google Organic contribute to sales, and then base their marketing decisions solely on that.<\/p>\n<p>They don\u2019t consider underlying factors, like how many people are searching for their brand or how customers came to search for the brand or product in the first place. In other words: they forget the customer journey.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2026 Still with me?<\/strong><br \/>\nGreat! Here&#8217;s the challenge with Google Analytics.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Google_Analytics_%E2%80%93_Last_click\"><\/span><strong>Google Analytics \u2013 Last click<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Part of the challenge lies with one of the models we discussed earlier.<\/p>\n<p>Remember our review of attribution models? Google Analytics defaults to the &#8220;last click&#8221; attribution model &#8211; this means it only credits the final channel that led to a sale.<\/p>\n<p>So, it ignores the channels that helped influence that purchase along the way.<\/p>\n<p>In other words, you get an oversimplified view of which channels affect each other.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Google_Analytics_%E2%80%93_Attribution_beta\"><\/span><strong>Google Analytics &#8211; Attribution beta<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>This isn\u2019t because the folks at Google are clueless &#8211; far from it.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019re constantly working to improve their tools to meet the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.owox.com\/blog\/articles\/differences-facebook-ads-google-analytics-4\/\">growing demands from us marketers<\/a>, helping ensure Google Analytics remains the most used <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/big-data-webanalysis\/\">analytics tool in the world.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s why they\u2019ve added a new feature, currently in beta, aptly called &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/support.google.com\/analytics\/answer\/9397590?hl=en\">Attribution<\/a>.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Here\u2019s how you can access it from your Google Analytics dashboard.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-301567\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Skaermbillede-2020-02-09-kl.-13.19.20.png\" alt=\"marketing attribution - google analytics\" width=\"672\" height=\"529\" \/><\/p>\n<p>This tool allows you to dive into one of the attribution models I previously mentioned positively &#8211; the &#8220;data-driven attribution model.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"greenbox\">\n<p><strong>Note<\/strong>: Before rushing into your Google Analytics dashboard to find this lovely feature, be aware that it\u2019s not available to everyone just yet.Google has stated that you need at least 600 conversions, and the algorithm needs at least 30 days to crawl the data.<\/p>\n<p>If you have access, I recommend setting it up and letting Google start crawling. I\u2019ll share a few case studies once I\u2019ve had more time to analyze across the 10 accounts I&#8217;m currently working with.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Facebook_pixel_data_analysis\"><\/span><strong>Facebook pixel &amp; data analysis<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Facebook has long faced criticism for seemingly taking credit for a large portion of sales generated on webshops, even when it can\u2019t be directly tracked.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s clarify how Facebook tracks activity.<\/p>\n<p>You insert a small code on your site called the &#8220;Facebook pixel.&#8221; This pixel matches data and behavior on your website with data from Facebook.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-301568\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Skaermbillede-2020-02-09-kl.-13.27.24-1024x446-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"446\" \/><\/p>\n<p>When you use Facebook Business Manager and Facebook\u2019s ad platform (which also handles Instagram), you can<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/business\/help\/952192354843755?id=1205376682832142\"> install this pixel.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Once active, it matches user behavior on your website with their Facebook or Instagram profiles. That way, you can see whether your ads are driving conversions.<\/p>\n<p>If you run a webshop, you might recognize the kind of data shown below in your Facebook reporting.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-301561\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/marketing-attribution-6.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"965\" height=\"416\" \/><\/p>\n<p>These are the numbers people often find suspiciously high. Besides potential pixel misconfiguration, once again attribution plays a role.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Facebook\u2019s standard attribution window is: <strong>1-day view &amp; 28-day click<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>This means that if a user sees an ad and purchases within 24 hours (without clicking), Facebook gets credit. In Google Analytics, the sale might be attributed to another channel &#8211; especially if users switch devices.<\/p>\n<p>It also means that if someone clicks on a Facebook\/Instagram ad today but purchases within the next 28 days, Facebook still gets the credit.<\/p>\n<p>The challenge is this:<br \/>\nHow much credit should a &#8220;viewed ad&#8221; get versus an actual action taken on the website? Should Facebook get credit for 28 days after a visit?<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Facebook_Attribution_system\"><\/span><strong>Facebook Attribution system<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Facebook has also tried to address this issue with a tool available in Business Manager called &#8220;Facebook Attribution.