A sale is a fact. An attributed sale is a fact plus a rule. The rule says which touch gets the credit (a click, a code, a view) and how long after that touch a purchase still counts. Google Analytics’ last click model gives all the credit to the last channel clicked before the conversion (Google); Meta’s attribution setting for new ad sets defaults to 7-day click or 1-day view (Meta). Change the rule and the same month’s orders move between creators and channels.
For commission UGC, attributed sales are the number the creator is paid on. Two deals at the same percentage pay very differently if one counts code redemptions and the other counts Meta’s view-through purchases.
Example. A creator’s video runs as a Meta ad and the creator also has a code. In one month the store records 25 orders with the code and 12 more from the creator’s tagged link. Meta reports 60 purchases on 7-day click and 1-day view. The brand’s rule decides whether the creator is paid on 37 or on 60. Example numbers.
When brands use it. The pain this answers: “I have no idea which creator actually drove sales.” The fix is to pick one rule before the campaign and show the order list behind it. Store-side attribution (codes, links, a pixel) is lower and auditable. Platform attribution is higher and lives in the brand’s ad account.
The creator’s view. Ask which rule, which window, and whether the brand shows orders or only totals. On a marketplace, the “Creator earns commission” label under a video is the public sign that a rule like this is running on it.
On HourlyUGC. Sales are counted by Meta, or by HourlyUGC: a connected Shopify store or HourlyUGC‘s pixel, last touch within 7 days, with creator links and codes. The creator’s share is 1 to 50 % of each attributed order, or $1 to $500 per order. Next step: start a campaign on HourlyUGC.