Worked example: Time Decay

Six visits, two conversions, and how Time Decay weights them with a 7-day half-life, step by step

One visitor, six visits over twelve days and two conversions. How much of each conversion does each channel earn?

DateChannel (visit)Action
5/1Meta Ads
5/4Google Ads
5/5Direct
5/7Meta Ads
5/9DirectConversion $10
5/11Google Ads
5/12Conversion $5

This example assumes the view includes all traffic, so direct visits take credit, and that every visit and conversion falls inside the selected date range. The rules themselves are on Attribution models.

Time Decay Attribution 5/1 - 5/12

First we will look at the results of the model and then we will explain the math below:

SourceVisitsConversionsConversion Revenue
Meta Ads2.625$4.91
Google Ads2.554$3.63
Direct2.821$6.46
Total2$15

Below is the calculation for the 1st conversion for the date range:

SourceDays from ConversionFirst ConversionPro Rata ConversionRevenue
Meta Ads82^(-8/7) = .45.45 / 3.56 = .127.127 * $10 = $1.27
Google Ads52^(-5/7) = .61.61 / 3.56 = .171.171 * $10 = $1.71
Direct42^(-4/7) = .67.67 / 3.56 = .189.189 * $10 = $1.89
Meta Ads22^(-2/7) = .82.82 / 3.56 = .231.231 * $10 = $2.31
Direct02^(-0/7) = 11 / 3.56 = .281.281 * $10 = $2.81
3.561$10

Below is the calculation for the 2nd conversion for the date range:

SourceDays from ConversionFirst ConversionPro Rata ConversionRevenue
Meta Ads112^(-11/7) = .34.34 / 3.55 = .095.095 * $5 = $.47
Google Ads82^(-8/7) = .45.45 / 3.55 = .128.128 * $5 = $.64
Direct72^(-7/7) = .50.50 / 3.55 = .141.141 * $5 = $.70
Meta Ads52^(-5/7) = .61.61 / 3.55 = .172.172 * $5 = $.86
Direct32^(-3/7) = .74.74 / 3.55 = .209.209 * $5 = $1.05
Google Ads12^(-1/7) = .91.91 / 3.55 = .255.256 * $5 = $1.28
Total3.552$5