Definition
First-click attribution assigns commission to the earliest qualifying partner interaction within the attribution window. It rewards discovery and education rather than last-minute coupon capture.
B2B SaaS context
For SaaS products with research-heavy buying journeys, first-click can favor partners who create demand through guides, tutorials and comparison content. It may under-credit partners who close later-stage intent.
Operator note
Store the first eligible click on the visitor or customer record and define whether internal sales actions, coupons or later affiliate clicks can override it.