If you’ve been monetizing your YouTube channel, you’ve probably heard about CPM (Cost Per Mille)—the amount advertisers pay for every 1,000 ad views on your videos. Many YouTubers wonder why their CPM is low while others seem to earn more for fewer views. The truth is, not all views are equal!
In this article, we’ll break down:
✅ What CPM really is and how it works.
✅ Why some YouTubers earn more per 1,000 views.
✅ Proven strategies to increase your CPM and earn more.
Let’s dive in! 🚀
1. What is YouTube CPM?
CPM (Cost Per Mille) is the amount advertisers pay for every 1,000 ad impressions on your YouTube videos. This means if your CPM is ₹200, advertisers are willing to pay ₹200 for 1,000 ad views.
But here’s the catch: You don’t get the full CPM amount! YouTube takes a 45% cut, and you receive what’s known as RPM (Revenue Per Mille)—your actual earnings per 1,000 views.
💡 Formula:
👉 CPM = Total ad revenue ÷ Total ad impressions × 1,000
👉 RPM = (Total earnings ÷ Total views) × 1,000
For example, if your CPM is ₹300, YouTube keeps 45%, and you get ₹165 per 1,000 monetized views.
🚨 Important: Not every view has an ad, and some viewers skip ads, affecting your earnings!
2. Why Do Some YouTubers Earn More CPM Than Others?
CPM varies based on your content, audience, and location. Here’s why:
1️⃣ Niche Matters: High CPM vs. Low CPM Niches
Not all video topics make the same money. Advertisers pay more for niches where people spend money.
✅ High CPM Niches (₹500 – ₹2,000)
- Finance & Investing 💰
- Business & Entrepreneurship 📊
- Real Estate & Property 🏡
- Insurance & Loans 📑
- Tech & Gadgets 📱
❌ Low CPM Niches (₹50 – ₹300)
- Vlogs & Entertainment 🎥
- Comedy & Memes 😂
- Gaming 🎮
- Music & Dance 🎵
- Kids’ Content 🧸
💡 Example:
Ravi and Arjun both run YouTube channels. Ravi makes videos about personal finance and stock investing, while Arjun uploads funny meme compilations. Ravi’s CPM is ₹900, while Arjun’s is only ₹150. Why? Advertisers like banks, loan companies, and fintech startups want to reach Ravi’s audience because they are interested in money-related topics. Meanwhile, Arjun’s audience mainly watches for entertainment, so advertisers pay less for his ad space.
🚀 Lesson: If your niche has low CPM, consider shifting to a profitable sub-niche!
2️⃣ Audience Location: Where Your Viewers Live
Advertisers pay more for viewers in wealthy countries because people there spend more.
📌 High CPM Countries (₹500 – ₹3,000)
🇺🇸 USA
🇬🇧 UK
🇦🇺 Australia
🇨🇦 Canada
📌 Low CPM Countries (₹50 – ₹200)
🇮🇳 India
🇧🇷 Brazil
🇮🇩 Indonesia
🇵🇰 Pakistan
💡 Example:
Priya and Sam both have 100,000 views on their YouTube videos. Priya’s audience is mostly from India, while Sam’s audience is from the USA and UK. Priya earns ₹5,000, but Sam earns ₹50,000+ because advertisers pay more to reach people in high-income countries.
🚀 Lesson: If your audience is mostly in low-CPM countries, try making content that attracts global viewers!
3️⃣ Viewer Intent: Who’s Watching Your Videos?
Advertisers target people who are ready to spend money.
✅ High CPM Audiences
- Business owners
- Professionals
- Investors
- People searching for “best products”
❌ Low CPM Audiences
- Casual viewers
- Kids & teens
- People watching for fun
💡 Example:
Neha runs a YouTube channel about “How to start a business”, and her videos attract entrepreneurs and professionals. Because her audience consists of business-minded people, advertisers pay ₹700+ CPM to run ads on her channel. On the other hand, Vikram makes comedy skits that attract a general audience, and his CPM is only ₹200.
🚀 Lesson: Make informational content that attracts a high-value audience.
3. How to Increase Your YouTube CPM?
Now that you understand CPM, let’s talk about how to boost your earnings per 1,000 views.
1️⃣ Choose a Profitable Niche
If you’re in a low-CPM niche, consider switching to:
✅ Finance & Investing
✅ Business & Marketing
✅ Technology Reviews
✅ E-commerce & Dropshipping
💡 Example:
Ajay had a gaming channel but was making very little money from ads. He switched to tech reviews and “best laptops for gaming” content, which attracts tech product ads with ₹600+ CPM. His earnings tripled even though his views remained the same!
2️⃣ Target High-CPM Countries
If most of your viewers are in India or Southeast Asia, your CPM will be low. To attract US, UK, or Canadian viewers:
📌 Use English in your video titles & descriptions.
📌 Make universal content (avoid country-specific topics).
📌 Use global trends to attract international viewers.
💡 Example:
Instead of “Best Phones in India,” Rahul made a video titled “Best Budget Phones for Students (Worldwide)” and started gaining more international viewers, which boosted his CPM.
3️⃣ Increase Watch Time & Engagement
Advertisers pay more when your video has higher watch time and longer session duration.
✅ Tips to Improve Watch Time:
- Make longer videos (8-15 minutes)
- Use storytelling & engaging editing
- Add hooks & cliffhangers to keep viewers watching
💡 Example:
Sonia’s old tutorials were 3 minutes long, but she started making 10-minute detailed guides instead. This allowed her to place mid-roll ads, increasing her earnings by 40%!
4️⃣ Place Ads Strategically
Your earnings depend on how ads are placed in your video.
✅ Best Ad Types for High CPM:
- Pre-Roll Ads (Before Video Starts) – Highest-paying ads
- Mid-Roll Ads (During Video) – Available for videos longer than 8 minutes
- End-Screen Ads (After Video Ends) – Keeps engagement high
💡 Example:
Amit extended his 7-minute videos to 8 minutes, allowing him to place mid-roll ads. His revenue doubled overnight!
Final Verdict: Can You Control Your CPM?
Yes! While you can’t directly set your CPM, you can optimize your content to attract higher-paying ads.
🚀 Recap:
✅ Pick a high-CPM niche like finance, tech, or business
✅ Target viewers from high-CPM countries like the USA & UK
✅ Make longer, high-quality videos with mid-roll ads
✅ Use strategic keywords to attract premium advertisers
💰 Your Turn! What’s your current CPM, and what will you do to increase it? Let me know in the comments! 🚀
