Company
Date Published
Author
Jenny Thai
Word count
829
Language
English
Hacker News points
None

Summary

Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) is a vital metric for marketers to understand as it aligns with company goals and offers a comprehensive view of business health by combining revenue and expenses. CAC is calculated by dividing a company's total go-to-market expenses, including salaries and benefits, by the total number of customers acquired in a given period. Unlike Cost Per Acquisition (CPA), which may consider non-paying leads, CAC focuses on paying customers and provides subtypes such as Marketing CAC and Advertising CAC for deeper insights into the efficiency of specific efforts. Understanding CAC can help marketers speak the same language as business leaders, build trust, and make informed strategic decisions, particularly when considering metrics like CAC payback time and the LTV:CAC ratio. These insights are crucial for marketers aiming to transition into leadership roles, as they highlight the importance of metrics in evaluating and optimizing marketing strategies.