Advertising Frequency
Advertising frequency refers to how often or how many times an advertisement is seen or heard by its intended audience. Advertisers need to find the balance between frequency and reach when placing ads. When an advertisement is seen or heard too often, it can create a sense of annoyance, turning off potential customers and causing them to tune out the advertisement. But too few impressions may not create any resonance or recognition among consumers. It takes a certain number of exposures to an advertisement before consumers will begin to recognize the brand, recall its message and ultimately, take an action such as purchase.
The frequency of an advertisement is determined by the selection of the medium. Broadcast channels - TV or radio – usually take longer to achieve frequency than other, more granular channels. Outdoor advertising – billboards, transit shelters – are designed for long-term campaigns, although frequency still matters. And traditional print ads don’t offer the same levels of frequency as digital, programmatic ad platforms that are designed for granular targeting.
But advertising campaigns are also about keeping up with trends. Certain platforms and messaging need to be revisited, re-targeted and refreshed. This often means advertising more frequently or striving for higher frequencies, as the advertisement needs to reach the same audience multiple times and increase its relevance to the specific people being targeted.
Achieving the right amount of frequency is a challenging task. Many elements have to be weighed up and re-evaluated. But the right amount is based on sure understanding of the target audience and what results are desired to be obtained. Advertising fees will dictate the number of times an advertisement can appear, but without careful consideration of the frequency and reach, it might ultimately be wasteful.
Having the right balance of frequency is essential to the success of any advertising campaign. Too much frequency can result in negative reactions, but not enough can also generate poor results. Finding the right frequency for an ad campaign is the secret to success.