CPA Conversion Rates

Can anyone tell me how CPA networks calculate the lead conversion rate for a particular offer - is the conversion rate based on the number of impressions the ad for the offer gets or is it based on the number of click throughs the ad for the offer gets?

If for example the ad gets 100 impressions and 1 click through and that 1 click through converts into a lead will the conversion rate be 1% or 100% or do different network calculate the conversion rate in different ways?

Thanks

Conversion rate is calculated by clicks to sales so 100 clicks resulting in 1 sale is a 1% conversion rate.

Click through rate is impressions to clicks. So 1000 impressions resulting in 100 clicks is a 10% click through rate.

I believe they are interested in the leads/clicks. I mainly host my own banners for my ads and wondered if that was a red flag since my impressions is always zero.

I would like a little insight in this also.

They don't care about impressions. You only generate impressions if you use their hosted banner and most people don't use them or host them themselves. Just watching for clicks/leads.

Thanks for the clarification

If you are running banners you need impressions and clicks. If you are not running banners, then you only need clicks.

If impressions are showing up in your stats and you are not running banners then you are probably using CPV advertising like Zango. Some networks track these pop ups as clicks because the full ad was served, others count them as impressions only.

If you are getting impressions but need clicks, stop using CPV and move to a different pay per click type traffic source.

Exactly what Nevarc said. Just having impressions is not going to do anything for you (unless you are just trying to get your brand/offer/product some exposure). Conversions will come from targeted traffic, and can come from whatever source you want. Media buys are something you could try out if you want to really see a ton of impressions. LOL! And if you do it right, you will get a ton of conversions also. Seriously.

You have nothing to lose and will gain from your $$$ investments.

Go for it!