Attribution is the act of assigning credit for conversions to different ads, clicks, and factors along a user's path to completing a conversion. If you have the Editor role for a Google Analytics 4 property, you can adjust 3 settings that affect attribution for your property: the reporting attribution model and the lookback windows for (1) acquisition conversion events and (2) all other conversion events.
In this article:About reporting attribution model
An attribution model can be a rule, a set of rules, or a data-driven algorithm that determines how credit for conversions is assigned to touchpoints on conversion paths. In Attribution settings, you can select data-driven attribution, cross-channel rules-based models (such as Cross-channel time decay), or the Ads-preferred last click model. Learn more about attribution and attribution models
Use the Reporting attribution model section to select which attribution model you want to use to calculate conversion credit in your reports within your Analytics property, and also within the conversions reports of any linked Firebase projects. Changing the attribution model will apply to both historical and future data.
These changes will be reflected in all reports that use event-scoped traffic dimensions (for example, Source, Medium, Campaign, and Default channel group). Impacted reports include the Conversions details reports and Explorations. In Explorations, you can see a full list of dimensions that are compatible with attribution. User- and session-scoped traffic dimensions--such as Session source or First user medium--are unaffected by changes to the reporting attribution model.
Note: Attribution models were introduced on different dates (see below). This means if you select a date range that includes a timeframe before the "start date" for a model, you will see partial data.
- Cross-channel data-driven attribution: November 1, 2021
- Cross-channel rules-based models: June 14, 2021
Based on your selected attribution model, you'll notice changes to the following metrics when used with event-scoped traffic dimensions: Conversions, Total revenue, Purchase revenue, and Total ad revenue. When you switch to a non-last click attribution model, you may see decimals (or, "fractional credit") for the first time in these columns. This is because credit for a given conversion is distributed between contributing ad interactions according to your selected attribution model.
About lookback window
The lookback window determines how far back in time a touchpoint is eligible for attribution credit. For example, a 30-day lookback window will result in January 30th conversions being attributed only to touchpoints occurring from January 1-30.
The lookback window applies to all attribution models and all conversion types. Changes to the lookback window apply going forward and will be reflected in all reports within your Analytics property.
For Acquisition conversion events (first_open and first_visit), the default lookback window is 30 days. You can switch to 7 days if you have different attribution needs.
For all other conversion events, the default lookback window is 90 days. You can also choose 30 days or 60 days.
Select or update attribution settings
You need the Editor role on the account to select an attribution model and lookback window for the property.
- In the Property column, click Attribution Settings.
- Under Reporting attribution model, select your desired model from the drop-down.
- Under Lookback window, select the lookback windows for Acquisition conversion events and All other conversion events.
- Click Save.