---
title: "PPC (Pay-Per-Click)"
description: "PPC (Pay-Per-Click) is a digital advertising model where advertisers pay a fee each time their ad is clicked, most commonly used in search engine advertising through platforms like Google Ads and Microsoft Ads."
category: "Digital Marketing & PPC"
date: "2026-03-05"
url: "https://getbeast.io/glossary/ppc/"
type: "glossary"
---

# PPC (Pay-Per-Click)

**Category:** Digital Marketing & PPC | **Updated:** 2026-03-05

PPC (Pay-Per-Click) is a digital advertising model where advertisers pay a fee each time their ad is clicked, most commonly used in search engine advertising through platforms like Google Ads and Microsoft Ads.

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## What Is PPC?
Pay-Per-Click (PPC) is an online advertising model where advertisers bid on keywords and pay only when a user clicks their ad. The most common PPC platform is **Google Ads** (formerly AdWords), which displays ads above and below organic search results. Other PPC platforms include Microsoft Ads (Bing), Facebook/Meta Ads, Amazon Ads, and LinkedIn Ads. PPC is the primary revenue model for search engines.

## Why PPC Matters for SEO Strategy
PPC and SEO are complementary channels. PPC data reveals which keywords convert best — this intelligence informs SEO keyword targeting. PPC provides **immediate visibility** while SEO builds long-term organic traffic. Running both channels together increases total SERP real estate (ads + organic results). PPC keyword data from Google Ads (search terms report) is invaluable for discovering new SEO content opportunities.

## How PPC and SEO Work Together
Use PPC search terms reports to identify high-converting keywords for SEO targeting. Test landing page messaging with PPC before investing in SEO content. Fill SEO gaps with PPC — bid on keywords where you don't yet rank organically. Use PPC to protect brand terms from competitor bidding. Analyze combined paid + organic performance in Google Search Console and Analytics.

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## Related Terms

- [Google Ads](/glossary/google-ads/)
- [CPA (Cost Per Acquisition)](/glossary/cpa/)
- [CPM (Cost Per Mille)](/glossary/cpm/)
- [Click-Through Rate](/glossary/click-through-rate/)
- [Landing Page](/glossary/landing-page/)
- [Conversion Rate](/glossary/conversion-rate/)


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*Part of the [GetBeast SEO Glossary](/glossary/). Visit [GetBeast.io](https://getbeast.io) for professional SEO and log analysis tools.*