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Measurement Framework for Customer acquisition

How to measure CAC for performance and non-performance channels

S
Written by Strategy Organization
Updated over 2 years ago

Performance channels (Social, Google, Affiliate, Display, etc)

KPI: CAC

  • Primary source: in-platform CPA (try to exclude existing cust)

  • Secondary source: match table of LC CAC (GA to Shopify)

  • Modification: after incrementality is calculated, modify both sources

    • Calculate true iCAC (through MMT, LRA, CIA, etc)

    • Modify platform aCAC and LC aCAC

      • Example:

        • aCAC = $250

        • iCAC = $50

        • aCAC mod = 25%

  • Program optimizations:

    • Test incrementality of different tactics (PRS, RTG, RTN)

    • Test inc of different buying models (conv, r+f, views, etc)

    • Test inc of different creative platforms (product vs lifestyle, etc)

    • Test inc of different budget levels and media mixes

Non-performance channels (CTV, YouTube, Influencer, etc)

KPI: CAC (blended at business level, supported by leading indicators)

  • Video content KPIs: reach, frequency, video engagement

  • Influencer type KPIs: reach, engagement, attributed traffic

  • Leading indicators: brand search demand, dir+org traffic

  • Optional: brand lift metrics (BLS study in-platform or third party)

  • Modification: after incrementality is calculated, apply to spend

    • Calculate true iCAC (through MMT, LRA, CIA, etc)

    • Apply coefficient to spend levels

      • Example:

      • iCAC = $50

      • Spend = $50k

      • iNTF = 1,000

  • Program optimizations:

    • Test incrementality of different tactics (PRS, RTG, RTN)

    • Test inc of different buying models (conv, r+f, views, etc)

    • Test inc of different creative platforms (product vs lifestyle, etc)

    • Test inc of different budget levels and media mixes

Benchmarking and creating in-platform goals for New Customers

  • At times there is no incrementality measurement available, and no historical data

  • You can use standard benchmark assumptions based on business goals

    • Reach goal baseline: 15% of total addressable market

    • Frequency goal baseline: 2x avg frequency per week (acct aggregate)

    • Performance channel CAC baseline:

      • Start with business goal (unit economics, COGS, LTV:CAC, etc)

      • Multiply the business goal by a baseline of incrementality

        • In-platform: 2x business goal CAC

        • Last click: 3x business goal CAC

          • Example:

            • Biz goal CAC = $50

            • In platform = $100

            • Last click = $150

  • Non-performance channel engagement metrics can use the industry dash

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