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-301563\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/facebook-attribution-2-1024x412-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"412\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Like Google Analytics, Facebook attempts to give us deeper insight into user behavior.<\/p>\n<p>The challenge remains, we don\u2019t have chips in people&#8217;s heads <a href=\"https:\/\/observer.com\/2019\/11\/elon-musk-neuralink-ai-brain-chip-podcast-update\/\">(despite Elon Musk\u2019s efforts<\/a>), so we still need to interpret the data critically.<\/p>\n<p>As shown below, you can view different attribution models within Facebook as well.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Here\u2019s a screenshot of how to choose a different attribution model in Facebook.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-301565\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Skaermbillede-2020-02-09-kl.-12.36.35-1024x818-1.png\" alt=\"facebook attribution\" width=\"1024\" height=\"818\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Which_numbers_should_you_trust\"><\/span><strong>Which numbers should you trust?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>That\u2019s a tough question, it depends on your industry and product. Here are two simplified examples:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Clothing webshop<\/strong><br \/>\nIf you sell clothing online, customers tend to make repeat purchases. In this case, Facebook impressions likely receive &#8220;too much&#8221; credit. A shorter attribution window might make more sense, possibly excluding views.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Car dealership<\/strong><br \/>\nIn contrast, buying a car takes longer. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thinkwithgoogle.com\/consumer-insights\/consumer-car-buying-process-reveals-auto-marketing-opportunities\/\">Google once published a case<\/a> where a woman had 900 touchpoints before making a purchase. Here, longer attribution windows might be justified.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"greenbox\"><strong>Tip:<\/strong> Don\u2019t juggle attribution models too much or compare apples to oranges. Instead, focus on understanding your customer journey. Analyze how often customers typically buy and use that to segment your data and avoid overexposing people &#8211; reducing your cost per customer.<\/div>\n<p><strong>But Micky, can\u2019t we just turn off a channel for a month?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;ve heard this question countless times, but it\u2019s not that simple.<\/p>\n<p>Facebook ads and branding efforts often have a long-term effect. Turning them off for a month may not show immediate results.<\/p>\n<p>The bigger issue is seasonality. You can\u2019t test one month against another &#8211; they\u2019re always different. Weather, holidays, global events, stock levels &#8211; all play a role.<\/p>\n<p>More channels = more data = more complexity.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Future_systems\"><\/span><strong>Future systems<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Many marketers are exploring new systems. Facebook\u2019s Atlas, Google\u2019s new Attribution feature, Adform, and Google&#8217;s DoubleClick platform are all worth looking into.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re ready to tackle the attribution challenge, these tools might be a good place to start.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Think_of_your_marketing_as_a_funnel\"><\/span><strong>Think of your marketing as a funnel<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>You can\u2019t just run brand-name Google Ads. You need to reach potential customers at every stage especially if you\u2019re new to the market.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s revisit the classic marketing funnel.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Top funnel<\/strong> \u2013 New potential customers being introduced to your brand, service, or product. These are &#8220;cold leads&#8221; you want to guide toward a purchase. Here, you test which messages create engagement. Use everything from social media (Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram) to TV, radio, and print. Exposure is key &#8211; tailored to your industry.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Mid funnel<\/strong> \u2013 These people have some knowledge of your brand. They\u2019re not yet convinced but easier to convert. Influencers, newsletters, and brand personality play a big role here. Why should they choose you?<\/li>\n<li><strong>Lower funnel<\/strong> \u2013 These customers know your brand. They might\u2019ve abandoned their cart or just need a small nudge. They may find you through brand search, Facebook retargeting ads, or cart abandonment emails.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Retention engine<\/strong> \u2013 This is your loyalty machine. Retaining customers through good service, email flows, and personal touches is cheaper than acquiring new ones. Companies that master this enjoy a higher LTV (lifetime value). Amazon\u2019s Prime model is a prime example.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"My_model_for_data_analysis_%E2%80%93_for_start-ups\"><\/span><strong>My model for data analysis \u2013 for start-ups<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Certain data points are becoming more critical for businesses.<\/p>\n<p>Instead of making this post longer, here\u2019s a simplified model you can copy and apply to your own marketing:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Cost per acquisition<\/strong> \u2013 How much do you pay per customer?<\/li>\n<li><strong>LTV<\/strong> \u2013 Lifetime Value of your customers<\/li>\n<li><strong>Brand searches<\/strong> \u2013 How many monthly searches does your brand get?<\/li>\n<li><strong>Retention rate<\/strong> \u2013 How well do you retain customers?