SEO
How the Google Search Algorithm Works

But what is the Google Search Algorithm? How does it work? And, most importantly, how can you rank higher on Google and get more traffic?
This guide attempts to demystify the mysterious Google Search Algorithm:
The Google Search Algorithm refers to the process Google uses to rank content. It takes into account hundreds of factors, including keyword mentions, usability, and backlinks.
Sidenote.
Google has multiple search algorithms all working together to return the best results. In this article, we’ll focus mainly on Google’s ranking algorithm(s), as we believe that’s what most people are referring to when they talk about Google’s search algorithm.
Google’s algorithm is extremely complex, and how it exactly works is not public information. It’s believed that there are well in excess of 200 ranking factors—and nobody knows them all.
Even if they do, it won’t matter because the algorithm is always changing. Google releases updates to its algorithm, on average, six times per day. That’s up to 2,000 times per year.
That said, Google does give hints on how you can rank well in its results.
When you think of a “search algorithm”—as it relates to search engine optimization (SEO)—the first thing that comes to mind is probably Google’s ranking factors. In other words, what is Google looking at when deciding which pages to rank and in which order?
If we look at Google’s “How Search Works” page, it directly reveals some of Google’s most prominent ranking factors:
- Backlinks
- Freshness
- Keyword mentions
- User experience
- Topical authority
Let’s break these down.
1. Backlinks
Google wants to display pages where “prominent websites on the subject [are] linking to the page.” In layman’s terms, it wants to see backlinks from authoritative websites (that are also topically relevant) pointing to your pages.
Acquiring these links is called link building, and it is arguably one of the most important tasks you should do to get Google to trust and display your website. This has reliably been Google’s biggest deciding factor in determining a site’s trustworthiness since its inception in 1996.
You can determine if links may be holding your content back from ranking by comparing your page’s backlink profile to your competitors’.
First, plug the URL of the page you’re trying to rank into Ahrefs’ Site Explorer, and you’ll see how many backlinks and referring domains (linking websites) your page currently has.

Next, go to Ahrefs’ Keywords Explorer and enter the main keyword you’re targeting for that page. Scroll down. You’ll find the SERP overview section, where you can see how many backlinks and referring domains your competitors have.

If you notice that your competitors’ pages have more backlinks than your page does (like ours do in the example above), it means you probably need to prioritize building links to rank above them.
Here are some strategies to get started on link building:
PRO TIP
If you want to dive deeper into understanding the backlink landscape of your target keywords and what kind of links you need in order to rank, check to see what linking domains all of your competitors share that you don’t. To do this, plug the top three ranking competitors for your target keyword into Ahrefs’ Link Intersect tool and your page into the “But doesn’t link to” box, like so:

When you hit “Show link opportunities,” you’ll see all the sites that link to your competitors’ pages but not yours. These are the first sites you can approach to acquire links.
2. Freshness
Content freshness refers to how “fresh,” or recent, the content on your webpage is. When was the last time it was updated?
This factor matters more for some queries than others. For example, if you search for something news-related, Google will typically rank results published within the last 24 hours.

However, if you search for a topic that doesn’t need to be updated as often, freshness isn’t quite as heavy of an influence. For example, the top-ranking results for “RV storage ideas” are from over two years ago:

This is because good RV storage ideas today are largely the same as they were two years ago. So how recently it was published doesn’t make as much of a difference. Guides like this are what we call “evergreen content.” That is, content that will be good for years to come without needing many frequent updates.
Overall, when determining the importance of freshness for the keywords you’re targeting, you should always analyze the SERP for that keyword. Is Google seemingly ranking fresh content? If so, you will need to update the piece frequently to stand any chance of staying at the top.
3. Keyword mentions
One of the things Google cares about is “the number of times your search terms appear [on the page you’re trying to rank].”
In general, it’s good practice to try to include your exact keyword on the page several times in several places, including:
- The title.
- At least one subheading.
- The page’s URL.
- The intro paragraph.
That said, we don’t believe you need to worry about keyword mentions beyond that. This is as you’ll naturally mention the keyword you’re targeting throughout the content as you’re writing about it.
For example, our post on evergreen content mentions the words “evergreen content” 18 times—and we made zero effort to do this.
Instead, pay more attention to making sure your page fulfills search intent and answers what the searcher is looking for. In other words, ensure that you’ve covered everything searchers may want to know.
Google highlights the importance of this on its ‘How Search Works’ page:
Just think: when you search for ‘dogs’, you likely don’t want a page with the word ‘dogs’ on it hundreds of times. With that in mind, algorithms assess if a page contains other relevant content beyond the keyword ‘dogs’ — such as pictures of dogs, videos, or even a list of breeds.
One way of doing that is to use Ahrefs’ Content Gap tool to look for subtopics of a given keyword that you should mention on your page. Plug your site into Site Explorer, then click “Content gap” on the left.

