I think small and medium-sized publishers dominate digital content compared to big ones. Depending on the audience, you can use ad networks, affiliate programs, subscriptions, services, and more. However, most publishers rely on ad networks.
Whether you’re a small or a big publisher, you’ve got plenty of monetization options. When a page has valuable traffic, you can earn more from ads.
Having more ads on your page will make more revenue, but too many ads will make your site look awful. Small publishers can use banners, native, video ad networks, etc. Plus, there are plenty of Google MCM partners with multiple bidding partners, but various factors will determine how much you make from ads.
Most websites use revenue optimization services compared to a single ad server because they’re better at ad quality, support, and payments. Despite that, let’s discuss some practical ad networks for small publishers. So, let’s begin…
AdSense
AdSense remains the most popular way of monetizing small and medium-sized websites. And it is outdated and gets worse each year. AdSense is a single ad network, meaning only Google serves ads. CPM rates are lower than other header bidding solutions. Despite its limitations, many small publishers still use it.
It can be a good first monetization strategy for new publishers who are just starting out or want to start small. It’s decent in some cases, especially in the US, UK, Middle East, and Australia traffic, yet not everywhere.
Google changed to the CPM revenue model for AdSense, which means you get paid on ad impressions instead of clicks. Publishers now get 80% of ad revenue.
Most advertising networks typically require specific criteria, especially regarding traffic. However, AdSense is one of the few ad networks still permitting publishers without certain traffic requirements. So, what are the requirements for AdSense?
You need a decent website with original content. GA accepts helpful online tools, but content remains the crucial factor. People usually whine when AdSense declines them. Scrap content, poor design, targeting the wrong niches, and a lack of legal pages are common reasons for this concern.
Pros:
- AdSense doesn’t have specific publisher traffic requirements, which is an advantage. That’s why GA still works for small publishers.
- You have complete control over AdSense without human interference. It’s up to you to decide what changes to make, since there’s no onboarding process.
- AdSense’s stats dashboard is more insightful than most others. Ezoic has the most expansive data analysis tool, and the AdSense statistics are helpful.
Cons:
- You can’t get human support with AdSense. If you get banned without a valid reason, who’s to blame?
- Compared to modern ad networks, AdSense lacks new features. While they try to keep up with new features like auto-ads.
- AdSense only displays Google ads to visitors. Most other ad networks use header bidding, open bidding, and ad revenue optimization.
- All ad networks slow down websites with third-party code, but AdSense is the worst. However, you can optimize the site using better caching plugins or techniques, like delaying JavaScript with FlyingPress.
- AdSense’s minimum threshold is 100 USD. There’s a small threshold, even for premium ad networks like Mediavine. The only method of payment is by bank transfer. So, I think $100 is a high threshold for small publishers.
It has other negative aspects, meaning the cons outweigh the pros. AdSense requires users to verify their ID or home address before making their first payout.
As I mentioned, the problem is that even if GA accepts small publishers without a page view limit, they have an increased minimum threshold. Making money with AdSense won’t be easy. Consider another if your site is decent.
Adsterra
Adsterra is a well-known ad network with over 10 years of experience in ad marketing, often recommended by bloggers and affiliate marketers.
And I’ve used Adsterra for a variety of niches, but it is most suitable for movies, news, sports, downloads, streaming, hosting platforms, etc.
Adsterra uses over 30K publishers across various media, including blogs, websites, and social media, to target a range of audiences.
That said, Adsterra works with both small and established websites. It has no traffic requirement, making it suitable for small to medium-sized websites.
To be clear, similar to many ad networks, the company’s only requirement is that the traffic be authentic and safe.
Put simply, I recommend Adsterra for small publishers because you can earn at least $5 through Paxum. It’s even $25 for PayPal. There’s usually a high minimum payout amount with most ad networks, which is a big barrier for small publishers.
When it comes to ad types, you can choose from pop ads, interstitials, native banners, and even classic banners. In addition to delivering safe ads, Adsterra detects and blocks adware and fake ads. Here is an example:
Pros:
- No traffic requirements to become a publisher.
- Provides live chat support and a personal manager.
