DATA-DRIVEN ATTRIBUTION MODELING IN DIGITAL MARKETING
- 1 January 2026
- journal article
- Published by Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv in Bulletin of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. Economics
- No. 228,p. 191-201
Abstract
B a c k g r o u n d . In the contemporary digital environment, marketing communications have evolved into multi-channel, personalized, and dynamic interactions, necessitating an increasingly precise quantification of the efficacy of each user touchpoint with a brand. Conventional rule-based marketing attribution models, which exclusively assign value to a singular touch-point of contact, no longer yield the requisite level of analytical granularity. In response to these methodological challenges, advanced economic and mathematical methodologies, notably models predicated on Markov chains and Shapley values, are progressively being deployed to facilitate a rigorously reasoned and quantitatively justifiable allocation of value across all contributing channels. M e t h o d s . The research methodology is based on a combination of general scientific and specialized methods. Specifically, it utilized theoretical modeling, comparative analysis, as well as stochastic modeling (Markov chains) and cooperative game theory (Shapley values). R e s u l t s . This research rigorously investigated marketing attribution in the digital environment, demonstrating the inherent limitations of traditional rule-based models and substantiating the superior efficacy of adaptive approaches, particularly Markov chains and Shapley values. The empirical implementation and comparative analysis of the Shapley value model confirmed its enhanced precision and capacity to objectively quantify each channel's contribution, leading to actionable insights for strategic marketing optimization. This study provides a robust framework for understanding multi-touch attribution, emphasizing the critical role of data-driven methodologies in contemporary marketing analytics. C o n c l u s i o n s . The work is relevant for marketing analysts and digital strategy teams, as it presents a comparative analysis of rule-based and algorithmic attribution models and offers practical solutions for campaign optimization. The Shapley Value model was implemented in Python and tested on real-world marketing data. The practical value lies in the ability to use the results for better budget allocation, identifying undervalued channels, and increasing return on marketing investment (ROMI).Keywords
This publication has 19 references indexed in Scilit:
- Innovations in Multi-Touch Attribution Models: Beyond Traditional Marketing Analytics in the Pharmaceutical Sector2025
- From Multi-Touch Attribution to Marketing Mix Modeling: Leveraging Multi-Information Fusion for Advanced Advertising Analytics2024
- The Evolution of Ads Marketing Mix Modeling (MMM): From Regression Models to AI-Powered Planning for SMBs2024
- Intelligent attribution modeling for enhanced digital marketing performanceIntelligent Systems with Applications, 2024
- Some game theoretic marketing attribution modelsAnnals of Operations Research, 2022
- Managing advertising investments in marketing channelsJournal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 2022
- Marketing Attribution in Omnichannel Retailing2021
- Marketing Channel Attribution Modelling: Markov Chain AnalysisInternational Journal of Indian Culture and Business Management, 2020
- Modeling Multi-Channel Advertising Attribution Across CompetitorsSSRN Electronic Journal, 2017
- Brand management and the marketing mix modelJournal of Marketing Analytics, 2014