Next, go to Google, search for the keyword you’re targeting with your page, and pull the top three to five ranking URLs that match the intent of your page (e.g., if your page is a blog post, choose other blog posts).
Once you have your competitors’ URLs, plug them into the tool as I did in the screenshot below, then click “Show keywords.”

I did this for our “What Are Keywords?” guide. In the screenshot below, the result tells us we can potentially improve the article by adding a section on whether keywords are still relevant for SEO.

Plus, by doing this type of content gap research, you may also find opportunities for additional articles related to the one you’re currently optimizing. I found keywords like “seo keyword best practices” and “what is keyword research” that we can potentially write content for.
If you want to learn more about how to optimize a page for a keyword and where to place a keyword, check out our guide to on-page SEO.
4. User experience
Google states that it cares about “whether the page has good user experience.” But what is considered “good user experience”?
User experience (UX) encompasses a lot of different things, including the following:
- Page load speed (Google recommends under two seconds)
- No intrusive interstitials, like ads or pop-ups
- Intuitive navigation and internal linking
- Mobile-friendliness
- Website design
- Meta tags (having a meta title and description that match search intent)
- And more
Speed, in particular, has become more important to Google in the past few years. In the summer of 2021, Google released a major update. Because of that, it’s now more important to pass Google’s Core Web Vitals (CWV) test, which is essentially a speed test.
You can check your CWV and learn how to improve your site’s performance by plugging your site into Ahrefs’ Site Audit and clicking on the “Performance Report” tab. You’ll need to enable the CWV scan in the settings. (You’ll see a notice about this at the top of the report, as shown below.)

Once you’ve allowed CWV with the Google API, run a new scan on your site. When it’s done, you’ll get a report showing the pages that need improvement and the pages with errors.

To see those pages, click on the number next to “Needs improvement” or “Poor.” It will show you which pages aren’t passing the Lighthouse Score or CrUX performance. (These are page speed scores that are part of the CWV report.)
If you want to learn more about how to optimize your site for user experience, follow our website audit guide.
5. Topical authority
Google wants to display “sites that many users seem to value for similar queries.” This means sites that have additional, valued content about queries relevant to the one being searched.
While Google isn’t explicit about what it means by “users seem to value,” we can safely assume that topical backlinks are a part of it. So in addition to creating a lot of related content, you also need to acquire links from topically relevant sites.
For example, if you want to rank for “best protein powder,” Google may be more likely to rank you if people also come to your site for content on topics such as the following:
- Best time of day to consume protein
- Can pregnant women have protein powder?
- Where does protein powder come from?
In addition to having content on these topics, you should also aim to acquire topically relevant backlinks to them.
Having a lot of related content and contextually relevant links may show Google (and its users) that you’re an authority on that topic and may help you to rank higher in the search results. Of course, we’re assuming you are also optimizing for the other ranking factors as well.
Ready to check this ranking factor off your list? Start creating content hubs for SEO.
Google updates its algorithm nearly every day, and it releases major updates two to three times per year that can have a fairly massive impact on rankings.
In other words, things change. It’s important to stay up to date on Google’s ranking factors so that you don’t get left behind on the SERPs due to a Google penalty or shift in search intent.
Some of the major Google updates include these:
Of course, this isn’t an extensive list. See our SEO glossary for a more comprehensive list of Google algorithm updates and other common SEO terms.
Google has several channels that release public updates about changes in its algorithm, and it has a ton of official public documentation about how its algorithm works.
Here are some great sources to stay up to date on what Google is doing:
If you’re keen to stay on the cutting edge of what Google is doing to its algorithm, it also offers regular office hours called Google Search Central. There, people like John Mueller, Google’s senior webmaster trends analyst, will answer your questions live.
Final thoughts
The Google Search Algorithm is a complex beast with a lot of moving parts, and it’s constantly changing. But its goal of returning the best results for a given search query remains the same.
Despite Google’s many updates, the fundamentals of SEO haven’t changed much since search engines came to be. If you focus on the ranking factors you learned in this article, you will be able to rank on the SERPs.
In essence:
- Create high-quality, well-formatted content that matches your keywords’ search intent.
- Keep your content up to date.
- Ensure your site has a good user experience.
- Build topically relevant links.
These are the things the Google Search Algorithm cares about, according to Google.
Ready to dive deeper? Check out these other articles on Ahrefs’ blog:
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SEO
The 17 Best Ad Networks For Content Creators In 2024