- The ad network operates in nearly the entire world.
- Automated weekly payouts with popular payment methods (PayPal, Webmoney, Paxum, Wire, and Crypto).
- An attractive UI with key performance metrics (CPM/CTR, revenue, and clicks). You can filter traffic by domain, country, browser, OS, device, or location.
Cons:
- Not suitable for blogs with text-based content.
- Traffic quality and region can affect CPM/CPC rates.
- A high minimum payout amount is required for wire transfers.
- Sometimes, pop-ups and push ads can be annoying to viewers.
Ezoic
Ezoic is one of the famous revenue optimization platforms for small publishers. It is a Google-certified partner and has partnerships with many other header bidding platforms. You can use Ezoic as a Raptive alternative, but it doesn’t work that well.
Ezoic is a beginner-friendly ad network that accepts publishers without page view limits. But, it isn’t the first choice of severe publishers who care about the UX.
And I wouldn’t recommend Ezoic for high-quality content-focused sites, as Ezoic ads often severely disrupt website layouts. Even on one page, Ezoic displays plenty of ad slots, which results in decent CPMs.
Publisher Requirements & Payments:
Ezoic reaches publishers in two ways.
- Access Now: Designed for small publishers with less than 10,000 visitors.
- Levels program: This strategy is for publishers with over 10,000 monthly visitors. Additionally, it has five levels based on traffic volume.
Publishers get paid every 30 days with Ezoic. Payoneer and PayPal are two payment options, with a minimum payout of $20.
Ezoic and other ad networks differ in that Ezoic places ads on all specific sites. But you must follow Ezoic’s regulations.
Essentially, there are strict regulations regarding traffic sources; if a site receives a high volume of suspicious traffic, it will be suspended.
They offer many helpful features, such as header bidding, personalized ads, and data analysis, but much of the rest is unnecessary. They’re a Google AdSense partner, so publishers can connect AdSense to the Ezoic platform.
I’m not thrilled with Ezoic because it displays many ads and utilizes glitchy tools. Ezoic integration doesn’t work well for me, but it’s still one of the best CPM ad networks for small publishers.
Journey by Mediavine
Mediavine has introduced Journey, the latest ad management platform for sites with 10,000 or more monthly sessions. A separate ad network, specially intended for smaller content creators, is self-service and operates as part of Mediavine.
Without a doubt, Mediavine is one of the best-known ad management providers for premium publishers.
They offer reputable brands with highly competitive CPM rates. When a website uses Mediavine Journey, the ads load like Mediavine and display their logo.
Here’s a sample ad:
To get started with Journey, you need to install Grow by Mediavine and run it for at least 30 days. They’ll let you know if your site is ready for monetization.
See, it is a new experience, so I can’t promise too much about it, but here are a few facts that might give you a better idea:
- You will have fewer controls and limited choices regarding ad placement.
- It takes thirty days for your website to be approved. They accept websites in languages other than English, but only in certain languages.
- Publishers receive a 70 percent revenue share and are paid on a 65-day cycle, similar to Mediavine. With a minimum threshold of $100, you can choose from various payment methods, including PayPal, wire transfer, and other options.
Mediavine is an influential ad network, and I assume Journey will continue to improve as it becomes the best CPM ad network for small publishers. They’re good. However, you won’t get full control like AdSense and Ezoic.
Media.Net
Media.net is a decent ad network for publishers of all sizes. It is the second most recognizable ad network after AdSense in terms of a single ad server.
It is best for premium content publishers with English-speaking audiences. Catchy contextual ad designs inspire people to click on the ads.
Not only that, but Media.net monetizes websites with header bidding and one-tag monetization. Provides high-quality display ads with broad buyer channels.
Publishers Requirement:
Publishers require high-quality traffic of over 10,000 monthly visits from the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and other English-speaking regions.
- While applying, avoid using an existing ad network.
- Media.net doesn’t list traffic conditions to apply, but requires a quality site.
- You need a website with helpful content before you apply to Media.net.
- Media.net team really focuses on publisher quality. They only work with reputable publishers who get traffic from reliable sources.
- The approval process is strict if you only get traffic from Asian.
