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Marketing Attribution

What is marketing attribution?

Marketing attribution is the process of assigning credit for a sale or conversion to the various marketing touchpoints that contributed to it. It is used to measure the effectiveness of different marketing channels and campaigns in order to optimize future marketing efforts.

Why is marketing attribution important?

Marketing attribution is important because it helps marketers understand which marketing activities are driving the most conversions and revenue. It allows marketers to identify which channels are most effective and which ones need more attention. Attribution also helps marketers allocate their budget more effectively and optimize their campaigns for maximum ROI.

How can I use marketing attribution?

To use marketing attribution, you need to first define the goals of your campaign and the metrics you want to track. Then, you need to set up tracking codes on your website and other marketing channels to measure the performance of each channel.

There are several different attribution models that businesses can use to understand the role of different marketing channels in the customer journey and optimize their marketing efforts accordingly.

Here are three common attribution models:

  • First touch attribution: This model attributes the entire credit for a conversion or sale to the first marketing touchpoint that the customer interacted with. For example, if a customer clicks on a Google Ad for a product and then makes a purchase, the Google Ad would be credited with the entire sale under first touch attribution.
  • Last touch attribution: This model attributes the entire credit for a conversion or sale to the last marketing touchpoint that the customer interacted with. For example, if a customer clicks on a Google Ad for a product, then visits the company's website and reads a blog post about the product, and then makes a purchase, the blog post would be credited with the entire sale under last touch attribution.
  • Linear multi-touch attribution: This model attributes credit for a conversion or sale to all of the marketing touchpoints that the customer interacted with in the customer journey. For example, if a customer clicks on a Google Ad for a product, then visits the company's website and reads a blog post about the product, and then makes a purchase, both the Google Ad and the blog post would be credited with contributing to the sale under linear multi-touch attribution.

Each attribution model has its own strengths and weaknesses, and the right model for a business will depend on its specific goals and needs. Businesses should consider the customer journey and the role of different marketing channels in that journey when deciding on an attribution model.

Brief history of marketing attribution

Marketing attribution is a relatively new concept, having only emerged in the early 2000s. It was initially developed as a way to measure the effectiveness of online marketing campaigns, such as email, search, and display advertising. As technology advanced, so did the ability to track and measure the impact of different marketing channels. This allowed marketers to better understand which channels were driving the most conversions and revenue. Today, marketing attribution is used to measure the impact of all marketing channels, both online and offline.

Related Terms

Marketing Analytics

Google Analytics

Digital Marketing

Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

Marketing operations