No room for doubt, we find ourselves firmly entrenched in the era of the creator economy.
In today’s digital landscape, the influence wielded by content creators, influencers, and community builders has reached unprecedented heights. Their craft not only resonates with audiences but also opens up diverse avenues for revenue generation.
However, navigating this landscape is far from a walk in the park.
Bloggers, videographers, photographers, and creatives of various stripes are in a perpetual quest for innovative ways to monetize their work amid the unpredictable nature of the digital domain.
Enter display ad networks – a tried-and-true method for creators to maximize earnings while ensuring an exceptional user experience. The key lies in selecting the right one.
In the upcoming sections, we’ll delve into the most promising ad networks for content creators in 2024, equipping you with the tools to monetize your content effectively.
Understanding Ad Networks:
Let’s kick off with the basics: What exactly is an ad network?
An ad network acts as the intermediary between publishers (bloggers, content creators, etc.) seeking to sell ad space and advertisers eager to secure ad placements.
These networks bridge the gap, helping advertisers locate suitable websites aligning with their target audience and goals. Conversely, they enable publishers to connect with advertisers whose content aligns seamlessly with their own.
For bloggers and content creators, ad networks offer a hassle-free opportunity to monetize their content without the intricacies of direct negotiations with advertisers.
Contrary to sponsored posts or affiliate marketing, ad networks provide a more automated, hands-off approach, saving creators both time and stress.
Here’s a glimpse into the typical functioning of ad networks, though the specifics may vary based on your chosen network:
- Joining the network: Submit your content for review; the network evaluates your content based on various criteria.
- Ad placement: Once approved, the process of placing ads on your site begins. This may involve embedding a code snippet or inviting bids from advertisers.
- Earnings generation: Users viewing or clicking on ads lead to revenue for you, as advertisers pay the network for serving their ads.
- Payment: The network transfers your earnings through your chosen method, sometimes with a commission deducted.
Exploring Ad Network Types:
While ad network types are ever-evolving, some categories remain prevalent. Here are a few you might encounter:
- Vertical Networks: Specialized in specific niches or industries, targeting a highly specific audience.
- Premium Networks: Emphasize high-quality ad content, often collaborating with top-tier publishers and high-traffic websites.
- Specialized or Inventory-Specific Networks: Focus on specific content types rather than industries, such as video-specific or podcast-only networks.
- Targeted Networks: Aim for hyper-specific demographics or user segments, honing in on criteria like location and behavior.
- Performance and Affiliate Ad Networks: Prioritize user actions over mere ad display, with payment tied to specific user actions.
Choosing the Right Ad Network:
While ad networks offer a recognizable avenue for income, not all are created equal. Consider the following factors:
- Audience and Niche: Ensure alignment with your content and audience.
- Ad Formats: Select networks offering ad types, sizes, and placements that suit your preferences.
- Revenue Models: Understand payment models (revenue share, CPM, CPC, CPA) and choose what aligns with your goals.
- Traffic Requirements: Be mindful of minimum traffic requirements, choosing a network that suits your platform’s reach.
- User Experience: Prioritize networks that enhance user experience, delivering non-intrusive, relevant ads for increased audience satisfaction and revenue.
1. Google AdSense

