Micro-conversion vs final-conversion as your test metric

Micro-conversion vs final-conversion as your test metric
Tested a new hero CTA. Day 7: clicks on the button +22%. I almost popped champagne.
Then checked purchases. Flat. The variant juiced clicks, not buyers. I'd optimized a vanity metric.
The tradeoff in picking your primary metric:
— Micro (clicks, add-to-cart): fast signal, lower traffic needed to reach significance, but can lie about real value.
— Macro (purchase, signup, LTV): truth, but slow, traffic-hungry, noisy.
My fix: I now set macro as primary, micro as a guardrail. If clicks jump but revenue doesn't, the variant is a trap, not a win.
Go check your last 'winning' test. Did the money move, or just the clicks? Report back.