Media Mix Modeling and Correlational Attribution in a privacy-first cookieless environment.
Chasefive Management
An opportunity to integrate media buying and attribution into strategic planning.
While we have all been busy unraveling the impact of AI on marketing production and capability resourcing, a generational paradigm shift has been happening in plain sight. Increasing privacy regulations and the phasing out of third-party cookies are challenging the way marketing functions have operated for over two decades, and it's all for the better.
The ongoing shift that could be described as nothing short of a revolution calls into question the way in which marketing teams buy media and evaluate attribution, and the first long-standing digital marketing practice now facing obsolescence is the click-centric attribution model, and particularly the deep-seeded last-touchpoint attribution method.
While last-touchpoint attribution has never been the most effective method for understanding the impact of marketing investment on the customer journey, generations of marketers and management teams have relied on this practice to make sense of ROAS.
Declining cookie usage and more stringent data collection restrictions are reducing the accuracy of the data used for attribution, affecting both last-click and multi-touch attribution.
In an environment where businesses are struggling with
user journey attribution modeling, data fragmentation due to privacy regulations is likely to make it even harder to get a complete picture of customer touchpoints, forcing marketers to develop privacy-conscious marketing models that place greater emphasis on collecting and utilizing first-party data and taking a full-stack view of marketing measurement.
An opportunity to innovate and revisit flawed media metrics
Creating new privacy-conscious marketing models requires the ability to plan and analyze an integrated media mix. Reintroducing a contextual approach to media buying and analysis after years of heavy reliance on behavioral placements, is the first step toward driving this positive change. Additionally developing expertise in analyzing user-journey correlational performance across the entire media mix can position marketing departments to better understand ROMI than ever before.
The last twenty years of media buying have shown that ROAS analysis and marketing planning cannot operate in silos. Instead, it is essential to take a comprehensive view of the user journey across the entire marketing stack for effective attribution. In the classic case of 'necessity being the mother of invention,' the ongoing privacy changes could provide a stagnant industry with the necessary drive to make fundamental improvements by integrating media buying and attribution into strategic marketing planning.
The shift away from third-party cookies offers marketers a generational opportunity to innovate and improve measurement methodologies, as well as to rethink old media buying and metrics through redefined integrated planning and innovative attribution technology and it's an opportunity not to be missed.
Chasefive partnered with Claryx.ai to support the strategic marketing planning for the launch of Claryx..AI's AI-driven application for accounting practices BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA, February 11, 2026 Chasefive , a specialist marketing planning and advisory firm, today announced it supported Claryx.ai in the strategic planning and market introduction of its innovative Claryx AI-powered solution, designed to equip accountants and bookkeepers with actionable, client-centric advisory intelligence. Claryx.ai ( https://claryx.ai ), an emerging leader in artificial intelligence solutions for the accounting profession , has developed its software to enable accounting professionals to deliver strategic value beyond traditional compliance services. Built on advanced machine learning and real-time data analysis, Claryx synthesizes client financials, risk indicators, and growth signals into clear, actionable recommendations, giving accounting firms the ability to scale advisory offerings, deepen client relationships, and convert compliance work into high-value, billable services. To support the successful market entry of this breakthrough product, Claryx.ai engaged Chasefive to architect an end-to-end marketing planning approach tailored to the accounting and bookkeeping sector. Chasefive’s scope included: Go-to-market strategy — Defining positioning, value propositions, and target segments most receptive to AI-enabled advisory services. Messaging and positioning — Articulating key benefits that resonate with both technical and business audiences within accounting practices. Product launch planning — Developing launch roadmaps, integrated campaign structures, and channel strategies to accelerate market awareness and adoption.
Marketing leaders rarely wake up asking for a new framework. They wake up to the sound of friction. It starts with a sense of unease: “We’re moving fast, but are we moving forward?” or “Why does the CFO look at my reports like they’re written in a dead language?” These aren’t just complaints; they are marketing diagnostic triggers . The challenge for the modern C-suite is that marketing pain is almost always expressed at the surface level, while the root cause lies deep "below the waterline"—embedded in governance, architecture, and broken operating models. This guide reframes those common frustrations into structural solutions, moving your organization from reactive symptoms to intentional design. The Diagnostic Principle: Look Below the Waterline Most marketing problems are misdiagnosed because leaders focus on the visible "wake" rather than the engine. We see: Activity without impact. Tools without ROI. Dashboards without decisions. The FAPI Marketing Framework encourages a shift in perspective. When you stop asking your team to "do more marketing" and start fixing the operating system the marketing runs on, you solve for three core deficiencies: KPI Misalignment, Martech Fragmentation, and Governance Gaps.
