The Attribution Debate, Part 3: The Final Verdict on Click vs. View Attribution
Welcome to the final installment in our three-part series on one of the most important conversations in ad optimization and media buying today—click vs. view attribution.
- In Part 1, we explored why AdBeacon only tracks clicks.
- In Part 2, we revealed what most brands are getting wrong when trusting view-based attribution.
Now in Part 3, we bring it all together with the final verdict—and a deeper look at how to make informed, scalable ad decisions with click attribution and first-party data leading the way.
Why Click Attribution Still Wins—Even with View Metrics in Play.
Let’s recap.
- View attribution is inconsistent. Every platform (Meta, Google, TikTok, Pinterest) uses a different, proprietary formula.
- Click attribution, on the other hand, is universal. A click is a click—across every ad platform and every channel.
And that’s exactly why AdBeacon doesn’t track view attribution—because there’s no standardized, provable method behind it. But we’re not saying views don’t matter at all. We’re saying:
View attribution should not be the foundation of your decision-making.
Sure, view data can offer context—especially when paired with solid view metrics like hook rate or thumb stop ratio. That’s why AdBeacon does pull in 1-day view attribution and view metrics via API from platforms like Meta.
But the data that drives your optimization strategy? That should be click-based and provable.
Why AdBeacon Doesn’t Create Its Own View Attribution Model?
One question we hear often:
“Why doesn’t AdBeacon just create its own view attribution model?”
Here’s our take:
Creating a proprietary model would just add another black box to the pile—and that’s the opposite of what media buyers need. Every business weighs views differently. Some want a 50/50 weighted attribution model. Others go full-click. Some blend platform-reported metrics into their own dashboards.
But AdBeacon’s role is to be your trusted source of clear, first-party click data, not to create yet another opinion-based system that introduces more confusion.
A Flexible, Transparent Attribution Framework
While AdBeacon only tracks click attribution, we still give media buyers access to:
- View metrics (e.g. 1-day view from Meta, scroll depth, hook rate)
- The flexibility to build your own weighted attribution models
- Full-funnel transparency using first-party eCommerce data and UTMs
- A channel-agnostic view of performance—because we start at the sale, not the platform
Whether you’re optimizing for Meta ads, running cross-channel campaigns, or managing multiple eCommerce stores on Shopify, this framework gives you:
✅ Confidence in your data
✅ Clear insight into what’s driving ROI
✅ The ability to scale campaigns with precision
Final Takeaways for Media Buyers and Agencies
View Attribution
Click Attribution
Proprietary and inconsistent
Universal and standardized
No provable customer trail
Full-funnel visibility with UTM & first-party data
Useful for context, not decisions
Actionable and reliable for ad optimization
Inflated ROAS risk
Data-driven scaling and media buying confidence
AdBeacon was built for media buyers, by media buyers. And we know that real optimization starts with real data.
The Final Word: Proof > Assumptions
In the age of privacy-first marketing, click attribution backed by first-party data is the only dependable foundation for your ad reporting, optimization, and scaling strategy.
“We’re not here to guess. We’re here to prove.”
And that’s why AdBeacon stands firm as a click-only attribution platform, built to empower agencies and brands with real-time, verifiable, and profitable insights.
Watch The Video That Inspired This Post
Ready to ditch the guesswork and take control of your ad performance?
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