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The Madison Avenue Field GuideA field guide to marketing & advertising, by Brandon Mina

GlossaryMeasurement & AttributionBaseline Sales (Base Sales)

Measurement & Attribution

Baseline Sales (Base Sales)

The sales a brand would generate without current marketing activity, driven by brand equity, seasonality, distribution and pricing, as estimated in MMM.

By Brandon MinaCEO, BrandPilot AIUpdated November 2026

Short answer

Baseline sales, or base sales, are the sales a brand would be expected to generate without its current marketing activity, as estimated in marketing mix modeling. They are driven by factors such as brand equity, seasonality, distribution, and pricing. Sales above the baseline are attributed to incremental drivers like advertising and promotions.