Piwik PRO offers various attribution models to choose from: last-click, position-based, first-click, last-non-direct-click, time-decay, linear and custom models. In core and custom reports, we use the last-click model for goals and orders, which cannot be modified. However, you have the flexibility to use the other models in the attribution report.
In this article, we’ll explain how each model works.
Baseline example
First, let’s look at an example. On our website, we’ve defined the goal as signing up for a trial of our app. The visitor comes from the following channels and explores the site in this sequence:
- Google organic search > browses pages > leaves
- Facebook ad > browses pages > leaves
- Newsletter > browses pages > leaves
- Direct > signs up for a trial > leaves
As you can see, the visitor completed the goal after entering our website directly. Piwik PRO counts this event as a goal conversion and distributes credit depending on the attribution model.
Note: When you look at attribution models in the attribution report, you’ll use a lookback window. A lookback window is the number of days Piwik PRO looks backward to include touchpoints for goal or ecommerce conversion. For example, for goal conversion that happened on May 10, a lookback window of 10 days will take into account all touchpoints from May 1 to May 10.
Last-click model
The last-click model gives all credit for the conversion to the last channel a visitor interacted with. In our example, all credit will go to the direct channel, although the visitor was also coming from Google organic search, Facebook ad and newsletter.
Last-non-direct-click model
The last-non-direct-click model ignores direct traffic and gives 100% of the conversion value to the last channel a visitor interacted with before buying a product or completing your website goal. In our example, all credit for conversion will go to the newsletter channel, and Piwik PRO will omit the direct channel.
Position-based model
In the position-based model, the first and last touchpoint each gets 40% credit, and the remaining 20% is given evenly to the middle touchpoints. In our example, the credit for conversion will be distributed in this way:
- Google organic search: 40%
- Facebook ad: 10%
- Newsletter: 10%
- Direct: 40%
First-click model
The first-click model will attribute conversion to the first channel the customer interacted with before buying a product or completing your website goal. In our example, 100% credit will go to Google organic search, although the visitor was using other channels.
Time-decay model
The time-decay model takes into account the time that passed before completing a goal. The touchpoints closest in time to the sale or conversion get most of the credit. In our example, the credit for conversion will be distributed in this way:
- Google organic search: 10%
- Facebook ad: 20%
- Newsletter: 30%
- Direct: 40%
Linear model
In the linear model, each touchpoint in the conversion path shares equal credit for the sale or conversion. In our example, each channel will get 25% of the credit.
If the built-in models are not sufficient for your framework, you can use custom models.