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Glossary\"><\/span><strong>Glossary:<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Ads<\/strong> = advertising<\/li>\n<li><strong>Marketing spend<\/strong> = total amount spent on marketing<\/li>\n<li><strong>Marketing %<\/strong> = marketing spend as a % of revenue<\/li>\n<li><strong>Total customers<\/strong> = customers who ordered in the past 12 months<\/li>\n<li><strong>CPA<\/strong> = cost per acquisition<\/li>\n<li><strong>LTV<\/strong> = lifetime value<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/mixpanel.com\/topics\/whats-a-good-retention-rate\/\"><strong>Retention rate<\/strong><\/a> = month-over-month customer retention<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_about_B2B_companies_and_attribution\"><\/span><strong>What about B2B companies and attribution?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If you\u2019re in a B2B company, everything above still applies.<\/p>\n<p>However, a few things make attribution more complex:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Time<\/strong><br \/>\nB2B deals take longer &#8211; 3, 6, even 12 months from first touch to sale. This makes it hard to tie marketing directly to closed deals.<\/p>\n<p><strong>People<\/strong><br \/>\nMultiple decision-makers are often involved. For example:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The user researches your product (your ads often reach them).<\/li>\n<li>Another person evaluates your solution.<\/li>\n<li>Finally, the CEO signs off.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In this case, you can only track the beginning of the customer journey, making it hard to link marketing costs to revenue.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Tools<\/strong><br \/>\nMost tracking tools (Google Analytics, Ads) are built for single-device, single-user journeys. Facebook and LinkedIn do better with cross-device tracking, but none fully capture a <a href=\"https:\/\/dreamdata.io\/b2b-attribution\">B2B<\/a> timeline.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s why your team should define what signals are meaningful for you &#8211; newsletter signups, ebook downloads, demo bookings, etc.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion_future_challenge_%E2%80%93_ITP_Intelligent_Tracking_Prevention\"><\/span><strong>Conclusion &amp; future challenge \u2013 ITP (Intelligent Tracking Prevention)<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>As if ending a meditation session, we wrap this post by exhaling and tuning into our surroundings.<\/p>\n<p>I hope this gave you insight into what I see as one of the biggest challenges in modern marketing.<\/p>\n<p>But you don\u2019t leave this post without a final thought.<\/p>\n<p>While I try to avoid doom predictions, there\u2019s one digital trend that may further muddy our data waters:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>ITP \u2013 Intelligent Tracking Prevention<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>We saw this with ad blockers, which disrupted banner advertising. Now, Apple is making Safari delete cookies after just 24 hours.<\/p>\n<p>That means we lose user tracking after a day &#8211; each visit may look like a new session.<\/p>\n<p>There are many ongoing solutions being tested. If you find the topic interesting<a href=\"https:\/\/neilpatel.com\/blog\/intelligent-tracking-prevention\/\">, I highly recommend digging deeper into it.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>As always, I welcome your feedback and questions.<\/p>\n<p>Have a fantastic day!<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_small_businesses_even_need_marketing_attribution\"><\/span><strong>Do small businesses even need marketing attribution?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Yes, but the level of complexity depends on your marketing setup.<\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;re only using one channel, the need for attribution is limited. But as soon as you start working across multiple channels like Google Ads, Meta Ads, and email marketing, attribution quickly becomes important.<\/p>\n<p>Even a basic understanding of what drives your conversions can make a big difference in how you allocate your budget.<\/p>\n<p>You don\u2019t need advanced models to get value. For many small businesses, simply knowing which channels contribute to sales is enough to make better decisions.<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Whats_the_difference_between_tracking_and_attribution\"><\/span><strong>What\u2019s the difference between tracking and attribution?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Tracking is about collecting data, while attribution is about interpreting it.<\/p>\n<p>You can have perfectly set up tracking and still make poor decisions if your attribution model is too simplistic.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s why both parts matter. First, you need reliable data. Then, you need the right framework to understand what that data actually means.<\/p>\n<p>Attribution is what turns raw data into actionable insights.<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_I_know_if_my_attribution_model_is_accurate\"><\/span><strong>How do I know if my attribution model is accurate?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Many businesses take their data at face value without questioning it. One common red flag is when a single channel, often \u201cdirect\u201d or branded search, gets a disproportionate amount of credit for conversions.<\/p>\n<p>This can indicate that earlier touchpoints in the customer journey aren\u2019t being tracked properly.<\/p>\n<p>A good approach is to compare multiple attribution models. If your results vary significantly, it\u2019s a sign that your current model isn\u2019t telling the full story.<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Whats_the_biggest_mistake_with_marketing_attribution\"><\/span><strong>What\u2019s the biggest mistake with marketing attribution?