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

GlossaryMeasurement & AttributionReturn on Investment (ROI)

Measurement & Attribution

Return on Investment (ROI)

Profit generated relative to the total cost of an investment.

By Brandon MinaCEO, BrandPilot AIUpdated November 2026

Short answer

Return on investment (ROI) is the profit generated relative to the total cost of an investment, usually expressed as a percentage: net profit divided by cost. In marketing, it shows whether a campaign or program earned more than it cost once all expenses are counted, making it broader than ad-only metrics like ROAS.