Glossary

Cost-Per-Acquisition (CPA)

What is Cost-Per-Acquisition (CPA)? 

Cost-Per-Acquisition (CPA) is a key metric in digital marketing that measures the total cost of acquiring a new customer or lead. It represents the amount of money a business spends to get a customer to take a specific action, such as making a purchase, signing up for a newsletter, or filling out a contact form. Understanding your CPA is crucial for determining the efficiency of your marketing campaigns. A lower CPA means you're spending less to gain new customers, which typically indicates that your marketing efforts are effective. Conversely, a high CPA can suggest that you need to optimize your campaigns or rethink your strategy.

How It's Calculated:

To calculate CPA, you divide the total cost of your marketing campaign by the number of conversions (or actions) it generated. The formula is:

CPA= Total Campaign Cost​ / Number of Conversions

For example, if you spent $1,000 on a campaign and gained 50 new customers, your CPA would be $20.

The Bottom Line

Cost-Per-Acquisition is a vital metric for any e-commerce business looking to grow efficiently. By keeping track of and optimizing your CPA, you ensure that your marketing budget is being spent wisely, helping your business thrive.