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>One of the most common mistakes is relying too heavily on last-click attribution.<\/p>\n<p>While it\u2019s simple to understand, it often ignores the channels that created awareness and interest earlier in the journey.<\/p>\n<p>This can lead to underinvesting in important top-of-funnel activities.<\/p>\n<p>Attribution isn\u2019t just about measuring conversions &#8211; it\u2019s about understanding the full path that leads to them.<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Which_attribution_model_should_beginners_use\"><\/span><strong>Which attribution model should beginners use?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>If you&#8217;re new to attribution, it rarely makes sense to jump straight into advanced models.<\/p>\n<p>A good starting point is to compare last-click with a more balanced model like position-based or data-driven attribution.<\/p>\n<p>This gives you a more nuanced view without adding too much complexity.<\/p>\n<p>The goal isn\u2019t to find the perfect model, but to understand how different models change your perspective on performance.<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_long_customer_journeys_affect_attribution\"><\/span><strong>How do long customer journeys affect attribution?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>In industries with longer decision-making processes, like B2B or high-ticket products, attribution becomes more complex.<\/p>\n<p>Customers often interact with multiple channels over time before converting. This means simple models rarely reflect reality.<\/p>\n<p>Instead, you should focus on multiple touchpoints and assisted conversions to understand what actually drives results.<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_I_trust_data_from_platforms_like_Meta_and_Google\"><\/span><strong>Can I trust data from platforms like Meta and Google?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Ad platforms tend to overestimate their own performance.<\/p>\n<p>This is partly due to different attribution windows and measurement methods, which means both Google Ads and Meta Ads may claim credit for the same conversion.<\/p>\n<p>To get a more realistic view, you should compare data across platforms and use a more neutral, top-level analytics tool like Google Analytics.<\/p>\n<p>No single platform gives you the full picture on its own.<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_cookies_and_privacy_changes_affect_attribution\"><\/span><strong>How do cookies and privacy changes affect attribution?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Privacy changes over the past few years have made attribution more challenging.<\/p>\n<p>Limitations on cookies and tracking mean you can no longer follow users as precisely as before.<\/p>\n<p>This creates gaps in your data and makes exact measurement harder.<\/p>\n<p>As a result, many companies are moving toward modeled data and working with probabilities rather than perfect accuracy.<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_tools_should_I_use_for_marketing_attribution\"><\/span><strong>What tools should I use for marketing attribution?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>There are many tools available, but the most important thing is choosing one that fits your setup.<\/p>\n<p>Many businesses start with Google Analytics, which provides a solid overview of traffic and conversions.<\/p>\n<p>Others use tools like HubSpot or Triple Whale for more advanced setups.<\/p>\n<p>That said, tools are only as effective as how they\u2019re used. Start simple and expand your setup as your needs grow.<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_you_set_up_marketing_attribution_in_practice\"><\/span><strong>How do you set up marketing attribution in practice?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Attribution starts with proper tracking.<\/p>\n<p>This means setting up pixels, events, and conversions correctly on your website.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s also important to use UTM parameters so you can clearly see where your traffic comes from. A typical setup might include Google Analytics, properly configured events, and consistent campaign tagging.<\/p>\n<p>It doesn\u2019t need to be complex from the start, but it does need to be structured. Small setup errors can quickly lead to misleading insights.<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_does_attribution_affect_my_budget\"><\/span><strong>How does attribution affect my budget?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Attribution plays a key role in how you allocate your budget.<\/p>\n<p>If you only look at last-click data, you risk overinvesting in channels that \u201cclose\u201d the sale and underinvesting in those that create demand.<\/p>\n<p>A better understanding of attribution allows you to distribute your budget more strategically.<br \/>\nThis often leads to stronger overall performance across your marketing efforts.<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_does_advanced_attribution_make_sense\"><\/span><strong>When does advanced attribution make sense?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Advanced attribution becomes relevant when you have enough data and multiple active channels.<br \/>\nIf you&#8217;re only using one or two channels, simpler models are usually sufficient.<\/p>\n<p>As your setup becomes more complex, the need for better insights increases. The key is to match your attribution approach with your level of maturity and ambition.<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_you_work_with_attribution_on_an_ongoing_basis\"><\/span><strong>How do you work with attribution on an ongoing basis?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Attribution shouldn\u2019t be a one-time exercise &#8211; it should be part of your ongoing marketing process.<\/p>\n<p>This means regularly analyzing your data, testing different models, and adjusting your strategy based on insights.