Introduction:
The Frequency Cap is the setting that determines the maximum number of instances a single user will be served the same Campaign or Creative within a defined timeframe. The cap will be based on the Impression for Display and Lightbox ad units, and on the Click for Push and Texlink ads units.
If the Frequency Cap is set on the Campaign level, it will apply to all Creatives within that Campaign. If the Campaign's Frequency Cap is set to 1/24 hours, once one Creative is served to a user, that same user cannot be served any other Creatives from that Campaign for 24 hours.
If the Frequency Cap is set on the Creative level, it will only apply to that specific Creative. If the Creative's Frequency Cap is set to 1/24 hours, once it is served to a user, the Creative cannot be served to the same user for at least 24 hours. However, other Creatives within the same Account and Campaign can be served to that user.
If you are running the same offer with multiple Creatives and only utilizing Creative-level Frequency Caps, a single user can receive multiple impressions of that offer in a given timeframe. For example, if your offer has three Creatives each with a 1/24 hours frequency cap, a user can receive all three impressions of that Creatives in 24 hours.
Please Note: OddBytes' Frequency Cap settings are based on a unique "user" level, not an IP level. This may mean you could see multiple impressions tied to one IP, but that is because there could be several users using the same IP. An example of this could be an apartment complex or other public space.
How to View a Campaign's Frequency Cap:
While logged into your account, navigate to the Manage Campaigns tab under Campaigns on the left side navigation.
Click on the pencil icon next to the Campaign which you want to view the cap.
The 'Edit Campaign' overlay will appear.
Note: The default Campaign Frequency Cap is Unlimited, which is represented by "0 impressions/clicks".
How to Edit a Campaign's Frequency Cap:
While on the same Edit Campaign overlay, you can adjust the settings for:
Number of impressions and/or clicks overall that the Campaign can be served to a unique user during the timeframe (timeframe to be specified in following fields)
Numerical value to determine the numbers of Hours/Day/Week/Month the served impression or click is to be spaced
Once the field(s) are edited with the new setting(s), click 'Save & Close'.
You can also edit multiple Campaigns at once by selecting the Campaign(s) and selecting 'Change Frequency Cap' under the 'Edit' drop down menu.
Notes:
An Impression cap applies to all ad units, while the Click cap only applies to the Push Ad and Textlink ad units.
It is not required to set a frequency cap on both Impressions and Clicks.
Creative-level frequency caps are still in effect when any Campaign-level frequency cap is set to Unlimited.
Examples:
Both Frequency Caps are Unlimited: There is no cap on the Campaign level. The Creative-level frequency cap will be the only cap in place.
1/1 Impression per Day/Unlimited Clicks: A user will receive a maximum of one impression per day from the Campaign.
If all Creatives are Push Ads, the cap is still set to one impression and the cap will be reached once a Push Ad is served to a user.
Unlimited Impressions/1 Click per Day: A user will receive an unlimited number of impressions, but a maximum of one click per day. Once a user clicks on a Push Ad or Textlink, the cap will be reached.
If neither Push or Textlink is active in the campaign, the click frequency cap is not applicable.
5 Impressions per day/3 Clicks per day: A user will receive a maximum of five impressions per day and a maximum of three clicks per day. If a user reaches the three clicks cap but has not yet been served five impressions, the cap still has been reached and no other Creatives will be served for that day.
How to View a Creative's Frequency Cap:
While logged into your account, navigate to the Manage Creatives Tab under Campaigns on the left side navigation.
Click on the pencil icon next to the Creative which you want to view the cap.
The 'Edit Creative' overlay will appear. Depending on the ad unit, it will refer to "impression" or "click".
How to Edit a Creative's Frequency Cap:
While on the same Edit Creative overlay, you can adjust the settings for:
Number of instances overall that the Creative can be served to a unique user during the timeframe (timeframe to be specified in following fields)
Numerical value to determine the numbers of Hours, Days, Weeks or Months set in the following field
Coordinating with the previous field's numerical value to determine if the Creative is spaced out by Hours, Days, Weeks or Months
Numerical value to set the Recency of serving the Creative within the defined timeframe
Once the field(s) are edited with the new setting(s), click 'Save & Close'.
You can also edit multiple Creatives at once by selecting the Creatives(s) and selecting 'Change Frequency Cap' under the 'Edit' drop down menu.
Please note: The maximum number of Impressions or Clicks that can be entered in field #1 is 100.
What is Recency?
Recency represents the minimum period of time (spacer) that must elapse between a Creative's serving to the same user. The usage of Recency is applicable when the number of Impressions or Clicks is 2+ within the defined timeframe.
Default value for recency is 30 minutes
Minimum value is 1 minute
Maximum period is 1 day
Time setting required by recency will be used regardless of the frequency cap setting.
Examples:
1/24 Hours with a recency of 30 minutes: Your creative will only serve to a user once every 24 hours
3/24 hours with a recency of 30 minutes: Your creative can serve to a user three times within 24 hours
With the recency of 30 minutes, all three impressions could potentially serve within 180 minutes. Once the 24 hours expires, the counting will reset to begin serving the three impressions.
3/8 hours with a recency of 30 minutes: Your creative can serve to a user three times within eight hours
With the recency of 30 minutes, all three impressions could potentially serve within 180 minutes. Once the eight hours expires, the counting will reset to begin serving the three impressions. A user can then potentially receive your creative nine times within 24 hours due to the eight hour limit.