CPM explained: what ₹20.5 per 1,000 views actually means.
CPM is the single most abused number in link monetization marketing. Learn how it is measured and never get fooled by a headline rate again.
What CPM actually measures
CPM means cost per mille - what the network pays per 1,000 monetized events. In link sharing the event is a verified unique visit to your page, usually deduplicated per IP in a 24-hour window. If a network advertises ₹22 CPM but counts only 60% of your traffic as "verified", your effective rate is closer to ₹13.
The tiered-rate trick
Many long-running offerwalls headline a high CPM that only applies to your first tier (often the first 1,000 views per day). Volume beyond that slides to ₹12-15, sometimes lower for Indian traffic specifically. A channel doing 50,000 unique views a day can see real revenue 30-40% below the advertised rate.
- Always ask: is this rate flat or tiered?
- Ask what fraction of views are counted as verified
- Ask if Indian traffic is paid at the same rate as global
Why LinkShare leads with a flat guarantee
₹20.5 per 1,000 applies to every verified view you send, on every playlist, with no volume tiers and no traffic-vs-traffic price games - and the rate is locked for your first 12 months. The withdraw threshold is ₹850, sent directly to your UPI without currency conversion.
Run this comparison before you switch
- Track one week of true unique impressions per network
- Divide actual payout by impressions for the effective CPM
- Weigh payment method and delay - weekly crypto transfers lose value to spreads
- Factor viewer friction: captchas cost you returning visitors
Flat beats tiered. Every time. Do the math.
Use the free earnings calculator to model your channel at a guaranteed ₹20.5 CPM.
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