<\/p>\n<p>A practical approach is to review your channels monthly and evaluate both first-touch and last-touch contributions.<\/p>\n<p>This gives you a more complete picture and helps you make better decisions over time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Where on earth did those sales come from? The ultimate guide to attribution (and everything that comes with it) Sit back on your couch, on [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5679,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[81,82,79,80],"series":[],"class_list":["post-8368","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-b2b-marketing-en","category-big-data-en","category-online-marketing","category-popular-posts"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Marketing attribution made simple: Connect actions to outcomes<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Marketing\u2019s biggest challenge right now? Attribution. Know which channels to prioritize and which ones to cut. Learn more here.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Marketing attribution made simple: Connect actions to outcomes\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Marketing\u2019s biggest challenge right now? Attribution. Know which channels to prioritize and which ones to cut. Learn more here.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Micky Weis\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/mickyweisen\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/mickyweisen\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-11-22T13:23:22+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-04-20T09:34:58+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Micky Weis\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/marketing-attribution-topbanner.png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Micky Weis\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"24 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mickyweis.com\\\/en\\\/marketing-attribution\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mickyweis.com\\\/en\\\/marketing-attribution\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Micky Weis\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mickyweis.com\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/a8c8fbec7274a0998c68287a1c5faaea\"},\"headline\":\"Marketing attribution explained: Track what really works\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-11-22T13:23:22+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-20T09:34:58+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mickyweis.com\\\/en\\\/marketing-attribution\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":4154,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mickyweis.com\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/a8c8fbec7274a0998c68287a1c5faaea\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mickyweis.com\\\/en\\\/marketing-attribution\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mickyweis.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/04\\\/marketing-attribution-topbanner.png\",\"articleSection\":[\"B2B marketing\",\"Big data\",\"Online marketing\",\"Popular posts\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mickyweis.com\\\/en\\\/marketing-attribution\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mickyweis.com\\\/en\\\/marketing-attribution\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mickyweis.com\\\/en\\\/marketing-attribution\\\/\",\"name\":\"Marketing attribution made simple: Connect actions to outcomes\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mickyweis.com\\\/en\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mickyweis.com\\\/en\\\/marketing-attribution\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mickyweis.com\\\/en\\\/marketing-attribution\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mickyweis.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/04\\\/marketing-attribution-topbanner.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-11-22T13:23:22+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-20T09:34:58+00:00\",\"description\":\"Marketing\u2019s biggest challenge right now? Attribution. Know which channels to prioritize and which ones to cut. Learn more here.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mickyweis.com\\\/en\\\/marketing-attribution\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mickyweis.com\\\/en\\\/marketing-attribution\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mickyweis.com\\\/en\\\/marketing-attribution\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mickyweis.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/04\\\/marketing-attribution-topbanner.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mickyweis.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/04\\\/marketing-attribution-topbanner.png\",\"width\":758,\"height\":429},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mickyweis.com\\\/en\\\/marketing-attribution\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mickyweis.com\\\/en\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Marketing attribution explained: Track what really works\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mickyweis.com\\\/en\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mickyweis.com\\\/en\\\/\",\"name\":\"Micky Weis\",\"description\":\"Online markedsf\u00f8ring siden 2009 \u00bb Lad os rykke jer til n\u00e6ste niveau\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mickyweis.com\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/a8c8fbec7274a0998c68287a1c5faaea\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mickyweis.com\\\/en\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":[\"Person\",\"Organization\"],\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mickyweis.com\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/a8c8fbec7274a0998c68287a1c5faaea\",\"name\":\"Micky Weis\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mickyweis.