Paid Ads

Prospecting

Prospecting targets new audiences to acquire new customers. It typically has lower short-term ROAS but drives incremental growth.

Written by MetricKit EditorialReviewed by MetricKit Editorial ReviewUpdated 2026-01-23
How MetricKit maintains this page

Review the methodology behind the formulas, see how content is reviewed, and use the contact page for questions, feedback, or corrections.

Definition

Prospecting targets new audiences to acquire new customers. It typically has lower short-term ROAS but drives incremental growth.

How to use it

  • Judge prospecting with longer windows and cohort outcomes (LTV, retention), not just short-window ROAS.
  • Use creative testing to find message-market fit before scaling spend.

Measured as

Measure Prospecting with a fixed attribution window, conversion event, and spend basis before comparing campaigns or creative tests.

Operator takeaway

  • Judge prospecting with longer windows and cohort outcomes (LTV, retention), not just short-window ROAS.
  • Use creative testing to find message-market fit before scaling spend.
  • Use Prospecting only inside a stable attribution rule, conversion definition, and time window so campaign comparisons stay honest.
  • If performance changes, check whether the metric moved for a real business reason or because the measurement setup changed underneath you.

Next decision

  • Read Paid ads measurement hub: ROAS, MER, marginal ROAS, and incrementality if the decision depends on interpretation, policy, or trade-offs beyond the raw formula.
  • Decide which report owns Prospecting before comparing campaigns, channels, or creative tests.

Where to use this on MetricKit

Guides