Cost per engagement (CPE)
What each like, comment, share or save on a campaign cost.
Also called: CPE
Formula
CPE = cost ÷ total engagements
CPE is the fairest way to compare creators whose audiences are very different sizes. A macro creator charging AED 20,000 whose post gets 8,000 engagements costs AED 2.50 per engagement; a micro creator charging AED 1,500 for 1,000 engagements costs AED 1.50.
It rewards attention rather than audience size, which is usually what the brand is paying for. It is weaker for awareness campaigns, where being seen matters more than being liked, and it can be gamed by giveaways that pull in comments from people who will never buy.