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/05\\\/micky-1024x899-1.jpg\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mickyweis.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/05\\\/micky-1024x899-1.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mickyweis.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/05\\\/micky-1024x899-1.jpg\",\"width\":1024,\"height\":899,\"caption\":\"Micky Weis\"},\"logo\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mickyweis.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/05\\\/micky-1024x899-1.jpg\"},\"description\":\"Micky Weis er en af Danmarks mest erfarne digitale marketingeksperter med n\u00e6sten 20 \u00e5rs erfaring. Han arbejder som fractional CMO og specialiserer sig i SEO, organisk v\u00e6kst, AI i marketing, affiliate og kommerciel strategi. Han har arbejdet med brands som Hummel, Matas, Tattoodo og Firtal, og driver i dag sin egen praksis, Weisio, fra K\u00f8benhavn.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.mickyweis.com\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/mickyweisen\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/in\\\/mickyweis\\\/\"]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Marketing attribution made simple: Connect actions to outcomes","description":"Marketing\u2019s biggest challenge right now? Attribution. Know which channels to prioritize and which ones to cut. Learn more here.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Marketing attribution made simple: Connect actions to outcomes","og_description":"Marketing\u2019s biggest challenge right now? Attribution. Know which channels to prioritize and which ones to cut. Learn more here.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/","og_site_name":"Micky Weis","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/mickyweisen","article_author":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/mickyweisen","article_published_time":"2021-11-22T13:23:22+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-04-20T09:34:58+00:00","author":"Micky Weis","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_image":"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/marketing-attribution-topbanner.png","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Micky Weis","Est. reading time":"24 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/"},"author":{"name":"Micky Weis","@id":"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/a8c8fbec7274a0998c68287a1c5faaea"},"headline":"Marketing attribution explained: Track what really works","datePublished":"2021-11-22T13:23:22+00:00","dateModified":"2026-04-20T09:34:58+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/"},"wordCount":4154,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/a8c8fbec7274a0998c68287a1c5faaea"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/marketing-attribution-topbanner.png","articleSection":["B2B marketing","Big data","Online marketing","Popular posts"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/","url":"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/","name":"Marketing attribution made simple: Connect actions to outcomes","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/marketing-attribution-topbanner.png","datePublished":"2021-11-22T13:23:22+00:00","dateModified":"2026-04-20T09:34:58+00:00","description":"Marketing\u2019s biggest challenge right now? Attribution. Know which channels to prioritize and which ones to cut. Learn more here.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/marketing-attribution-topbanner.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/marketing-attribution-topbanner.png","width":758,"height":429},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/marketing-attribution\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Marketing attribution explained: Track what really works"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/","name":"Micky Weis","description":"Online markedsf\u00f8ring siden 2009 \u00bb Lad os rykke jer til n\u00e6ste niveau","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/a8c8fbec7274a0998c68287a1c5faaea"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":["Person","Organization"],"@id":"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/a8c8fbec7274a0998c68287a1c5faaea","name":"Micky Weis","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/micky-1024x899-1.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/micky-1024x899-1.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/micky-1024x899-1.jpg","width":1024,"height":899,"caption":"Micky Weis"},"logo":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/micky-1024x899-1.jpg"},"description":"Micky Weis er en af Danmarks mest erfarne digitale marketingeksperter med n\u00e6sten 20 \u00e5rs erfaring. Han arbejder som fractional CMO og specialiserer sig i SEO, organisk v\u00e6kst, AI i marketing, affiliate og kommerciel strategi. Han har arbejdet med brands som Hummel, Matas, Tattoodo og Firtal, og driver i dag sin egen praksis, Weisio, fra K\u00f8benhavn.","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/","https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/mickyweisen","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/mickyweis\/"]}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8368","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8368"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8368\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11130,"href":"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8368\/revisions\/11130"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5679"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8368"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8368"},{"taxonomy":"series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mickyweis.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/series?post=8368"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}