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Paid Advertising

What Does CPC Mean?

CPC stands for Cost Per Click—the amount an advertiser pays for an individual click or the average cost across multiple clicks.

CPC Meaning in Plain English

Average CPC is calculated as total click cost divided by total clicks. Actual click prices can vary based on auctions, targeting, bids, competition, and relevance.

CPC describes traffic cost, not customer value. A more expensive click from a qualified prospect can be more useful than many inexpensive but irrelevant visits.

Example

If advertising costs $200 and produces 50 clicks, the average CPC is $4.

Why It Matters

CPC helps manage bids and traffic costs, especially when evaluated alongside conversion rate, CPA, and business value.

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