After you submit an application, you will be notified if you’ve been accepted, along with follow-up instructions. And it’s an invite-only ad network; you must go through an approval process.
Payments:
For high-quality traffic, Media.net offers competitive rates for ad views and clicks. Media.net offers a net 30-day payment process, with a minimum payment of $100. US users can use bank transfers, and global users can use Payoneer.
Media.net doesn’t like crap content or low-quality traffic sources. Many publishers, both large and small, utilize Media.net as an ad network for their websites. It is one of the most effective ad networks for monetizing blogs.
Monumetric
Monumetric is an ad management platform for publishers of all sizes. This is a better solution than AdSense, offering decent CPM rates comparable to Setupad, Raptive, etc. However, has some flaws.
There is a reason why I’ve included Monumetric on this list: they accept sites with over 10,000 monthly visitors. There are, however, a few limitations.
For publishers, Monumetric offers four tiers:
- Propel: Websites with 10K–80K page views qualify for this program – Setup costs $99. A banner ad network for small publishers.
- Ascend: It has all the tools you need to monetize effectively. Accepts websites with 80k to 500k monthly page views.
- Stratos: Suitable for serious websites. Page views must range from 500k to 10 million per month for publishers. It offers additional features, including a dedicated Ad Operations team and access to premium advertisers.
- Apollo: Designed for enterprise publishers with over 10 million monthly page views. You get everything Monumetric has to offer for monetization.
A Quick Guide to Monumetric…
- Monu accepts publishers with over 10,000 PV but requires most web traffic to come from the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and other top-tier nations. Mostly accepts English-language content-based websites.
- The Propel program has some peculiar requirements, including only accepting WordPress or Blogger sites, a 300px sidebar, six minimum ad slots, approval by major ad tech, and a $99 setup fee.
- It has a 65-day payment schedule; PayPal’s minimum threshold is $ 10 USD.
- This platform isn’t ideal for control freaks, as you need to consult your rep before making any changes.
- The onboarding process is suboptimal due to its reliance on manual setups, video conferences, and lengthy optimization processes.
The $99 setup fee is the worst and weirdest downside. But Monumetric is an acceptable monetization option for web publishers with over 10,000 PV.
Quality traffic and content are essential. Plus, it’s an ideal alternative to Ezoic and AdSense—still one of the best CPM ad networks for small publishers.
FatChilli
Probably not the best option for small publishers looking for CPM ad networks. FatChilli is a programmatic ad platform and a certified Google Ad 360 partner.
This ad network, however, offers content creators the opportunity to fetch ads from GAM 360, even if they are small publishers. Google Ad Manager 360 is intended for large publishers and is not accessible to small and medium sites.
Technically, FatChilli provides a full range of programmatic advertising features, such as header bidding, price floors, revenue waterfalls, and custom ad types.
Fatchilli Media has banners, native texts, videos, and more ad formats. They use lazy loading to prevent CWV issues, but ads still slow down your site. For this reason, ads will load faster if you use a good hosting service with ad networks.
I used FatChilli for a few months and got some decent results. To be honest, they were less profitable than ad management platforms like Mediavine, Raptive, Monu, Ezoic, etc. Still, FatChilli offers a higher CPM rate than AdSense.
Requirements and Payments:
It’s a programmatic monetization solution and a certified advertiser partner, so you need a website with well-crafted content or a useful online tool.
Additionally, ensure that your website complies with Google’s content policies and advertiser guidelines. Once you complete the application, they will contact you to start the procedure.
- NET30 is FatChilli’s payment policy.
- The minimum payment amount is $100.
- If this amount is not reached, it will be postponed to the following month. They accept bank transfers and PayPal.
In my experience with them, the average CPM rates are significantly lower than those of competitors like Ezoic and Monumetric. Still, publishers can get control over their ad revenue and optimize their long-term revenue approach.
And try Fatchilli instead of crypto ad networks. It is a Google AdX partner, so if you want to try out an AdX experience with an average-sized site, go for it.
SHE Media
SHE Media is an ad management platform for women-targeted content creators that helps publishers monetize their content and increase its visibility.
They’re a programmatic ad management company with many advertisers. In addition to operating ads, they share insights to help your business expand.
