CPA (Cost Per Acquisition) is a key metric in growth hacking that measures the total cost of acquiring a new customer or user. It's calculated by dividing the total marketing and sales costs by the number of new customers acquired during a specific period.
Synonyms: Cost Per Acquisition, Customer Acquisition Cost, CAC, Cost Per Action
CPA is crucial in growth hacking because it directly impacts a company's profitability and scalability. By understanding and optimizing CPA, growth hackers can:
To calculate CPA, use this formula:
CPA = Total Marketing and Sales Costs / Number of New Customers Acquired
Growth hackers use CPA to:
Social Media Advertising: A company spends $1000 on Facebook ads and acquires 50 new customers. CPA = $1000 / 50 = $20 per customer.
Content Marketing: A blog post costs $500 to produce and generates 25 new customers over time. CPA = $500 / 25 = $20 per customer.
Referral Program: A startup spends $5000 on a referral program that brings in 500 new users. CPA = $5000 / 500 = $10 per user.