Performance advertising

Mobile CPA, CPI and CPL advertising

Understand mobile performance offers, app-install and lead events, click and conversion caps, postbacks, partner payouts and source-level attribution.

Explore Nexus CPA ↗Discuss this format
DEPLOYMENT FITCore Nexus CPA workflow

Exact format support, enforcement and reporting depend on the connected revenue engine and agreed deployment configuration.

CPA · CPI · CPLoutcome models
Postbackconversion evidence
Capsbudget protection

Plain-language definition

What is mobile performance advertising?

Mobile performance advertising pays for a defined outcome rather than exposure alone. The ad can use several creative formats; what defines the model is the validated event—an action, installation, lead, sale or deployment-specific conversion.

WHERE IT APPEARS

Placements

  • Mobile web campaign
  • In-app inventory
  • Offer or comparison page
  • Affiliate and performance source
HOW IT IS BOUGHT

Buying models

  • CPA — cost per action
  • CPI — cost per install
  • CPL — cost per lead
  • CPS — cost per sale where agreed
HOW ELIGIBILITY CHANGES

Targeting signals

  • Country and region
  • Mobile OS and version
  • Device class or supported brand
  • Publisher and sub-ID
  • Schedule, click and conversion caps

Delivery path

From opportunity to measurable outcome.

The exact services differ by format, but every useful implementation keeps eligibility, delivery and evidence connected.

01Partner click
02Targeted offer or store
03User completes event
04Postback validation
05Attribution, reporting and payout

Measurement

Metrics that explain more than volume.

Conversion rate

Validated outcomes ÷ eligible clicks

CPA

Spend ÷ validated actions

Install rate

Validated installs ÷ clicks

ROAS

Attributed value ÷ spend

Operator guide

What clients should understand before launch.

01

What the user sees

The creative may be a banner, native card, search result or video. It directs the user to an application store, form, purchase flow or other destination tied to a defined outcome.

02

How the outcome is validated

A pixel, server-to-server postback, mobile measurement partner or deployment-specific API reports the event with identifiers that connect it to the acquisition path.

03

How caps protect campaigns

Click and conversion caps by day, month, offer or partner help control budget and prevent one source from consuming an allocation before quality is understood.

04

What operators reconcile

Click records, sub-ID context, duplicate policy, attribution windows, advertiser approvals, partner payouts and reversals must lead to one defensible outcome count.

Frequently asked

Questions about mobile performance.

Strictly, CPA is a pricing and optimization model. It can use search, display, native or video creatives, but clients often evaluate it as a distinct performance channel.

A server-to-server notification that reports a conversion event and the identifiers needed to connect it to an earlier click or campaign.

CPI pays for a validated application installation. CPL pays for an accepted lead, such as a completed and qualified form.

Build the right delivery path

Connect format, targeting, traffic policy and commercial evidence.

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