Establishing a truly data-driven culture goes beyond simply gathering information; it involves a significant transformation. Based on the principles of the FAPI Marketing Framework™ , raw data, which is often seen as just "noise," needs to be refined into a structured ecosystem. This evolution is essential for guiding strategic decision-making and optimizing performance. One of the core principles is clear: data without a structured approach becomes a distraction rather than a tool for success. To truly harness the value of data, teams must create a system that promotes purpose, logic, and clarity in their processes. If you're ready to move past merely collecting data and wish to cultivate marketing systems driven by insights , here’s a step-by-step guide to building that culture. 1. Establish Purpose and Benchmarks Before Execution A data-driven culture begins with preparation. Data without structure is just noise, so the Framework mandates that the Plan Master must establish benchmarks and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) before execution begins. Define the "Why": Teams must understand not just what is being measured, but why it serves a purpose. This avoids costly misalignment and inefficient resource allocation. The Four Pillars of Readiness: To prepare data for decision-making, the team must ensure four elements are in place: defined target metrics, data collection infrastructure, contextual data (historical trends/benchmarks), and conditional data logic. 2. Climb the "Marketing Intelligence Ladder" The framework advocates moving the team from basic reporting to strategic action by climbing the " Marketing Intelligence Ladder. " A data-driven culture evolves through these stages: Descriptive & Diagnostic: Moving beyond simple Reporting (what happened) to Analysis (why it happened). Predictive: Using Forecasting and Predictive Analysis to anticipate future outcomes like churn risk or lead volume. Prescriptive: The ultimate goal is Prescriptive Analysis , where data answers the question, "What should we do about it?" recommending concrete actions to maximize impact. 3. Implement "Data Conditionality" To remove bias and guesswork, the framework introduces the principle of Data Conditionality . This involves establishing pre-defined outcomes based on specific results using "If [Condition], Then [Action]" logic. Automated Decisioning: By defining these rules in advance (e.g., "If engagement drops below X, trigger Campaign Y"), teams can react immediately to data shifts without arbitrary debate. Proactive vs. Reactive: This logic allows for both reactive adjustments to performance and proactive preparation for anticipated trends.
The FAPI Marketing Framework Academy today announced the release of its 2026 Certification Course , representing the most significant evolution of its training program to date. Now expanded to 54 comprehensive lessons , the 2026 edition transforms the curriculum from a strategy workshop into a full-scale operational certification pathway designed to help organizations move from campaign execution to marketing organizational planning.
In the noisy world of modern marketing, it is easy to mistake a catchy slogan or a viral campaign for a brand strategy. But true market power comes from something far deeper. According to the FAPI Marketing Framework , competitive positioning isn't just a marketing tactic—it is a mission-critical business decision that defines who you are, where you play, and why you matter. In the FAPI model, Competitive Positioning is the "North Star." It resides in the Frame Module , meaning it is a non-negotiable, long-term strategic foundation that must be established by leadership before a single piece of tactical planning begins. Here is how the FAPI Framework breaks down the art and science of securing your place in the market. 1. The Core Trinity: Defining Your Stance At its most basic level, FAPI dictates that you cannot position a brand until you have clear, distinct answers to three fundamental questions. These form your brand Positioning Statement : What is our core purpose? (Why do we exist beyond making money?) What is our core promise? (What can the customer always count on us to deliver?) What is our core capability? (What do we do better than anyone else?) If you cannot answer these, you don't have a position—you just have a product. 2. The Scorecard: Six Benchmarking Criteria How do you know where you stand relative to the competition? The FAPI Framework replaces guesswork with a scoring model. To find your distinct place in the market, you must benchmark yourself and your competitors against these six dimensions: Product/Solutions: The depth and range of what you offer. Purpose: How well your actions align with a stated cause (crucial for non-profits or purpose-driven brands). Pricing: Price competitiveness (typically, a lower price earns a higher score here). Credentials: The qualifications, awards, and certifications that prove your expertise. Innovation: Your ability to disrupt the market or challenge existing norms. Client Experience/Service: The delivery of exceptional service and support. By scoring these, you can visualize exactly where "white space" exists in the market and where you are currently winning or losing. 3. The Reality Check: Alignment is Not Optional One of the most powerful tenets of the FAPI Framework is Alignment with Product Reality . Positioning is not a coat of paint you apply to a crumbling wall; it must reflect what is actually being built. The Volvo Rule The framework cites Volvo to illustrate this. A manufacturer cannot position itself as the "Safety Brand" if its engineering team is designing open-top, reckless sports cars. If the product reality does not match the desired position, marketing cannot "spin" it. Instead, the business must reverse-engineer the positioning to align with what actually exists. 