Browse Definitions :
Definition

cost per impression

TechTarget Contributor
By

Cost per impression (CPI) is a business efficiency measure common to advertising in paper and web-based media. Cost per mille (thousand) impressions, commonly abbreviated CPM, is a related term by those who deal with many ads in printed or web advertising.

CPI can refer to cost per printed advertisement or to cost of the advertisement displayed per user on a website. In either case, CPI does not guarantee that a customer views the advertisement, but merely that it is displayed. CPI focuses on the cost per potential view.

CPI is the number of impressions divided by the cost per impression. In print, an impression is an ad printed, like in a magazine or newspaper. In web advertising, an impression is a potential view per ad successfully delivered to a browser. A single webpage might create multiple impressions for an advertiser by having multiple ads. Cost per impression, cost per click and cost per order are all part of estimating the overall profitability of online advertising.

The CPI for print advertisements can be counted on per ad in every magazine sold. Ad blockers and IP address blacklists are challenges for web advertising. However, CPI is not counted when web ads are not delivered to a webpage.

See also: ad fraud, programmatic advertising

This was last updated in March 2018

Continue Reading About cost per impression

SearchNetworking
  • network packet

    A network packet is a basic unit of data that's grouped together and transferred over a computer network, typically a ...

  • virtual network functions (VNFs)

    Virtual network functions (VNFs) are virtualized tasks formerly carried out by proprietary, dedicated hardware.

  • network functions virtualization (NFV)

    Network functions virtualization (NFV) is a network architecture model designed to virtualize network services that have ...

SearchSecurity
  • data breach

    A data breach is a cyber attack in which sensitive, confidential or otherwise protected data has been accessed or disclosed in an...

  • insider threat

    An insider threat is a category of risk posed by those who have access to an organization's physical or digital assets.

  • data compliance

    Data compliance is a process that identifies the applicable governance for data protection, security, storage and other ...

SearchCIO
  • data privacy (information privacy)

    Data privacy, also called information privacy, is an aspect of data protection that addresses the proper storage, access, ...

  • leadership skills

    Leadership skills are the strengths and abilities individuals demonstrate that help to oversee processes, guide initiatives and ...

  • data governance policy

    A data governance policy is a documented set of guidelines for ensuring that an organization's data and information assets are ...

SearchHRSoftware
SearchCustomerExperience
  • recommerce

    Recommerce is the selling of previously owned items through online marketplaces to buyers who reuse, recycle or resell them.

  • implementation

    Implementation is the execution or practice of a plan, a method or any design, idea, model, specification, standard or policy for...

  • first call resolution (FCR)

    First call resolution (FCR) is when customer service agents properly address a customer's needs the first time they call.

Close