# Define metrics and winning direction

Create meaningful measurement definitions and map provider metrics.

A metric is an outcome your team tracks, such as completed orders or revenue. Create reusable metrics before linking them to ideas and experiments.

## Add a metric

1. Select the project and open **Settings → Project → Metrics**.
2. Choose **New metric** and enter its name and description.
3. Select the metric type and winning direction.
4. Save, then link it to the appropriate idea or experiment.

Winning direction records whether a higher or lower value is preferable. A metric's definition matters: a rate, count, and monetary value are different measurements. Use the type that matches the underlying provider data.

![Acorn Store metric definitions showing checkout completion and revenue per visitor with increasing winning direction, and checkout abandonment with decreasing winning direction.](https://conversionlab.app/docs/images/workflows/metrics.webp)

## Import and map metrics

Use the metric import action when a connected provider supports discovery. Review the external metric you select instead of relying only on similar names. A linked indicator identifies a metric connected to a provider.

For experiment reporting, the primary metric and every provider variation must be mapped correctly. The current fixed-horizon statistical report supports rate-per-user primary metrics. Other metric definitions can be stored, but do not assume every type has statistical analysis support.

## Change a definition deliberately

Editing a name or description helps explain the existing measurement. Changing its type, winning direction, or provider mapping changes how teammates understand it. Review connected experiments and their result status after such a change.

If results show **Primary metric is not supported yet** or **Result mapping is incomplete**, follow [result troubleshooting](https://conversionlab.app/docs/troubleshooting/results).