For those embarking on the journey of ad monetization, Google AdSense stands out as an excellent choice. As a product of Google, it reigns supreme among ad networks, appreciated especially by beginners for its user-friendly interface.
What makes it particularly enticing for novices is the absence of a minimum traffic requirement, and the fact that joining the self-service platform comes at no cost.
Once you secure approval, initiating the display of ads is as simple as embedding a code snippet into your site. The Auto Ads feature adds to the convenience, allowing effortless automation of ad placement on your website or selective deactivation for specific pages.
Google AdSense presents a diverse range of ad formats, including display, text, in-feed, and in-article ads. Moreover, it offers personalization options such as contextual and behavioral targeting.
Despite its user-friendly appeal, navigating Google AdSense comes with its set of challenges. Obtaining approval can be a rigorous process due to Google’s stringent policies and guidelines. Additionally, even after approval, there is a lingering risk of account suspension for any policy violations.
To cash in your earnings, a minimum of $100 must be accumulated. While AdSense does offer a decent income, it falls short in terms of revenue potential compared to some alternative platforms.
Here’s a breakdown of the revenue share: 68% goes to site owners, while 32% goes to Google AdSense. The payment model is based on cost-per-click (CPC), and fortunately, there are no traffic requirements to contend with.
Key Features:
- Responsive Ads: AdSense ensures that your ad units automatically adjust to the user’s device, guaranteeing a seamless user experience.
- Insights and Analytics: Dive into detailed performance reports to glean valuable information on your ads’ effectiveness. Track metrics like views, clicks, revenue, and more to optimize your ad placements.
- Ad Review Center: Take control of the ads displayed on your site by utilizing the ad review center. This feature empowers you to review, approve, or deny specific ad categories, shaping the content that aligns with your platform’s ethos.
2. Media.net

If you find yourself seeking an alternative to Google AdSense, look no further than Media.net. Powered by the dynamic duo of Yahoo! and Bing, this platform boasts an extensive pool of advertisers, making it an excellent choice to complement your AdSense endeavors.
Media.net has gained recognition for its emphasis on contextual ads. Unlike targeting ads based on user interests, it aligns with the content on your page, a strategy believed to enhance user engagement and clickthrough rates (CTRs). Picture this: If your blog explores serene beaches, Media.net might showcase ads for beach towels to your audience.
Much like AdSense, Media.net comes without a price tag and has no traffic requirements for joining. It offers a vast array of ads, optimized for seamless viewing on mobile devices.
One distinctive advantage of Media.net is its dedicated account managers, providing assistance with setup, issue troubleshooting, and optimization tips. This support sets it apart from many other platforms.
However, it’s essential to be aware of a few downsides, including a somewhat challenging approval process, a learning curve, a minimum payout threshold of $100, and limited payment options, confined to Payoneer or wire transfer.
It’s noteworthy that Media.net tends to shine brightest for sites in specific niches like health, tech, and finance. Sites outside these niches might experience comparatively lower earnings than on alternative platforms.
Here’s a snapshot of its features:
- Dynamic Optimization: Media.net optimizes between various ad types to maximize the impact of your impressions, tailoring them to your audience.
- Sizeless Ads: Publishers enjoy the flexibility to create ads with custom sizes and designs, ensuring a perfect fit for their site.
- “Sticky” Ads: The platform introduces ads that stay fixed to the screen as users scroll or in-content ads automatically woven into your content, enhancing viewability.
3. Raptive (Formerly AdThrive)

