> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.upstackdata.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Blended Cost per Search: Cross-Platform Search Efficiency

> Track your blended cost per search event across Meta, Google, and TikTok ads. Measure cross-platform efficiency for on-site search actions.

<Tip>
  Blended Cost per Search measures how much you spend across all ad platforms to generate one on-site search event.
</Tip>

## Formula

<Info>
  **Blended Cost per Search** = [**Blended Spend**](/reference/metrics/advertising/blended/blended-spend/blended-spend) ÷ [**Blended Searches**](/reference/metrics/advertising/blended/blended-conversions/blended-searches)
</Info>

### Formula Components

| Metric                                                                                              | Definition                                                     |
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [**Blended Spend**](/reference/metrics/advertising/blended/blended-spend/blended-spend)             | Total advertising spend across all connected ad platforms      |
| [**Blended Searches**](/reference/metrics/advertising/blended/blended-conversions/blended-searches) | Total on-site search events attributed across all ad platforms |

| Metadata        |                                                                                                     |
| --------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Type**        | Currency                                                                                            |
| **Data Source** | [Meta Ads](/sources/facebook-ads), [Google Ads](/sources/google-ads), [TikTok Ads](/sources/tiktok) |
| **Aggregation** | Ratio                                                                                               |

***

## Example

Your store spent **\$5,000** across all ad platforms last week and generated **2,500** on-site search events.

| Metric                      | Value      |
| --------------------------- | ---------- |
| Blended Spend               | \$5,000    |
| Blended Searches            | 2,500      |
| **Blended Cost per Search** | **\$2.00** |

***

## How It Works

Blended Cost per Search divides your total advertising spend across Meta, Google, and TikTok by the total on-site search events attributed to those platforms. This gives you a unified view of how efficiently your combined ad spend drives product discovery behavior, regardless of which platform generated the search.

***

## When to Use

| Scenario                | Action                                                                                      |
| ----------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Budget allocation       | Compare blended cost per search against platform-specific costs to identify efficiency gaps |
| Funnel optimization     | Track how cost per search changes relative to cost per add-to-cart or purchase              |
| Campaign scaling        | Monitor if increased spend maintains efficient cost per search event                        |
| Landing page evaluation | High cost per search may indicate visitors are struggling to find products                  |

***

## Related Metrics

| Metric                                                                                                                    | Relationship                                             |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------- |
| [Blended Spend](/reference/metrics/advertising/blended/blended-spend/blended-spend)                                       | Numerator — total ad spend across platforms              |
| [Blended Searches](/reference/metrics/advertising/blended/blended-conversions/blended-searches)                           | Denominator — total search events across platforms       |
| [Blended Cost per View Content](/reference/metrics/advertising/blended/blended-conversions/blended-cost-per-view-content) | Downstream efficiency — cost to drive product page views |
| [Blended CPA](/reference/metrics/advertising/blended/blended-efficiency/blended-cpa)                                      | Conversion efficiency — cost per attributed conversion   |

[See all Blended Conversions metrics →](/reference/metrics/advertising/blended/blended-conversions)