Understand your retention analysis

Understand how the different modules of the retention analysis chart work and how you should interpret the data it contains.

The retention template consists of the following six modules:

The selector in the measure module lets you choose a retention measure to analyze based on the selected event pattern and actor segments.

Running a retention analysis helps you measure the following:

Within this module, you can specify the preferred events to determine the result. Analytics calculates retention information based on these conditions.

If you want to use a Timestamp instead of an Event, click the Timestamp icon in this section.

You can set the event occurrence in this section. You can specify whether you want to start the analysis before or after the event's first or last occurrence. There are three options to choose from: for the first time in the time range, for the first time ever, or for the last time.

Analytics also lets you choose JSON columns in this module. When you click a JSON column, it expands to display the keys available for that particular column. You can choose a key and click Apply, which chooses the selected end key as the display name for that column.

You can also set some advanced options, including retention criteria, event type, event occurrence, and cutoff, in this section.

This module lets you choose a cohort of actors, such as users, or one or more attributes to include in the analysis. It has two sub-sections: Segment by Cohort and Group by Property, which let you add cohorts and attributes. You can choose to create a cohort by choosing an existing cohort from the drop-down list or use the + New Cohort option to create a behavioural cohort block in one click.

You can use filters to narrow down data in a visualization. They make it easier to answer exploratory questions. For example, if you want to see results for a specific region, you can define a region filter and see the narrowed-down data.

Analytics lets you choose JSON columns in this module. When you click a JSON column, it expands to display the keys available for that particular column. You can choose a key and click Apply, which chooses the selected end key as the display name for that column.

This module lets you run and view the analysis in a chart format. It lets you edit the visualization, examine the underlying SQL query, and add the chart to a dashboard.

The following features are available in this module:

These options let you switch the values on the Y-axis from absolute values to percentages and vice versa. This feature is particularly useful when dealing with multiple segments, as using absolute values lets you see a clear breakdown of how many individuals are in each segment.

To choose the number of top segments you want to display in your retention analysis, click the Show top drop-down list and enter the required number. You can also use the + and – symbols to enter your input. The total count of selected events defines the top attribute values. You can also set the number of top 'N' segments when you create beelines.

You can set the time range using a drop-down list or choose from the quick options and iterate through different choices of time range and time grain without leaving the chart. It is also possible to set a lag using the Ending option.

In the visualization module, you can configure sampling modes for your exploration by clicking the lightning icon. A drop-down list displays two sampling modes: Enabled Faster Response or Enabled Higher Precision.