CPC (Cost per Click)
CPC (cost per click) is the average amount you pay each time someone clicks your ad — ad spend divided by clicks.
Formula
CPC = Ad spend ÷ Clicks
CPC ties spend directly to engagement. Spend $500 for 250 clicks and your CPC is $2. It's the core metric for traffic and performance campaigns where the click is the first step toward a conversion.
CPC is driven by competition, targeting, and ad relevance (a higher click-through rate usually lowers your CPC because platforms reward relevant ads). To connect it to revenue, combine CPC with your conversion rate and average order value.