Formerly known as AdThrive, Raptive has solidified its position as one of the most coveted ad networks for content creators, particularly those navigating the realms of travel, lifestyle, food, and parenting.
Renowned for catalyzing substantial revenue growth through meticulous ad placement and performance optimization, Raptive distinguishes itself by prioritizing publishers. Creators can expect to receive payment irrespective of whether Raptive has received payment from its advertisers.
Among the advantages of Raptive are a dedicated support team catering to creators, flexible payment options, personalized site recommendations, the capability to host and monetize video content, and a user-friendly dashboard offering insights into earnings and impressions.
However, like any platform, there are certain drawbacks to consider.
Foremost, Raptive sets a high bar for entry, necessitating a minimum of 100,000 pageviews to qualify for its traffic requirements. This requirement can pose a challenge for newer or smaller creators.
Additionally, Raptive predominantly caters to English content, with a prerequisite for a majority of traffic originating from the US, CA, UK, AU, or NZ. Some reports indicate that Raptive might have a high ad density, potentially impacting the user experience, a factor creators need to weigh.
Breaking down the revenue share, 75% goes to site owners, while 25% goes to AdThrive. The payment model operates on a cost-per-click (CPC) basis, and the traffic requirement is set at 100,000 pageviews per month.
Key Features:
- Auto Ad Placement: Raptive’s algorithms ensure that ads are automatically positioned for optimal performance.
- Experimentation: Creators can engage in A/B ad testing, experimenting with various ad types and placements to find the most effective combination.
- Learning Resources: Raptive enriches creators with a range of expert webinars, tutorials, and articles, empowering them to enhance their earnings through insightful guidance.
4. Adcash

Adcash stands out as a self-serve ad network designed to cater to the needs of both creators and advertisers, with a global reach that spans across diverse audiences.
Its reputation is anchored in the extensive array of traffic sources and ad formats it offers. From pop-unders, native ads, and interstitials to display ads, banners, push notifications, and beyond, Adcash provides a comprehensive toolkit.
This global perspective translates into a significant advantage for content creators, enabling them to connect with users in more than 196 countries – a testament to the platform’s adaptability.
Beyond global reach, Adcash boasts real-time performance reporting, optimization tools, and a noteworthy feature: anti-adblock technology. This technology empowers creators to continue generating revenue from visitors who employ ad-blocking tools.
Getting started with Adcash is relatively straightforward, and the platform supports multiple payment options.
However, like any platform, Adcash presents certain considerations. Some ad formats, such as interstitials or pop-unders, might impact the user experience negatively. The minimum payment threshold is set at $25 USD/EUR, and the CPM rates, while competitive, tend to be slightly lower than the market average.
Here are some key attributes of Adcash:
- Anti-Adblock Technology: A unique feature that allows ads to be shown to users, even when they are utilizing ad-block tools.
- High Fill Rate: Adcash maintains consistently high fill rates, ensuring creators can monetize a significant portion of their impressions.
- Live Reporting: The Publisher Platform Reports section in Adcash offers live reporting, allowing creators to track revenue in real-time as it accrues.
5. Amazon Publisher Services

Amazon Publisher Services offers publishers and content creators a comprehensive suite of tools designed to streamline the management of their ad inventories and optimize content monetization.
One of its major draws is the gateway it provides to Amazon’s expansive advertising ecosystem. Content creators can leverage cloud-based solutions such as the transparent ad marketplace, unified ad marketplace, and shopping insights. Additionally, creators gain access to Amazon’s substantial ad demand, enhancing their revenue potential.
However, it’s crucial to note that Amazon Publisher Services is tailored more towards established creators with significant website traffic, as it mandates a minimum of 5,000 unique daily visits. For newcomers, the platform might appear daunting due to its complexity, requiring time and technical know-how for effective implementation.
Breaking down the features:
- Transparent Ad Marketplace (TAM): Amazon’s server-side header bidding solution takes a cloud-based approach, enhancing speed and efficiency in ad transactions.
- Unified Ad Marketplace (UAM): This feature empowers creators to efficiently manage multiple demand partners, securing optimal bids for their inventory by consolidating demand from various sources.
- Shopping Insights: A distinctive attribute providing data insights based on shopping behaviors. This allows publishers to fine-tune their delivery strategies for maximum optimization.
While the revenue share and payment model details are undisclosed, Amazon Publisher Services operates on a cost-per-thousand-impressions (CPM) basis. The minimum traffic requirement is set at 5,000 unique daily visits, reinforcing its focus on creators with substantial online presence.
6. PropellerAds

