Cost Per Click (CPC)

Lana Pavlova
4 min to read

Cost Per Click (CPC) is an affiliate marketing pricing model. This model is used in online advertising where affiliates promote products or services and earn a commission for every click they generate through their promotions.

What is CPC: Meaning

CPC is cost per 1 click made by users that click on an ad. It helps you get an idea of how many clicks you might get with your budget.

The formula for CPC is:

This pricing model can be viewed from two sides:

  • Advertisers;
  • Affiliate marketers.

Benefits of CPC for Advertisers

We can highlight the following advantages for merchants:

  • Cost Efficient:

Advertisers only pay affiliates when someone clicks on their ad. So their budget goes towards actual engagement not just impressions.

  • Measurable Results:

With CPC they can see how many clicks an ad gets. Helps advertisers make data driven decisions.

  • Flexibility:

Advertisers can adjust bids and budgets on the fly to respond to market changes and optimize for better results.

Benefits of CPC for Affiliates

The CPC model has many benefits for affiliate marketers, too:

  • Simple Calculations:

CPC model is one of the simplest ways to figure out costs and earnings. It’s easy to see how much each click costs, making it straightforward to understand the financial side of things.

  • High Earning Potential:

Users who click on the ad are often interested in what affiliates are promoting. Even if they don’t make a purchase right away, you can still reach out to them later. Remarketing can be a great way to bring them back and encourage a conversion down the line.

CPC Rates

CPC is affected by:

  1. Niche: More valuable offers cost more. For example, a Dating offer might be $1 per click and a Finance one — $5 per click;
  2. GEO: Customer values vary by market. Tier 1 developed countries with higher disposable income are more valuable than Tier 3 countries with lower income;
  3. Competition: Highly competitive niches like Finance or Gambling have higher rates due to more demand;
  4. Seasonality: Certain times of the year like holidays can have higher CPC rates. Advertisers will pay more during these peak times to get more customers.

Affiliates should consider these points when planning their campaigns and choosing offers. Knowing the niche, target audience and market trends will help affiliates make better decisions and optimize their CPC campaigns.

CPC Campaigns on Push Ads

CPC pricing model is usually used on push ad campaigns. Push advertising is a way of delivering ads straight to users’ devices through their web browsers. These ads look like regular system notifications so they blend in with what users are used to. As a result they feel less like an interruption and more like part of the experience.

Pros and Cons of Push Ads

Push ads have become a popular option in digital marketing and it’s easy to see why. They’re accessible, encourage immediate action and often have high CTR.

Advantages of Push Advertising:

  • High Visibility: Push notifications appear right on users’ mobile and desktop screens where they see messages from apps. So they can’t be missed and users engage with them in real-time;
  • Less Competition: Because these notifications pop up outside the main content area they don’t compete with as many distractions as banners or native ads which often get overlooked;
  • Low Cost: Push advertising is one of the more budget friendly options out there especially when compared to contextual or social media ads. The CPC for push ads is usually lower so it’s a great option for small and medium sized businesses. For example on the ROIads network the CPC can start at just $0.003;
  • Availability: Push notifications work on both mobile and desktop so advertisers can reach a variety of audience segments;
  • Easy GEO Targeting: Many push ad networks offer detailed geo targeting options so you can run global campaigns. 

Disadvantages of Push Notifications Advertising:

  • User Irritation: If users receive too many push notifications it can become annoying and they will unsubscribe or block notifications altogether. You need to manage how often you send them out;
  • Short Text Limitations: Push notifications have limited space for text so you need to be clear and creative with your messaging and calls to action. However desktop push ads do allow for a bit more text alongside the main image;
  • Ad Blockers: Some users may block push ads or disable notifications through their browser or device settings. So you may miss out on reaching certain audience segments especially those who frequently use ad blockers.

Overall while push ads offer some great advantages you need to be mindful of the drawbacks to make the most of this advertising format.

Best Geos & Verticals for Push Ads

Knowing which countries and verticals perform best can help you to create successful campaigns that align with seasonal trends and market specifics. Let’s have a look at the ROIads ad network statistics:

Mobile Traffic: Top Geos and Verticals

In Autumn 2024 the top performing countries for mobile push ads are Bangladesh, Brazil, Japan, Kazakhstan, USA, and Poland. In these regions users are interested in verticals like Gambling and Betting, Finance, Dating, Antivirus, and Sweepstakes.

GeoImpressions per dayAverage CPC
USA81176235$0.127
Bangladesh64776042$0.051
Brazil62950695$0.034
Japan42744670$0.179
Kazakhstan51582969$0.129
Poland19758917$0.130

Desktop Traffic: Top Geos and Verticals

While mobile traffic dominates, desktop campaigns can also be very effective — especially in high-income countries like the USA, Canada, Germany, Brazil, Indonesia, and Australia. Here, users are eager to engage with offers related to Gambling, Betting, Dating, Antivirus, Finance, and Sweepstakes.

GeoImpressions per dayAverage CPC
USA29505355$0.098
Germany4291977$0.118
Canada3505538$0.199
Brazil2053096$0.017
Indonesia1090114$0.021
Australia513214$0.136

By focusing on these markets and verticals you will be more successful.

ROIads at a Glance

One of the biggest advantages of ROIads is our AI bidding technology. This smart system optimizes your campaigns by analyzing how different ad sources perform so you don’t have to constantly adjust your settings. Plus we have advanced targeting and analytics tools to segment your audience precisely so you can stay competitive in the betting market.

  • Huge Reach: 900 billion impressions per month;
  • Global Coverage: Active in over 220 countries worldwide;
  • Ad Formats: We support push and pop ads;
  • Feature Rich: Easy campaign setup, detailed analytics, robust fraud protection and AI bidding technology.

With ROIads you have everything you need to run your campaigns!

Back to Glossary