Data-Driven Attribution Model Explorer in Google Analytics
This article is related to attribution modelling in Google Analytics. If you are brand new to Google Analytics attribution then read this article first: Beginners Guide to Google Analytics Attribution Modelling.
Model Explorer (also known as Data-Driven Attribution model explorer) is an attribution modelling tool through which you can determine how the Data-Driven Attribution (DDA) model values were calculated in Google Analytics and how the DDA model distributed conversion credit to various marketing channels, defined in the ‘default channel grouping’.
Criteria to be eligible to use Data-Driven Attribution Model Explorer
The primary requirement to be eligible to use the Model Explorer tool is access to a Google Analytics 360/premium account. The model explorer tool is not available in the standard version of Google Analytics.
Following are other critical requirements to be eligible to use this tool effectively:
- ‘Goal conversion’ tracking setup in your chosen GA premium view. So that goal data is available to your DDA model.
- ‘ecommerce tracking’ or enhanced ecommerce tracking set up in your chosen GA premium view. So that ecommerce data is available to your DDA model.
- Data Driven Attribution Model set up in your chosen GA premium view.
- Availability of cost data in GA reports.
- At least 60 days of historical data in Google Analytics (in order to make the data statistically significant). This data includes ecommerce data, goal conversion data, cost data, and website usage data.
To access the Model explorer tool follow the steps below:
Step-1: Login to your GA premium account and then navigate to the reporting view for which the data-driven attribution model has been enabled.
Step-2: Navigate to Conversions > Attributions > Model Explorer:

You will then see the data-driven attribution model explorer report.
How to read the Data-Driven Attribution Model Explorer Report?
This report is going to look like the one below:

DDA model determines and uses up to four most influential interactions/touchpoints in the last 90 days prior to each conversion. These interactions are reported by the Model explorer tool.
This tool assigns ‘weighted-average credit’ to each of the four interactions for each marketing channel.
Determining the overall weight of marketing channels in a particular time period
In order to determine the overall weight of marketing channels in a particular time period, follow the steps below:
Step-1: Select ‘All’ from the ‘conversion’ drop-down menu in the model explorer report:

Step-2: Look at the ‘Conversions’ column in the model explorer report:

The marketing channel with higher data-driven conversions carries more weight in a particular time period.
If you want to determine the weight of a marketing channel for a particular conversion then select the conversion from the ‘conversion’ drop-down menu in the model explorer report:
You can also download the latest data-driven attribution model into Excel for further analysis by clicking on the ‘Download the full model’ button at the top right of the ‘Model explorer tool’:
The downloaded DDA model includes only those conversions whose conversion path length is two or more interactions and which were recorded in the last 28 days from the time the DDA model was last generated.
The DDA model you see in the model explorer report show conversion credits based on the conversion type and time period you select for the report. Because of this reason your downloaded model may not match with the DDA model you see, in your model explorer report.
As such, a traditional MMM model is not suitable for carrying out digital marketing mix modelling aka attribution modelling.
Other articles on Attribution Modelling
- How to analyse and report the true value of your SEO Campaign
- How to valuate Display Advertising through Attribution Modelling
- Understanding Shopping Carts for Analytics and Conversion Optimization
- 6 Keys to Digital Success in Attribution Modelling
- Google Analytics Attribution Modeling Tutorial
- How to Measure and Improve the Quality of SEO Traffic through Google Analytics
- How to explain attribution modelling to your clients
- Default and Custom Attribution Models in Google Analytics
- Understanding Missing Touchpoints in Attribution Modelling
- What You Should Know about Historical Data in Web Analytics
- Model Comparison Report Explained in Google Analytics Attribution
- Data-Driven Attribution Model in Google Analytics – Tutorial
- Conversion Lag Report Explained in Google Analytics Attribution
- Selecting the Best Attribution Model for Inbound Marketing
- How to do ROI Analysis in Google Analytics
- Conversion Credit Models Guide – Google Analytics Attribution
- Introduction to Nonline Analytics – True Multi Channel Analytics
- Conversion Types Explained in Google Analytics Attribution
- Attribution Channels Explained in Google Analytics Attribution
- Differences Between Google Attribution & Multi-Channel Funnel Reports
- Introduction to TV Attribution in Google Analytics Attribution 360
- Conversion Credit Distribution for Attribution Models in Google Analytics
- Conversion Paths Report Explained in Google Analytics Attribution
- Attribution Model Comparison Tool in Google Analytics
- Touchpoint Analysis in Google Analytics Attribution Modelling
- Attributed Conversions & Attributed Revenue Explained in Google Attribution
- Which Attribution Model to use in Google Analytics?
