YouTube Ads is bought on CPM only, averaging $7.70. LinkedIn Ads averages $7.15 CPC and $39.60 CPM. Analysis for Australia in 2026.
Australia punches well above its population in digital ad spend — per-capita digital ad investment ranks among the world's highest, driven by mature ecommerce, strong consumer banking competition, and a heavily concentrated retail sector. Google and Meta hold the lion's share, but YouTube and connected TV (via 7plus, 9Now, 10 Play, and BVOD) have become unusually important channels. CPMs run roughly 10% above US levels for premium inventory. The ACCC's News Media Bargaining Code and active scrutiny of Google and Meta have created a more transparent ad ecosystem than most peer markets. Privacy Act reforms are tightening consent requirements, with significant amendments rolling out through 2025-2026.
Video advertising on YouTube - skippable and non-skippable
B2B professional network advertising - premium pricing
The auction, the creative, the budget floor — the three things you actually need to know before picking a platform.
YouTube ads run through Google Ads on CPM (for TrueView and Bumper) or CPV (cost per view — you pay only when viewer watches 30s or engages). CPM averages $6–10; TrueView effective CPV is $0.05–0.15. Non-skippable pre-roll runs $15–25 CPM.
6s bumpers (non-skippable), 15/30s non-skippable, and TrueView (skippable after 5s, but you're only charged if viewer engages). 16:9 1920×1080; vertical 9:16 for Shorts inventory. Companion banners boost CTR.
$50–100/day covers TrueView on a defined-topic audience. Bumper campaigns can start at $30/day. YouTube's audience-based targeting means small budgets are viable for niche verticals.
LinkedIn Ads auction is priced at a premium ($6–10 CPC, $30–40 CPM) because targeting is by job title, company, and seniority — data that no other platform has natively. Every click is a self-selected B2B audience, which is why B2B marketers accept the CPMs.
Sponsored Content (single image 1200×627 or 1:1, carousel, video 4:5 or 16:9). Message Ads (subject + 500 char body). Text Ads (headline 25 ch + description 75 ch + tiny image). Video 3s–30min but 15–30s wins.
LinkedIn's minimum daily budget is $10/campaign, but to reach signal on Lead Gen Form campaigns you need $75–150/day. Real B2B budgets on LinkedIn run $5K–20K/month.