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

GlossaryMeasurement & AttributionDiminishing Returns

Measurement & Attribution

Diminishing Returns

The point where each additional dollar spent on a channel delivers less incremental result than the dollar before it.

By Brandon MinaCEO, BrandPilot AIUpdated November 2026

Short answer

Diminishing returns is the point at which each additional dollar spent on a marketing channel delivers less incremental result than the dollar before it. As spend increases, audiences become saturated and efficiency declines. Marketing mix models capture this with response curves, helping marketers find spend levels where returns remain worthwhile.