CPM definition
CPM stands for "cost per mille." Mille is Latin for thousand. In advertising and marketing, CPM is the price you pay for 1,000 views (or impressions) of your content or ad.
The formula is simple: Cost = (views / 1,000) x CPM rate
CPM examples
If you are running a campaign at $5 CPM:
- 1,000 views costs you $5
- 10,000 views costs you $50
- 100,000 views costs you $500
From the creator side, those same numbers are their earnings.
Why CPM instead of paying per post?
Paying a flat fee per post is a gamble. You might pay $200 for a post that gets 500 views, or one that gets 500,000. CPM aligns incentives: creators earn more when they make content that actually performs, and advertisers only pay for real reach.
Typical CPM rates
CPM rates vary wildly depending on the platform, niche, and type of content:
- TikTok creator content - $1 to $10 CPM is common for app promotion
- YouTube - $3 to $15 CPM depending on audience and niche
- Instagram Reels - $2 to $10 CPM
- Traditional display ads - $1 to $5 CPM (but much lower engagement)
Creator content typically delivers higher engagement per view than traditional ads because it feels organic and authentic.
Setting the right CPM rate
If you are an app creator setting a CPM for a campaign, consider:
- Too low - Fewer creators will pick up your campaign. Below $1 CPM is generally not attractive enough.
- Competitive - $3-5 CPM attracts a good range of creators on most platforms.
- Premium - $8-15+ CPM for niche apps or when you want higher-quality, more targeted content.
On ViewBounty, you can browse active campaigns to see what other app creators are offering.