Acquisition channel tracking

Understanding where your users come from is the first step in product growth. Acquisition channels are the different ways users find and start using your product. These typically include social media, search engines, email campaigns, and direct visits to your website.^[1]

Teams use various methods to track these channels effectively. Analytics tools automatically track basic sources like "direct" visits and search engines. For marketing campaigns, teams add special tracking codes to their links to know exactly where users came from. For example, a link shared on Twitter might include information showing it's from "twitter-december-sale," while an email newsletter link might show "newsletter-welcome-email." App stores provide their own tracking for mobile apps, showing if users found the app through search, categories, or featured listings.

Measuring channel performance involves looking at important numbers for each source: how many visitors come in, how many sign up, and how many become active users. Having clear tracking helps teams understand which channels work best for reaching the right users and growing their product.