Cost-per-click (CPC)
CPC, or cost-per-click, is a way advertisers pay for online ads, only when someone actually clicks on them. Imagine paying for billboard space but only getting billed when someone stops their car, looks at the poster, and walks into your shop. That’s the idea behind CPC. It’s not about how many people see your ad but how many people actively engage with it.
CPC is one of the most common pricing models in digital advertising, especially in platforms like Google Ads, LinkedIn, and Meta. Instead of paying a flat fee to show your ad to 10,000 people (called CPM, or cost per mille), you only pay when someone clicks. This makes it appealing for marketers who want to drive action, like website visits, signups, or sales, without spending money on passive views.