How Attribution Works in GoodMetrics
GoodMetrics supports two attribution models: first touch and last touch. This lets you compare how initial traffic sources and final conversion sources contribute to your results.
Last touch attribution (default)
By default, all reports in GoodMetrics use last touch attribution. This model assigns credit to the most recent channel that led to a conversion, giving you a clear view of which sources are directly driving results.
First touch attribution
GoodMetrics also provides first touch attribution, which assigns credit to the very first interaction a visitor had with your site. This is surfaced in reports such as Initial Referrer, Initial UTM Source/Medium, and Initial Landing Page.
Here’s how it works:
- When someone visits your site for the first time, GoodMetrics generates a unique code for that visitor using their anonymized IP address and user agent (no cookies used).
- At that moment, the system records where they came from (Initial Referrer) and which page they landed on (Initial Landing Page).
- If the same visitor returns later (with the same IP and device) and converts, the conversion is tied back to their very first source.
This allows you to view both perspectives:
- Last touch for understanding what’s closing conversions.
- First touch for identifying what’s driving initial awareness.