Accurately attributing conversions is crucial for any campaign’s success. However, many agencies and digital marketers grapple with the limitations of last-click attribution, a model that assigns all the credit to the final channel a customer interacts with before converting. This one-dimensional approach often paints an incomplete picture, leading to a slew of frustrations for digital marketing teams. Here, we explore the top pain points surrounding last-click attribution, highlighting the challenges it presents and the valuable insights it can overlook. From misconstrued campaign performance to difficulties in budget allocation, we delve into the reasons why many agencies are seeking more sophisticated attribution models to provide a clearer understanding of the complex customer journey.
Here are the top ten pain points articulated by digital marketing agencies around the subject of last click attribution:
1
Inaccurate Attribution
Last click attribution assigns all the credit for a conversion to the last touchpoint a customer has with a brand, regardless of prior interactions. This can be inaccurate, as many touchpoints contribute to a customer’s journey. Digital marketers find this misleading as it undervalues the role of other marketing channels.
1
Inaccurate Attribution
Last click attribution assigns all the credit for a conversion to the last touchpoint a customer has with a brand, regardless of prior interactions. This can be inaccurate, as many touchpoints contribute to a customer’s journey. Digital marketers find this misleading as it undervalues the role of other marketing channels.
2
Doesn't Account for Multi-Touch Journeys
Customer journeys often involve multiple touchpoints across various channels. Last click attribution fails to account for this, making it difficult to assess the true impact of each touchpoint.
2
Doesn't Account for Multi-Touch Journeys
Customer journeys often involve multiple touchpoints across various channels. Last click attribution fails to account for this, making it difficult to assess the true impact of each touchpoint.
3
Misses Out on Valuable Insights
By solely focusing on the last click, valuable insights into the customer journey are missed. Marketers lose out on understanding which channels influenced customers at different stages.
3
Misses Out on Valuable Insights
By solely focusing on the last click, valuable insights into the customer journey are missed. Marketers lose out on understanding which channels influenced customers at different stages.
4
Overvalues Paid Search
Last click attribution often overvalues paid search channels, as they are frequently the last touchpoint before a conversion. This can lead to underinvestment in other valuable marketing channels.
4
Overvalues Paid Search
Last click attribution often overvalues paid search channels, as they are frequently the last touchpoint before a conversion. This can lead to underinvestment in other valuable marketing channels.
5
Difficulty in Optimizing Campaigns
Accurately attributing conversions across different touchpoints is crucial for optimizing marketing campaigns. Last click makes this difficult, hindering campaign improvement.
5
Difficulty in Optimizing Campaigns
Accurately attributing conversions across different touchpoints is crucial for optimizing marketing campaigns. Last click makes this difficult, hindering campaign improvement.
6
Attribution Wars
With multiple marketing channels involved, siloed attribution models can lead to “attribution wars” between departments vying for credit for conversions.
6
Attribution Wars
With multiple marketing channels involved, siloed attribution models can lead to “attribution wars” between departments vying for credit for conversions.
7
Challenges in Justifying ROI
Accurately measuring the return on investment (ROI) of marketing efforts is essential. Last click attribution makes it challenging to demonstrate the ROI of campaigns with multiple touchpoints.
7
Challenges in Justifying ROI
Accurately measuring the return on investment (ROI) of marketing efforts is essential. Last click attribution makes it challenging to demonstrate the ROI of campaigns with multiple touchpoints.
8
Difficulties in Budgeting Across Channels
Allocating budget effectively across different marketing channels is vital. Inaccurate attribution makes this difficult, as marketers might underfund valuable channels due to misleading last-click data.
8
Difficulties in Budgeting Across Channels
Allocating budget effectively across different marketing channels is vital. Inaccurate attribution makes this difficult, as marketers might underfund valuable channels due to misleading last-click data.
9
Limited Visibility into the Customer Journey
Last click attribution offers limited visibility into the customer journey, hindering marketers’ ability to understand customer behavior and tailor marketing strategies accordingly.
9
Limited Visibility into the Customer Journey
Last click attribution offers limited visibility into the customer journey, hindering marketers’ ability to understand customer behavior and tailor marketing strategies accordingly.
10
Inconsistent Data Across Platforms
Data attribution can vary depending on the marketing platform used. This inconsistency makes it difficult to get a holistic view of customer journeys and campaign performance.
10
Inconsistent Data Across Platforms
Data attribution can vary depending on the marketing platform used. This inconsistency makes it difficult to get a holistic view of customer journeys and campaign performance.
By acknowledging these limitations and exploring alternative attribution models, digital marketing agencies can gain a deeper understanding of customer behavior and optimize campaigns for long-term success. This shift towards a more holistic approach to attribution empowers data-driven decision making, ultimately leading to a more satisfying customer journey and a stronger return on investment.
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