- Google Attribution Access and User Permissions – Tutorial
- Conversion Path Length Report Explained in Google Analytics Attribution
- How to set up a data-driven attribution model in Google Analytics
- View-Through Conversion Tracking in Google Analytics
- Offline Conversion Tracking in Google Analytics – Tutorial
- How to Create Custom Attribution Model in Google Analytics
- 8 Google Analytics Conversions Segments You Must Use
- You are doing Google Analytics all wrong. Here is why
- How to Use ZMOT to Increase Conversions and Sales Exponentially
- Connected Properties Explained in Google Analytics Attribution
- Marketing Mix Modelling or Attribution Modelling. Which one is for you?
- How is attribution modelling helpful for ecommerce and non-ecommerce websites?
- Conversion Time & Interaction Time Explained in Google Analytics Attribution
- How to Allocate Budgets in Multi Channel Marketing
- How Does Attribution Work?
- Data-Driven Attribution Model Explorer in Google Analytics
- Introduction to Attribution Beta – Attribution Project in Google Analytics
Register for the FREE TRAINING...
"How to use Digital Analytics to generate floods of new Sales and Customers without spending years figuring everything out on your own."
Here’s what we’re going to cover in this training…
#1 Why digital analytics is the key to online business success.
#2 The number 1 reason why most marketers are not able to scale their advertising and maximize sales.
#3 Why Google and Facebook ads don’t work for most businesses & how to make them work.
#4 Why you won’t get any competitive advantage in the marketplace just by knowing Google Analytics.
#5 The number 1 reason why conversion optimization is not working for your business.
#6 How to advertise on any marketing platform for FREE with an unlimited budget.
#7 How to learn and master digital analytics and conversion optimization in record time.
My best selling books on Digital Analytics and Conversion Optimization
Maths and Stats for Web Analytics and Conversion Optimization
This expert guide will teach you how to leverage the knowledge of maths and statistics in order to accurately interpret data and take actions, which can quickly improve the bottom-line of your online business.
Master the Essentials of Email Marketing Analytics
This book focuses solely on the ‘analytics’ that power your email marketing optimization program and will help you dramatically reduce your cost per acquisition and increase marketing ROI by tracking the performance of the various KPIs and metrics used for email marketing.
Attribution Modelling in Google Analytics and Beyond
Attribution modelling is the process of determining the most effective marketing channels for investment. This book has been written to help you implement attribution modelling. It will teach you how to leverage the knowledge of attribution modelling in order to allocate marketing budget and understand buying behaviour.
Attribution Modelling in Google Ads and Facebook
This book has been written to help you implement attribution modelling in Google Ads (Google AdWords) and Facebook. It will teach you, how to leverage the knowledge of attribution modelling in order to understand the customer purchasing journey and determine the most effective marketing channels for investment.
This article is related to attribution modelling in Google Analytics. If you are brand new to Google Analytics attribution then read this article first: Beginners Guide to Google Analytics Attribution Modelling.
Model Explorer (also known as Data-Driven Attribution model explorer) is an attribution modelling tool through which you can determine how the Data-Driven Attribution (DDA) model values were calculated in Google Analytics and how the DDA model distributed conversion credit to various marketing channels, defined in the ‘default channel grouping’.
Criteria to be eligible to use Data-Driven Attribution Model Explorer
The primary requirement to be eligible to use the Model Explorer tool is access to a Google Analytics 360/premium account. The model explorer tool is not available in the standard version of Google Analytics.
Following are other critical requirements to be eligible to use this tool effectively:
- ‘Goal conversion’ tracking setup in your chosen GA premium view. So that goal data is available to your DDA model.
- ‘ecommerce tracking’ or enhanced ecommerce tracking set up in your chosen GA premium view. So that ecommerce data is available to your DDA model.
- Data Driven Attribution Model set up in your chosen GA premium view.
- Availability of cost data in GA reports.
- At least 60 days of historical data in Google Analytics (in order to make the data statistically significant). This data includes ecommerce data, goal conversion data, cost data, and website usage data.
To access the Model explorer tool follow the steps below:
Step-1: Login to your GA premium account and then navigate to the reporting view for which the data-driven attribution model has been enabled.
Step-2: Navigate to Conversions > Attributions > Model Explorer:
You will then see the data-driven attribution model explorer report.
How to read the Data-Driven Attribution Model Explorer Report?
This report is going to look like the one below:
DDA model determines and uses up to four most influential interactions/touchpoints in the last 90 days prior to each conversion. These interactions are reported by the Model explorer tool.
This tool assigns ‘weighted-average credit’ to each of the four interactions for each marketing channel.
Determining the overall weight of marketing channels in a particular time period
In order to determine the overall weight of marketing channels in a particular time period, follow the steps below:
Step-1: Select ‘All’ from the ‘conversion’ drop-down menu in the model explorer report:
Step-2: Look at the ‘Conversions’ column in the model explorer report:
The marketing channel with higher data-driven conversions carries more weight in a particular time period.
If you want to determine the weight of a marketing channel for a particular conversion then select the conversion from the ‘conversion’ drop-down menu in the model explorer report:
You can also download the latest data-driven attribution model into Excel for further analysis by clicking on the ‘Download the full model’ button at the top right of the ‘Model explorer tool’:
The downloaded DDA model includes only those conversions whose conversion path length is two or more interactions and which were recorded in the last 28 days from the time the DDA model was last generated.
