What are Standard Metrics and Dimensional Metrics?

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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 Dimensional Metrics?

Dimensional 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.

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

You can also distinguish between a Custom Metric or a Calculated Metric by looking at the symbol next to the Metric name in the Designer. A Custom Metric will have stack of coins next to Metric name, and a Calculated Metric will have a calculator next to the Metric name. 

Since a list containing Dimensions is stored within the Dimensional 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 Dimensional vs Standard Metrics in a Pie Chart or Table

If you select a Dimensional Metric, your Pie Chart or Table will be populated with all the Dimensions. This means that it will automatically show multiple rows or multiple pie slices.

For example, you could select "Sessions by Source," in which case each source would have its own row in a Table, or "Impressions by Campaign," in which case each campaign would have its own slice in a Pie Chart. 

If you choose a Standard Metric, only one slice of the pie will be populated in your Pie Chart and only one single row will be populated in the Table.

You can also select multiple Standard Metrics, Dimensional Metrics, or a combination of both to populate your Pie Chart or Table.  For example, you may create a Pie Chart or Table that is populated with metrics from Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. to report on followers from each of your social sources. 

Additional Information

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    Metric Considerations

      • Standard metrics like “Total Followers” provides values reflecting the overall following for a Data Source. However, the values for Dimensional 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.