Spectacle

Tailored for SaaS and subscription-based businesses

Spectacle is a marketing attribution software designed specifically for SaaS and subscription-based companies. It addresses unique challenges such as acquiring "sticky" customers whose lifetime value becomes apparent over time, and tracking long sales funnels where ads play a role in top-of-funnel activities. By attributing revenue to touchpoints in the customer journey, Spectacle provides insights that help optimise marketing strategies for long-term success.

Multi-touch attribution across various channels

The platform offers multi-touch attribution, allowing businesses to see how different marketing channels contribute to customer acquisition and retention. Spectacle integrates with major ad networks like Google Ads, Meta Ads, TikTok Ads, and more, providing a comprehensive view of campaign performance.‍

Easy integration with existing tools

Spectacle integrates seamlessly with tools like Stripe for payment processing, HubSpot for CRM, and CallRail for call tracking. This ease of integration ensures that businesses can implement Spectacle without significant changes to their existing workflows.

As a head of growth and founder of two agencies, I've had the opportunity to test Spectacle as an alpha user. The product is now fully developed and this is my review about the tool.

Developed by a former client and friend, I was eager to see how it could enhance our marketing efforts. Having worked with various analytics tools over the years, I found Spectacle's focus on lifetime value optimisation particularly compelling.

Strengths of Spectacle

One of the standout features of Spectacle is its ability to attribute revenue to specific customer touchpoints across multiple channels. This provides a clearer picture of which marketing efforts are driving long-term value. The platform's multi-touch attribution model allows for a more nuanced understanding of customer journeys, moving beyond simple first- or last-click models.

The integration with payment processors like Stripe is another significant advantage. It enables businesses to connect revenue data directly to marketing activities, facilitating cohort-aligned revenue reporting. This feature is particularly beneficial for SaaS companies looking to align their marketing spend with customer lifetime value.

Limitations of Spectacle

While Spectacle offers robust features, it's important to note that it is primarily designed for SaaS and subscription-based businesses. Companies outside these sectors may not fully leverage all of its capabilities.

If you're considering implementing Spectacle to optimise your marketing efforts, here's a step-by-step guide to getting started:

1. Install Spectacle on your website

Begin by installing Spectacle on your website using one of the following methods:

• JavaScript: Add the provided JavaScript snippet to your site's code.
• Segment: Use Segment to manage your data pipelines and integrate Spectacle.
• REST API: Send data directly to Spectacle using its REST API

Each method is detailed in the Spectacle documentation.

2. Connect your ad networks

Integrate your advertising platforms with Spectacle to import cost data and attribute revenue to specific campaigns, keywords, and ads. Supported ad networks include:

• Google Ads
• Meta Ads
• TikTok Ads
• Microsoft Ads
• Reddit Ads
• LinkedIn Ads
• Snapchat Ads

This integration allows for comprehensive performance tracking across all your paid channels.

3. Tag your ads and campaigns

Ensure that your ads and campaigns are properly tagged using UTM parameters. Spectacle provides URL templates for each ad network to facilitate this process. Proper tagging ensures accurate attribution of revenue to the correct marketing efforts.

4. Connect your payment processor

Integrate your payment processor, such as Stripe, with Spectacle. This connection enables Spectacle to attribute revenue to the correct customer journeys, providing insights into how marketing efforts influence customer lifetime value.

5. Analyse customer journeys

Use Spectacle's customer journey feature to view individual customer interactions across all touchpoints. This feature helps identify which marketing activities are most effective in driving long-term value. ‍

6. Optimise marketing strategies

Leverage the insights gained from Spectacle to optimise your marketing strategies. Focus on channels and campaigns that drive high lifetime value customers, and adjust or eliminate those that do not contribute effectively.

Conclusion

Spectacle is a powerful tool for businesses aiming to optimise their marketing efforts based on customer lifetime value. By providing multi-touch attribution and integrating with key platforms, it offers valuable insights that can drive more effective marketing strategies. While it is particularly beneficial for SaaS and subscription-based companies, businesses in other sectors may also find value in its features.