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The Marketing Architects

Nerd Alert: The Problem with Last-Touch Attribution

Feb 27, 2025
Discover the pitfalls of last-touch attribution and how it skews marketing decisions, leading to poor ad valuations. The hosts delve into game theory’s impact on marketing, presenting Shapely value attribution as a fairer method for credit distribution among various ad exposures. They discuss how publishers benefit from current models, while exploring why sometimes having no attribution could outperform last-touch strategies. Gain insights that could drive smarter marketing strategies and improve ROI!
10:24

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Last-touch attribution may inflate ad effectiveness perceptions, risking poor budget allocations and overspending on ineffective late-stage ads.
  • Integrating game theory into advertising strategies can enhance decision-making across platforms, optimizing bidding behavior and resource allocation.

Deep dives

Critique of Last Touch Attribution

Last touch attribution has been widely debated, with many marketers recognizing its simple measurement benefits, yet acknowledging its significant flaws. This approach attributes all credit for a conversion solely to the last ad clicked, often leading to an inflated view of its effectiveness. As a result, advertisers tend to overspend on late-stage ads that might not truly drive conversions, neglecting the broader customer journey. The reliance on last touch can ultimately skew budget allocation and bidding strategies, making it a potentially detrimental choice for advertisers looking to maximize profit.

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