Tracking · Phase 4

Why Meta & Google Attribution Numbers Don't Match

Learn why Meta and Google can each report different conversion totals for the same business and how to reconcile the discrepancy.

Different attribution windows

Different attribution windows is part of measurement plumbing. A technically sophisticated implementation can still produce misleading reports if events are duplicated, names drift, identities cannot be reconciled, or revenue definitions differ between systems. Document the source of truth, event definitions, timestamps and ownership before adding more tooling.

Different identity and modeling

Different identity and modeling is part of measurement plumbing. A technically sophisticated implementation can still produce misleading reports if events are duplicated, names drift, identities cannot be reconciled, or revenue definitions differ between systems. Document the source of truth, event definitions, timestamps and ownership before adding more tooling. Before choosing a tool or reporting method, write down the decision the measurement is supposed to improve. That single step prevents teams from buying a dashboard that answers an interesting but commercially irrelevant question.

Overlapping credit

Overlapping credit is part of measurement plumbing. A technically sophisticated implementation can still produce misleading reports if events are duplicated, names drift, identities cannot be reconciled, or revenue definitions differ between systems. Document the source of truth, event definitions, timestamps and ownership before adding more tooling. A strong implementation also includes a reconciliation routine: compare platform totals, analytics, CRM or commerce revenue, and the attribution layer on a fixed cadence. Investigate material gaps instead of assuming one system is automatically correct.

A reconciliation workflow

A reconciliation workflow is part of measurement plumbing. A technically sophisticated implementation can still produce misleading reports if events are duplicated, names drift, identities cannot be reconciled, or revenue definitions differ between systems. Document the source of truth, event definitions, timestamps and ownership before adding more tooling. Prefer a small set of well-defined conversion events over a sprawling event taxonomy. Each event should have an owner, definition, expected source, and a reason it influences a marketing decision.

When to add independent attribution

When to add independent attribution is part of measurement plumbing. A technically sophisticated implementation can still produce misleading reports if events are duplicated, names drift, identities cannot be reconciled, or revenue definitions differ between systems. Document the source of truth, event definitions, timestamps and ownership before adding more tooling.

Practical checklist

  • Are event names and IDs consistent?
  • Is duplication prevented across browser and server events?
  • Do time zone and currency settings match?
  • Is consent and data handling appropriate for the implementation?
  • Can revenue be reconciled to a business system of record?
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