ROAS
What is ROAS (Return on Ad Spend)?
ROAS (Return on Ad Spend) is a marketing metric that measures the revenue generated for every dollar spent on advertising. It helps businesses evaluate the effectiveness and profitability of their advertising campaigns.
Synonyms: Ad ROI, Advertising Return, Marketing ROI, Ad Effectiveness

How ROAS is Calculated
ROAS is calculated by dividing the revenue generated from advertising by the cost of the advertising. The formula is:
ROAS = Revenue from Ad Campaign / Cost of Ad Campaign
For example, if you spend $1,000 on ads and generate $5,000 in revenue, your ROAS would be 5:1 or 500%.
Why ROAS is Important for Growth Hackers
ROAS is a crucial metric for growth hackers because it:
- Measures advertising efficiency
- Helps optimize marketing budgets
- Guides decision-making for campaign scaling
- Allows comparison between different marketing channels
By focusing on ROAS, growth hackers can identify which campaigns are most effective and allocate resources accordingly to maximize growth.
How to Improve Your ROAS
To boost your ROAS and drive growth, consider these strategies:
- Refine audience targeting
- Optimize ad creatives and copy
- Improve landing page conversion rates
- Test different ad platforms and formats
- Implement retargeting campaigns
Continuously testing and iterating on these elements can lead to significant improvements in your ROAS over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What's a good ROAS?: A good ROAS depends on your industry and business model, but generally, a 4:1 ratio (400%) or higher is considered strong.
- How is ROAS different from ROI?: ROAS focuses specifically on ad spend, while ROI (Return on Investment) considers all costs associated with a campaign or business activity.
- Can ROAS be negative?: ROAS is typically expressed as a ratio or percentage, so it's not negative. However, a ROAS below 100% means you're losing money on your ad spend.
- How often should I calculate ROAS?: For most businesses, calculating ROAS weekly or monthly is sufficient, but high-volume advertisers might benefit from daily calculations.