The price of one thousand ad impressions. CPM is the base unit of most display, video, social, and connected TV buying, and the number every other unit price can be converted back into. A $12 CPM means the advertiser pays $12 for every 1,000 times the ad is served, whether or not anyone looks at it, clicks it, or buys anything. Compare vCPM, which charges only for viewable impressions, and CPC, which charges per click.
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Cite this entry:
Agency Echelon. "CPM." Agency Echelon Reference, reviewed September 2026. https://agencyechelon.com/reference/glossary/cpm/