What are Standard Metrics and Attributed Metrics?

What are Standard Metrics?

Standard Metrics are Metrics that only store and display 1 Metric Value for each Date Range. 

Examples of Standard Metrics are "Sessions," "Clicks," and "Likes."

What are Attributed Metrics?

Attributed Metrics are Metrics that contain Dimensions. Essentially, there is a list of data stored within them. They typically have the word "by" in the Metric name and have a table symbol next to the Metric name in the Designer. 

Examples of Attributed Metrics are "Sessions by Source," "Clicks by Campaign," and "Likes by Post."

Since a list containing Dimensions is stored within the Attributed Metric, the visualization that you choose for these Metrics is significant. If you are adding a Metric to a Datablock that is set to only display 1 Value- like a Number Block, Progress Bar, or even a Funnel- a Dimension field will be revealed in Datablock Settings. This allows you to select 1 specific Dimension whose associated Metric value will be displayed on the Datablock. 

How to use Attributed vs Standard Metrics in a Pie Chart or Table

When customizing a Pie Chart or Table, you have the option in the Property Manager to either choose Data from a Single Metric or Data from Multiple Metrics. 

If you select Data from a Single Metric, you must select an Attributed Metric to populate the Pie Chart or Table. This is because Data from a Single Metric means one single Metric is going to populate the full Pie Chart or Table. Since Attributed Metrics have Dimensions stored underneath, the Databox system can automatically split each Dimension into a different row or slice of the pie. 

Data from a Single Metric is extremely efficient and is the default option. 

If you select Data from Multiple Metrics, you can select Standard Metrics, Attributed Metrics, or a combination of both. This is because Data from Multiple Metrics means that you want to manually populate each row of the Table or slice of the Pie Chart with different Metrics. Put simply, multiple Metrics are populating the Databock. 

Data from Multiple Metrics is extremely powerful. For example, you may use this to create an Overview Table that shows the top 10 Metrics from one Data Source. Or, you may create a Pie Chart that is populated with 1 Metric to report on total Followers in each of your Social Sources. 

NOTE: This option is not currently available for the Advanced Table and Leaderboard Visualization Types.

Additional Information

Metric Considerations

• Standard metrics like “Total Followers” provides values reflecting the overall following for a Data Source. However, the values for Attributed Metrics like "Followers by Country," "Followers by Age," "Followers by Gender," etc. may not be an exact match to the “Total Followers” count you are seeing for a Social Media Data Source. This is because followers may choose not to publicly share personal information like their country, age, gender, etc.