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

GlossaryBrand & Performance MarketingPerformance Marketing

Brand & Performance Marketing

Performance Marketing

Marketing paid for and optimized against measurable actions such as clicks and sales.

By Brandon MinaCEO, BrandPilot AIUpdated November 2026

Short answer

Performance marketing is marketing paid for and optimized against measurable actions, such as clicks, leads, installs, or sales. Campaigns are tracked closely and budgets shift toward what delivers the best return. It is accountable and data-driven, though over-reliance can neglect brand building that drives longer-term demand.