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What is Brand Lift?

Brand lift measures changes in awareness, recall, or consideration after ad exposure. Learn how to run and read brand lift.
Brief Definition

Brand lift measures the change in brand metrics (awareness, recall, consideration) caused by your ads. It’s usually measured with control vs. exposed groups.

Understanding Brand Lift

Brand lift ties top‑of‑funnel activity to measurable changes in awareness, recall, or consideration. It helps validate whether creative is moving perception even when last‑click sales don’t show it. Catalog ads can drive lift by showing real products people want, increasing relevance and recall. Distinctive branding and clear value props make effects easier to detect. Adequate reach and frequency are prerequisites for meaningful shifts.

Because surveys and modeled outcomes carry noise, triangulation improves confidence. Pair brand lift with engagement, search lift, and site behavior to see a fuller picture. Keep creatives meaningfully different so results attribute to actual differences, not noise. Match segments and regions between test and control to reduce bias. Document methodology so stakeholders trust and repeat the approach.

Why Brand Lift matters

Brand lift matters because it proves impact beyond last‑click sales. It guides creative by revealing which messages move perception for real audiences. It also helps balance performance spend with long‑term brand building.

  • Justification: Proves impact beyond last-click sales.
  • Guidance: Reveals which creative/messages move perception.
  • Planning: Helps balance performance and awareness.

How Brand Lift works

Brand lift works by splitting audiences into exposed and control groups and then surveying or modeling differences in brand metrics. Vendors or platforms measure recall, awareness, or consideration after sufficient exposure. Clean segmentation and adequate frequency ensure effects are detectable. Creative must be distinct and on‑brand to produce measurable change. Reporting should include confidence intervals and effect sizes, not just point estimates. Follow‑up tests confirm durability and inform the next round of creative.

Meta Information

  • Primary Keyword: Brand Lift
  • Secondary Keywords: brand awareness lift, recall lift, consideration lift
  • Target Word Count: 800–1,000 words
  • Meta Title: What is Brand Lift? Proving Advertising Impact | Marpipe
  • Meta Description: Brand lift measures changes in awareness, recall, or consideration after ad exposure. Learn how to run and read brand lift.
  • URL: marpipe.com/ad-glossary/brand-lift

# What is Brand Lift?

Brand lift measures the change in brand metrics (awareness, recall, consideration) caused by your ads. It’s usually measured with control vs. exposed groups.

Understanding Brand Lift

Brand lift ties top‑of‑funnel activity to measurable changes in awareness, recall, or consideration. It helps validate whether creative is moving perception even when last‑click sales don’t show it. Catalog ads can drive lift by showing real products people want, increasing relevance and recall. Distinctive branding and clear value props make effects easier to detect. Adequate reach and frequency are prerequisites for meaningful shifts.

Because surveys and modeled outcomes carry noise, triangulation improves confidence. Pair brand lift with engagement, search lift, and site behavior to see a fuller picture. Keep creatives meaningfully different so results attribute to actual differences, not noise. Match segments and regions between test and control to reduce bias. Document methodology so stakeholders trust and repeat the approach.

Why Brand Lift matters

Brand lift matters because it proves impact beyond last‑click sales. It guides creative by revealing which messages move perception for real audiences. It also helps balance performance spend with long‑term brand building.

  • Justification: Proves impact beyond last-click sales.
  • Guidance: Reveals which creative/messages move perception.
  • Planning: Helps balance performance and awareness.

How Brand Lift works

Brand lift works by splitting audiences into exposed and control groups and then surveying or modeling differences in brand metrics. Vendors or platforms measure recall, awareness, or consideration after sufficient exposure. Clean segmentation and adequate frequency ensure effects are detectable. Creative must be distinct and on‑brand to produce measurable change. Reporting should include confidence intervals and effect sizes, not just point estimates. Follow‑up tests confirm durability and inform the next round of creative.

Best practices

  1. Keep creative distinct so differences show up in results.
  2. Ensure enough reach/frequency to detect effects.
  3. Pair with engagement/search lift for triangulation.

Key Takeaways

  • Brand lift measures changes in awareness, consideration, or perception caused by your ads.
  • Use platform brand lift studies or custom surveys to measure impact beyond direct response.
  • Strong creative clarity, product focus, and consistent messaging improve brand recall.
  • Pair brand lift studies with performance metrics to understand full campaign impact.
Related Terms
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FAQs
How big should my brand lift score be?
Brand lift size varies by industry; focus on significant, repeatable gains between variants rather than absolute benchmarks.
Can performance ads drive brand lift?
Yes—performance ads can drive brand lift, especially when creative is clear, distinctive, and product-forward with strong branding.
How long does a brand lift study take?
Brand lift studies typically take 2-4 weeks to gather sufficient exposure and survey responses for statistically significant results.
What sample size do I need for brand lift?
Brand lift studies need thousands of impressions per cell (exposed and control) to detect meaningful differences; check platform minimums.
How much does a brand lift study cost?
Brand lift study costs vary by platform—many social platforms offer free studies; third-party studies can range from $10k-$50k+.