PropellerAds stands out as a welcoming ad network tailored for beginners, with a primary focus on display ads. Its appeal lies in its user-friendly interface and hassle-free onboarding process – no minimum traffic threshold required.
The platform boasts a global reach and an extensive advertiser pool, ensuring publishers from various regions can capitalize on its monetization options. PropellerAds offers a diverse range of ad formats, spanning popunders, push notifications, native banners, interstitials, and more.
Employing a combination of technology and manual reviews, PropellerAds diligently monitors the quality and content of ads. This proactive approach enables the removal of any unsafe or suspicious content, ensuring that the right ads reach the right audience.
Additional advantages of PropellerAds include a 100% monetized inventory, providing creators with flexible payment options, dedicated account manager assistance, and access to optimization tools.
However, there are certain considerations to bear in mind. PropellerAds has been noted for its lenient approach with advertisers, raising concerns about the potential for low-quality and intrusive ads. It’s also predominantly limited to display ads, which may be a relevant factor for some creators.
Here’s a closer look at the key features:
- Real-time Reporting: PropellerAds provides instant access to real-time reporting, allowing creators to track the performance of their ads with immediacy.
- Account Manager: While this benefit is more limited to larger publishers, those eligible can enjoy the assistance of a dedicated account manager to address concerns and optimize performance.
- Referral Program: PropellerAds introduces a referral program, enabling users to boost their earnings by referring fellow creators to the network.
7. Infolinks

Infolinks positions itself as an ad network with partnerships with some of the globe’s major advertisers, including Amazon, Microsoft, and eBay.
What sets this network apart is its specialization in cutting-edge, “intent-driven” banner ad formats meticulously designed to seamlessly integrate with website content, combating banner ad blindness. These distinct ad types go by names like InFold, InText, InTag, InFrame, and InScreen.
For creators seeking to diversify beyond traditional banner ads or explore alternatives, Infolinks presents itself as a compelling option. The absence of minimum traffic requirements means creators of all sizes can easily join, and the setup process is straightforward.
An interesting facet is that Infolinks allows you to use its ads on the same website alongside AdSense ads, offering the potential for a synergistic income boost.
However, like many ad networks, the potential impact on the user experience is a key consideration. While Infolinks’ non-traditional formats are less intrusive than large banners or pop-ups, they can still influence the overall user experience.
It’s important to note that Infolinks maintains a $50 minimum payment threshold, provides relatively limited customization options compared to some platforms, and may not match the earning potential of other networks.
Here are some key features:
- InText: This ad format scans content, highlighting relevant keywords. When users hover over these keywords, relevant ads are displayed.
- InFold: Overlay ads that often appear as a footer ad in relation to search intent.
- InTag: This ad type compiles your content’s most valuable keywords into a tag cloud on the page. Users can view relevant ads by hovering over a keyword.
- InFrame: Banner ads strategically placed in the margins of your website’s page, utilizing previously unused screen space.
The revenue share with Infolinks is 70% to publishers and 30% to Infolinks, and the payment model encompasses CPM, CPC, CPA, CPV, CPI, and Auction. Importantly, there are no traffic requirements for creators to get started.
8. Monumetric

Formerly recognized as The Blogger Network, Monumetric emerges as an enticing choice for publishers able to meet the minimum traffic benchmark of 10,000 pageviews per month.
Monumetric stands out for its extensive pool of advertisers, offering a lucrative earning potential coupled with a diverse array of ad formats. This flexibility allows you to tailor your ad choices to align seamlessly with your audience and content.
A notable advantage of Monumetric lies in its dynamic approach. Rather than presenting a single static ad per user session, it continually delivers different relevant units based on the audience, enhancing engagement.
Perhaps the standout feature is the personalized service extended by Monumetric to content creators, bloggers, and publishers leveraging its services. The Monumetric team offers support to comprehend your goals, collaborate on an ad revenue strategy, and even assist in its setup.
On the flip side, there are a few considerations. Beyond the minimum traffic prerequisites, there is a one-time setup fee of $99 to join Monumetrics, although this is waived for those surpassing 80,000 monthly pageviews. The payout schedule operates on a net-60-day basis, with a minimum payout threshold of $10. A critical point to note is that Monumetric exclusively supports WordPress and Blogger websites.
Key Features:
- Dynamic Ads: Monumetric’s approach involves dynamic ad placements tailored to the audience and content.
- Managed Ad Platform: The company distinguishes itself by offering hands-on support, managing the placement and oversight of your ads.
- Personal Support: Monumetric provides one-on-one attention through its dedicated team, aiding in the development of a customized ad strategy for your blog.
The revenue share with Monumetric can reach up to 70% for publishers, and the payment model operates on a CPM basis. Meeting the traffic requirement of 10,000 pageviews per month is essential to unlock the benefits of this platform.
9. Taboola