With direct advertising and header bidding, they offer high CPM rates for publishers and are also a Google-certified publishing partner.
But I prefer not to use these ad networks that try to do too much. In addition to display ads, they have video, auto ads, and content recommendations…
How do you get approval?
- You need at least 20,000 page views per month and a high percentage of US traffic (a substantial number for small publishers).
- High-quality content for women’s target audiences or lifestyle niches.
- Except for affiliate links, publishers are not allowed to use any ad networks.
- Website must be at least 90 days old and have a solid history with Google.
IMO – this platform is suitable for medium-sized women’s content publishers who have 20k page views or more. The onboarding process at SHE Media takes a while, and each application is reviewed individually. They handle most tasks manually; the support team sets it up, and you need to notify them if you want to change ads.
Agreement and payment terms…
The most annoying aspect of SHE Media’s ad platform is that publishers must sign a year-long contract. Also, you must provide 60 days’ notice to leave this platform.
The payment comes two months after the end of the month. For example, you’ll get paid in March for ad revenue earned in January. Direct Deposit is the payment method for U.S. publishers, and PayPal is for non-U.S. publishers.
So, yes, SHE Media is an ideal ad optimization service for small and mid-sized lifestyle bloggers. I especially recommend it for women, and it’s a solid platform with a lot of experience from someone who knows what they’re doing. You need 20k page views to start, so it is probably not suitable for small publishers.
CarbonAds
If you have a website or tool related to web design, dev, or technology and don’t want ads to mess up the UX, perhaps CarbonAds is the right solution.
With this platform, you can be sure that your readers will notice fewer relevant ads, as CA allows only one display ad per page. Websites and tools like JS.org, KeyCDN tools, and Coding use CarbonAds to monetize their websites.
Most of Carbon’s clients are tech brands, including web hosts, developers, online platforms, and software companies. However, this isn’t the ideal option for anyone seeking to earn a reasonable income through a development website or tool.
You can expect reasonable rates if most traffic is coming from English countries. Anyone can grasp the point because fewer ad impressions lead to less revenue.
CPM rates aren’t very impressive, so the average CPM can be less than $1.00, depending on the audience and the demand for advertising.
Criteria and Payment Info:
This is an invite-only ad network, so multiple factors are considered when reviewing your application. Here are some of the factors I know; others may apply.
- Firstly, you need a website or tool that is valuable to its advertisers, such as a website focused on design, programming, or open-source projects.
- CarbonAds doesn’t specify traffic requirements, but you’ll need at least 10,000 monthly views. This is still a good amount for small publishers.
- Moreover, your site, app, or tool should be written in English, the most widely used language, and should be kept up to date.
- You cannot use other ad networks; however, affiliate links are permitted.
BuySellAds is the parent company of CarbonAds. So, you’ll get the previous month’s ad revenue by the 15th of each month for the BuySellAds account.
Minimum payouts change depending on the payout method. For example, PayPal requires a balance of $20. With wire transfer, the minimum amount is $500.
CarbonAds is ideal for devs to earn some extra money with user-friendly ads. They’ve got cool ad designs that don’t slow down the page. If you use a CDN with any ad network, you can address some issues, such as a lot of external load.
If you have helpful content on your WordPress documentation site, you can monetize it with CarbonAds. However, you will not be able to earn a decent income. Since only one ad is displayed per post, you will receive a lower rate.
However, Carbon can still be one of the finer ad networks for small and independent publishers. The website needs quality content or useful tools.
In Summary
Throughout the post, I have shown you reliable ad networks for small publishers. You can find many blog posts about this, but the problem is that they don’t list ad networks based on their experience, as most are sponsored.
Honestly, banner ads aren’t a good monetizing technique, even for small publishers. Monetization isn’t limited to ad networks; publishers can use other strategies, too.
Generally, for established publishers, affiliate marketing, podcasts, consulting services, and other similar offerings are more profitable than ad networks.
Although ads aren’t suitable for the user experience, they can slow things down. Ad monetization is well-known among all publishers, but some platforms are now integrating modern technology to unlock better revenue opportunities.
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