# Create a goal Goals in Databox help you track progress toward key metrics, whether you want to hit specific targets or maintain performance levels. You can create goals that update automatically from your data sources or update progress manually. With advanced settings, clear success criteria, and team ownership, Goals make it easy to measure what matters most and keep everyone aligned. ## Create a goal You can create a goal in the following ways: - From scratch: On the [Goals](https://app.databox.com/goals/my) page, click on **+ Create goal.** - From a metric: Locate the metric on the [My Metrics,](https://app.databox.com/metrics/my) [Metric Insights](https://app.databox.com/metrics/insights), [Metric Library](https://app.databox.com/metrics/library), [Custom Metrics](https://app.databox.com/metrics/custom-metrics), or [Calculated Metrics](https://app.databox.com/metrics/calculated-metrics) page, then open the drop-down menu (three dots, **down arrow** (![chevron-down](/assets/chevron-down.dfd0e90adc6eb576be32262463090aae7c7f5408ed7975e3795f69775e36d174.419bb737.svg)), or "More") and select **Set a goal**. - From a Databoard: Click on a Datablock to open the Datablock Editor. Expand the metric's settings, go to the **Compare with** section, and select **Other > Goal**. Then, click the **Set goal** link to define your goal. ### Step 1: Define goal details Enter the key information that defines the goal: 1. Select **Goal** as the type. 2. Enter a **title** that clearly describes what you want to achieve. 3. **Choose an owner** (yourself or another user) and specify who the goal belongs to — either the **company** or an **accountable team**. 4. Select a **timeframe** to define when the goal applies. 5. Set **privacy** to determine who can view the goal — choose *Public*, *Selected users*, or *Private*. create-a-goal ### Step 2: Choose how progress is tracked The next step is to define how progress will be measured. You can track progress automatically using connected data, manually through updates, or by rolling up results from other goals. | | Metric (Automatic) | Manual | Sub-goals (Automatic) | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | Progress updates automatically based on a metric from a connected data source. | You enter progress updates yourself. | Progress is calculated automatically from linked sub-goals. | | | You'll select the metric and breakdown, set a target (fixed value, percent change, or other metric), and define a *success condition* — reach, stay above or stay below. | Define start and target values, choose a unit type (number, percent, or currency), and record progress as you reach milestones. | Choose a measurement type (percent average, number sum, or currency sum). Parent progress updates when sub-goals do. | | | | | | | | Use this option when the goal is tied to an existing metric in Databox (for example, *GA4 → Sessions*). | Use this for offline or qualitative targets that aren't tracked automatically, such as *Hire 3 new team members.* | Use this when you want to aggregate multiple goals under one higher-level goal or objective. | Certain financial metrics have predefined currency units. Because each goal supports only one currency, create separate goals if the selected metric includes multiple currencies. ### Step 3: Adjust granular goal values (optional) By default, target values apply to the current and future periods. To edit or include values for past periods: 1. Click **Advanced period settings** to open customization options. 2. Select **Adjust manually** in the bottom-left corner. 3. Enter the desired values for each period. 4. Click **Save** to confirm your changes. customize-goal-values ### Step 4: Send status updates and reminders Use the **Status updates** controls on a goal's detail page to notify the owner and other users, and to keep progress current. Options vary depending on whether progress is **automatic** or **manual**. ### Automatic progress (metric- or sub-goal–based) - **Channels:** Email and Slack - **Frequency:** Daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, or on when the **goal status changes** (e.g., moves to *On track*, *At risk*, or *Off track*) ### Manual progress - **Channel:** Email - **Frequency:** Weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or quarterly - **Purpose:** Reminds the owner to **update progress** manually ### Delivery schedule - **Weekly:** Every Friday at 9 a.m. (account time) - **Bi-weekly:** Every other Friday at 9 a.m. (account time) - **Monthly:** Last day of the month at 9 a.m. (account time) - **Quarterly:** Last day of every third month at 9 a.m. (account time) ## Create an aligned goal You can create an aligned goal directly from the **goal details page** to link related targets across teams or initiatives. 1. On the [Goals](https://app.databox.com/goals/my) page, locate the goal you want to align with. 2. Click **View details**. 3. On the goal details page, scroll to the **Aligned goals** section. 4. Click **+ Add goal**. 5. Follow the instructions in [Step 1](#step-1-define-goal-details) to define the goal details and choose how progress is tracked. Once created, the aligned goal appears in the **Aligned goals** section of both goals, making it easy to navigate between related targets. Aligned goals do **not** contribute to the parent goal's progress — they're meant to help you see how related goals or metrics perform in relation to each other. Yes. If the metric includes breakdown dimensions, the goal will apply only to the parent metric or to a specific dimension — if one has been selected. Yes, navigate to [Clients > Goals Overview](https://app.databox.com/clients/goals) to see goals from all connected client accounts. Note that goal values are visible only for the date range defined by the goal owner on the Goals page within each individual client account.   Ask Genie Get instant answers or help with your data using the in-app AI assistant. Talk to an expert For customers: Get help with your setup, strategy, or making the most of Databox. Book a demo New to Databox? See how it works and get guidance on getting started. Send an email Reach out to support for help with your account, data, or technical issues.