5-Minute Ad Tip: What's the Difference Between Website Clicks and Clicks in CPC?

By SARAH BEST

One of the keys to comparing ad costs is understanding the difference in how different advertising platforms define clicks, which many people mistakenly understand as a click to your website.

Cost Per Click vs. Cost Per Link Click

There are two main ways that digital advertising platforms define a Cost Per Click, also known as a CPC for short.
 

1. Some platforms, like Google AdWords, Twitter, and LinkedIn define Cost Per Click as someone touching (think mobile phones) or interacting with any part of the ad regardless of whether or not they have clicked through to your website.
   
   
2. Other platforms, like Facebook and Instagram, offer both a traditional CPC, and a Link Click (cost per website click). A link click is defined as the number of clicks on ad links.

5-Minute Ad Tip

When you are comparing a CPC across platforms, make sure that you know which of these two metrics you are looking at. ​​

• What’s the Difference Between “Clicks (All)” and Link Clicks (Facebook)
• Twitter Ads Glossary
• Defining Cost Per Click (CPC) and Cost Per Impressions (CPM) (LinkedIn)
• Click: Definition (AdWords)

Sarah Best

Founder / Principal of Sarah Best Strategy, a boutique agency that makes social media work for you.  Award-wining social media strategy, social media advertising, content strategy & marketing consulting services. Follow us on Facebook, connect with me on Linkedin.