The DDA model you see in the model explorer report show conversion credits based on the conversion type and time period you select for the report. Because of this reason your downloaded model may not match with the DDA model you see, in your model explorer report.
As such, a traditional MMM model is not suitable for carrying out digital marketing mix modelling aka attribution modelling.
Other articles on Attribution Modelling
- How to analyse and report the true value of your SEO Campaign
- How to valuate Display Advertising through Attribution Modelling
- Understanding Shopping Carts for Analytics and Conversion Optimization
- 6 Keys to Digital Success in Attribution Modelling
- Google Analytics Attribution Modeling Tutorial
- How to Measure and Improve the Quality of SEO Traffic through Google Analytics
- How to explain attribution modelling to your clients
- Default and Custom Attribution Models in Google Analytics
- Understanding Missing Touchpoints in Attribution Modelling
- What You Should Know about Historical Data in Web Analytics
- Model Comparison Report Explained in Google Analytics Attribution
- Data-Driven Attribution Model in Google Analytics – Tutorial
- Conversion Lag Report Explained in Google Analytics Attribution
- Selecting the Best Attribution Model for Inbound Marketing
- How to do ROI Analysis in Google Analytics
- Conversion Credit Models Guide – Google Analytics Attribution
- Introduction to Nonline Analytics – True Multi Channel Analytics
- Conversion Types Explained in Google Analytics Attribution
- Attribution Channels Explained in Google Analytics Attribution
- Differences Between Google Attribution & Multi-Channel Funnel Reports
- Introduction to TV Attribution in Google Analytics Attribution 360
- Conversion Credit Distribution for Attribution Models in Google Analytics
- Conversion Paths Report Explained in Google Analytics Attribution
- Attribution Model Comparison Tool in Google Analytics
- Touchpoint Analysis in Google Analytics Attribution Modelling
- Attributed Conversions & Attributed Revenue Explained in Google Attribution
- Which Attribution Model to use in Google Analytics?
- Google Attribution Access and User Permissions – Tutorial
- Conversion Path Length Report Explained in Google Analytics Attribution
- How to set up a data-driven attribution model in Google Analytics
- View-Through Conversion Tracking in Google Analytics
- Offline Conversion Tracking in Google Analytics – Tutorial
- How to Create Custom Attribution Model in Google Analytics
- 8 Google Analytics Conversions Segments You Must Use
- You are doing Google Analytics all wrong. Here is why
- How to Use ZMOT to Increase Conversions and Sales Exponentially
- Connected Properties Explained in Google Analytics Attribution
- Marketing Mix Modelling or Attribution Modelling. Which one is for you?
- How is attribution modelling helpful for ecommerce and non-ecommerce websites?
- Conversion Time & Interaction Time Explained in Google Analytics Attribution
- How to Allocate Budgets in Multi Channel Marketing
- How Does Attribution Work?
- Data-Driven Attribution Model Explorer in Google Analytics
- Introduction to Attribution Beta – Attribution Project in Google Analytics
Register for the FREE TRAINING...
"How to use Digital Analytics to generate floods of new Sales and Customers without spending years figuring everything out on your own."
Here’s what we’re going to cover in this training…
#1 Why digital analytics is the key to online business success.
#2 The number 1 reason why most marketers are not able to scale their advertising and maximize sales.
#3 Why Google and Facebook ads don’t work for most businesses & how to make them work.
#4 Why you won’t get any competitive advantage in the marketplace just by knowing Google Analytics.
#5 The number 1 reason why conversion optimization is not working for your business.
#6 How to advertise on any marketing platform for FREE with an unlimited budget.
#7 How to learn and master digital analytics and conversion optimization in record time.
My best selling books on Digital Analytics and Conversion Optimization
Maths and Stats for Web Analytics and Conversion Optimization
This expert guide will teach you how to leverage the knowledge of maths and statistics in order to accurately interpret data and take actions, which can quickly improve the bottom-line of your online business.
Master the Essentials of Email Marketing Analytics
This book focuses solely on the ‘analytics’ that power your email marketing optimization program and will help you dramatically reduce your cost per acquisition and increase marketing ROI by tracking the performance of the various KPIs and metrics used for email marketing.
Attribution Modelling in Google Analytics and Beyond
Attribution modelling is the process of determining the most effective marketing channels for investment. This book has been written to help you implement attribution modelling. It will teach you how to leverage the knowledge of attribution modelling in order to allocate marketing budget and understand buying behaviour.
Attribution Modelling in Google Ads and Facebook
This book has been written to help you implement attribution modelling in Google Ads (Google AdWords) and Facebook. It will teach you, how to leverage the knowledge of attribution modelling in order to understand the customer purchasing journey and determine the most effective marketing channels for investment.