Ad Frequency

strategy

Ad Frequency

Definition

The average number of times each person in your audience has seen your ad. Key indicator of potential creative fatigue.

How to Calculate Ad Frequency

Impressions ÷ Reach

Example

Scenario: 100,000 impressions delivered to 25,000 unique people

Calculation: 100,000 ÷ 25,000 = 4.0 frequency

What's a Good Ad Frequency?

1.5-3.5 for prospecting, 3.0-8.0 for retargeting campaigns

Common Mistakes

  • Letting frequency get too high without creative refresh
  • Not monitoring frequency across different audience segments

💡 Expert Tip

Monitor frequency daily. When prospecting frequency hits 3.0+, expand audience or refresh creative to maintain performance.

— Based on $100M+ in managed ad spend

Related Terms

By Kristijan Arapov • Based on $100M+ in managed ad spend • Updated 2026

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