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CPM (Cost Per Mille)

Cost per 1,000 impressions

What is CPM (Cost Per Mille)?

How much you pay for every 1,000 times your ad or content is shown. In Web3 marketing, CPMs are notoriously volatile, a well-targeted campaign in a bull market can hit $50+ CPM. Knowing your CPM vs your LTV is what separates spend from investment.

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In plain words

"Think of it like renting a billboard — you pay per thousand cars that pass."

How it works

CPM = Cost ÷ Impressions × 1,000

Key takeaways

  • Best metric for awareness-stage campaigns

  • Doesn't tell you if anyone took action

  • Seasonal spikes (Q4) can double or triple your CPM

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Real-world example

You spend $500 on a YouTube campaign that serves 250,000 impressions. Your CPM is $2.00. For awareness campaigns, anything under $5 CPM on YouTube is generally efficient.

Related terms

CTR (Click-Through Rate)

Percentage of people who click after seeing

ROAS (Return On Ad Spend)

Revenue generated per dollar spent on ads

LTV (Lifetime Value)

Total revenue a customer brings over time

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