As an affiliate marketer, you probably have heard of and used such bidding models as Cost Per Click (CPC) and/or Cost Per Mille (CPM). These are tried and true pricing models for Push notifications and OnClick campaigns, respectively, which can generate a fortune when used correctly. However, when you have more than a single campaign, say 5, 10, or 15, setting up a fixed bid for every one of them can become burdensome.
With this in mind, we created the SmartCPC and SmartCPM models, marked by their convenience and flexibility. They automate your bidding process when launching and optimizing your campaigns. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg, and if you feel like learning more about smart models — you are in luck, as we want to share all the relevant details here.
Specifically, you will learn the main idea behind smart models, their key features, advantages, and applicability. SmartCPC and SmartCPM can ease your campaign creation and increase your ROI, and you are about to learn how exactly.
SmartCPC & SmartCPM vs. Traditional Models
Smart models are a natural evolution of bidding models in the age of digitalization:
Traditional models involve inputting a fixed bid in your dashboard, e.g., $0.1, and paying it each time the click (CPC) or impression (CPM) is made. Every campaign has a fixed, individual bid; once the bid amount does not reflect the market situation, you have to update it manually. As long as you are running just a single campaign, it shouldn’t be a problem.
More often than not, though, affiliates have multiple campaigns running simultaneously. For example, seasoned marketers distinguish between mobile and desktop campaigns, which effectively doubles the number of ongoing campaigns. Adjusting them all manually after researching the markets scrupulously is enough to break the patience of Job himself.
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Key Features of SmartCPC & SmartCPM
This is where SmartCPC & SmartCPM come into play. They are advanced bidding models that help optimize your bid amount in real time for better ad performance and budget economy. Let’s summarize their key features:
- Dynamic bidding. The SmartCPC & SmartCPM algorithm adjusts the bid amount for each zone, depending on its average bid and slider settings.
- Bidding strategy. The slider settings add extra flexibility to your bidding strategy. The top and bottom of the auction are two extremes, which should be used at your discretion. For starters, we suggest leaving the slider as is, i.e., on average.
- Max bidding. An optional feature, which serves as a fail-safe to your budget. The maximum bid is only your upper threshold, but the actual price will fluctuate and be lower as a rule, depending on the average auction price and your bidding strategy. To put it simply, your bid will always be within the value specified without exceeding it.
You can polish your strategy further, beyond just max bidding. By default, there are no limits on clicks or impressions per zone. However, you can opt for either normalized buying or click/impression capping instead. The former ensures traffic is purchased from every zone equally, which is good for Run On Network (RON) testing. The latter is an even stricter alternative, with a fixed cap on clicks/impressions.
So, let’s say your average bid for a GEO is $0.15. Assume you input $0.2 as your max bid. Once the auction is won, you’ll pay $0.15 despite inputting $0.2, as long as the slider is in the middle. You can change its position, so that you either try to win over more affordable spots or increase the number of available ad units to you. It all boils down to the size of your budget.
Finally, you have the option to input custom bidding for your favorite feeds or zones. Setting a custom bid will ensure that you are buying this particular zone or feed at a fixed CPC/CPM rate, which will not be adjusted by the algorithm.
Register on our platform and try out SmartCPC and SmartCPM now. They are highly intuitive, but you can also go to our help center and ask all your questions there if you need any clarifications.
Advantages and Specifics of SmartCPC & SmartCPM
Smart models are a direct upgrade to the traditional ones. They have virtually the same features as CPC and CPM but with some added bonuses:
- Auto-bidding. You don’t have to guess the optimal bid any longer, as it will be based on the current auction price.
- Advanced control. Since both smart models tend to fluctuate in their bid amount, you can control it by relocating the slider and specifying max bid.
- Cost-saving. The algorithm will adjust the actual price to make sure you are buying at a fair price set by a real auction within the network.
When using SmartCPC & SmartCPM, you require our algorithm to do the following:
- Look through your targeting options and calculate the average rate with these targets for each zone.
- Place the bid on each zone according to your strategy and the average rate on them.
As a result, you cut your costs on more affordable zones, save funds, and reuse them to access more expensive and competitive feeds and zones. This model is ideal for exploring a new GEO or trying out a unique vertical, as it helps to test all the sources evenly without any biases or skewing.
Use Cases of SmartCPC & SmartCPM
Both models are highly universal, yet there are two distinct cases, when they are somewhat a must-have:
- Run On Network (RON). When launching for a new GEO, trying out new approaches, or coming up with a new set of creatives, SmartCPC & SmartCPM begin to shine, saving you on costs and granting access to otherwise inaccessible feeds and zones. Once you test the waters, you can set sail for higher ROI by making whitelists and blacklists.
- Preset campaigns. Mix up our intelligence with cutting-edge bidding models for supreme results. Presets contain the optimal settings for a GEO, vertical, ad format, etc., based on the results of our internal tests. Use them, choose one of our smart models, and let your campaigns run automatically.
Whether you’re a fan of SmartCPC & SmartCPM or have yet to try them out, traffic presets are another feature of ours available to you no matter the bidding format. Access 200+ settings after signing up to RollerAds.
With SmartCPC & SmartCPM, you no longer have to input a fixed rate for every single click. Save money and time on launching new campaigns with our handy feature, and let us help you on your quest to profit.
Conclusion
SmartCPC and SmartCPM revolutionize bidding strategies for affiliate marketers. By leveraging AI, these models provide dynamic, real-time bid adjustments, ensuring optimal ad performance and budget efficiency. Traditional models are effective but can be cumbersome with multiple campaigns. SmartCPC and SmartCPM automate bidding, allowing you to focus on strategy and creativity.
With features like dynamic bidding, flexible strategies, max bidding options, and custom bidding capabilities, these smart models offer unparalleled control and efficiency. They help you explore new GEOs, test verticals, and optimize campaigns, maximizing ROI with minimal effort.
Embrace the future of affiliate marketing with SmartCPC and SmartCPM. Save time, reduce costs, and let RollerAds guide your path to profitability.
