Using consumer data analytics ethically in the privacy-first era

Been wrestling with this lately. iOS updates killed our attribution and users are getting more privacy-conscious.

How do you balance getting actionable insights without being creepy? Our retention improved when we stopped certain tracking but conversion tracking is a mess now.

Just ask users directly what they want more of.

Focus on transparency and use less invasive methods. It helps to gain trust while still getting insights.

Privacy regs actually made me better at marketing. Weird, right?

I run way more post-purchase surveys and exit polls now. People tell you exactly why they bought or bailed if you catch them at the right moment.

I also ditched individual tracking for behavior patterns. I group users by what they do in their first session, then see which groups convert best.

Data’s messier but insights are clearer. Users trust you more when you’re upfront about what you’re tracking too.

Track what you can without identifiers. Server-side events, cohort analysis, and first-party data work well for insights. Make consent flows clear and show users why sharing data benefits them. Don’t track everything. Pick 3-5 key metrics that actually drive revenue. You’ll get cleaner data and better results instead of chasing vanity metrics everywhere.

Dropped external attribution. Now I track user actions directly in the app.

I focus on key moments like onboarding completion and first purchases. This gives solid funnel data and avoids privacy issues.

I also ask users what made them convert through quick surveys. It’s simple but effective.