4. The brand "DNA" Factor: Strategic Immutability Because positioning sits in the Frame Module, it is treated as the business's DNA. It is not something you change just to capture a quick trend. The FAPI framework asserts that brand positioning acts as a hard boundary for the marketing team, rather than a flexible variable. Because positioning is part of a business’s fundamental "DNA," an established brand cannot simply pivot to a contradictory market segment—such as a premium provider suddenly targeting bargain hunters—merely to capture short-term revenue. Such a move is never viewed as just a "tactical campaign"; it represents the effective termination of the brand’s identity. Therefore, the defined position must serve as a strict guardrail, automatically disqualifying any marketing activity that conflicts with the brand's core promise, regardless of the potential for quick profit. 5. The Ultimate Judge: Consumer Validation Finally, the FAPI Framework offers a humbling truth: You don't own your position—your customers do. While leadership defines the desired position, the market validates it through Co-Production . A brand is only afforded the position that customers believe it deserves. In the FAPI Marketing Framework, positioning is not an exercise in creative writing. It is a rigid, strategic discipline. It requires honest benchmarking, strict alignment with product reality, and the humility to listen to your customers.
From Disconnected Activity to Structured Marketing Management As Onyx Coating continued to expand its global footprint across ceramic coatings, paint protection film (PPF), and surface protection solutions, the complexity of managing marketing across regions, products, and channels increased. Rather than treating marketing as a collection of individual tactics, Onyx Coating adopted the FAPI Marketing Framework to manage marketing as a structured, end-to-end business function . The framework provides a clear sequence— Frame, Architecture, Production, and Insights —that connects strategy directly to execution and measurement. This shift has allowed the marketing team to move away from ad-hoc activity and toward disciplined, repeatable planning. A Shared Master Plan That Eliminates Silos One of the most immediate impacts of implementing the FAPI Marketing Framework was improved alignment across the marketing team. According to Amjad Elsayed, Marketing Manager at Onyx Coating , the framework introduces an “engineering” mindset to marketing—one that forces structure, clarity, and consistency. “The FAPI Marketing Framework is a systematic approach that helps us plan and execute marketing with real structure,” says Elsayed. “It aligns the entire team around a shared master plan and prevents people from working in silos.” By establishing a single strategic Frame and a defined Marketing Architecture , every campaign, channel, and initiative is connected to the same objectives. This ensures that regional teams, product marketing, and execution resources are all pulling in the same direction. Clear Accountability Between Strategy and Execution Another critical advantage of the FAPI Framework is how it clarifies ownership and accountability inside the marketing function. In many organizations, responsibility for strategy and execution is blurred—leading to misalignment, duplication of effort, and gaps in delivery. FAPI addresses this by clearly separating strategic responsibility from executional responsibility. “The framework clearly defines who owns strategy in the Frame phase and who owns execution in the Production phase,” explains Elsayed. “That clarity improves accountability and raises the overall professionalism of the marketing team.” This separation allows senior marketing leaders to focus on strategic direction and priorities, while execution teams operate with clear briefs, expectations, and performance measures. Marketing as a Scalable Operating System For Onyx Coating, the value of the FAPI Marketing Framework goes beyond better planning—it creates a scalable foundation for growth. By embedding the framework into its marketing planning and management processes, Onyx Coating can: Maintain consistency across global markets Scale marketing activity without losing control or clarity Improve coordination between strategy, execution, and reporting Demonstrate marketing productivity and performance more transparently This structured approach supports Onyx Coating’s broader commitment to operational excellence and long-term brand leadership in the automotive paint protection industry. Raising the Standard for Marketing Operations The adoption of the FAPI Marketing Framework reflects a broader shift in how modern marketing teams operate. Rather than relying on individual brilliance or disconnected campaigns, Onyx Coating has chosen a system that treats marketing as a managed, accountable discipline. By applying structure, shared planning, and clear accountability, the Onyx Coating marketing team is better equipped to execute at scale—without sacrificing alignment or strategic intent. For organizations facing similar challenges, Onyx Coating’s experience highlights an important lesson: marketing performance improves when marketing is managed like a system, not a collection of tasks. Find out more about Onyx Coating at www.onyxcoating.com