Taboola stands out as a frontrunner in the realm of content recommendations and suggestions. Wondering what that entails?
Consider the last time you perused a blog or article, and at the bottom, you encountered a section suggesting other articles or videos from external sources. These are native ads, also known as sponsored links, often facilitated through an ad network like Taboola.
By enrolling in Taboola, publishers and creators grant the network the authority to present ads through native content suggestions, be they articles or videos.
The advantage of this advertising approach lies in its seamless integration with your site’s content, delivering a more organic user experience compared to disruptive banner ads.
Taboola empowers you to curate the types of content presented to your audience, offering an uncomplicated setup process and the potential for substantial earnings.
However, there’s a noteworthy drawback: Taboola imposes a significantly high minimum traffic requirement for enrollment. Qualification necessitates a minimum of 500,000 pageviews on your blog each month. If this threshold seems daunting, you’re not alone.
For those who meet the criteria, it’s important to be aware that some suggested content on your site may not align perfectly or could be perceived as spam.
Key Features:
- Native Ad Format: Taboola’s ads are meticulously crafted to blend seamlessly with your site’s content, minimizing disruption to your users.
- User-Friendly Interface: The platform offers a straightforward and easy-to-use interface, streamlining the process for publishers and creators.
- Content Discovery Engine: Taboola’s algorithm delves into the interests of your audience, curating content recommendations that align with those interests, ensuring the most relevant suggestions.
Revenue is shared on a 50-50 basis, with 50% going to publishers and the remaining 50% to Taboola. The payment model encompasses CPC and CPM. To unlock Taboola’s features, meeting the minimum traffic requirement of 500,000 pageviews per month is imperative.
10. Revcontent

If you’re eyeing the content recommendation space but find Taboola’s minimum traffic requirements a bit steep, consider exploring Revcontent!
With a more attainable minimum threshold of 50,000 pageviews per month, Revcontent emerges as a viable option for bloggers and content creators. While it may not match Taboola’s scale, Revcontent positions itself as a robust competitor, emphasizing performance and quality.
Revcontent distinguishes itself by offering publishers unique customization options, allowing them to ensure that native ads seamlessly align with their site’s design and branding. The network provides various placement options, ranging from the bottom of blog posts to newsletters and even video ads.
Known for its stringent approval process, Revcontent ensures a focus on quality content and sensible placements, enhancing the overall user experience.
However, there are considerations. Despite having a considerably lower minimum monthly traffic requirement, hitting the 50,000-pageviews threshold still requires a decent amount of traffic. The approval process, while maintaining quality, may pose challenges for some creators. While not as expansive as competitors like Taboola and Outbrain, Revcontent has a minimum payout of $100.
Key Features:
- Widget Customization: Revcontent allows publishers to customize the appearance of content on their site through widget customization.
- Content Recommendation Technology: The platform employs a proprietary algorithm to ensure that recommendations are both relevant and engaging for the audience.
- Viral Content Discovery: Recognize a piece of content with viral potential? Revcontent provides a feature allowing publishers to promote such content, maximizing revenue opportunities.
The revenue share with Revcontent leans heavily towards publishers, with an 80-20 split in favor of creators. The payment model encompasses CPC and CPM, and the minimum traffic requirement is set at 50,000 pageviews per month.
11. BidVertiser

If you’re exploring options beyond the major players in the advertising realm, BidVertiser, a direct advertising network, might pique your interest.
Having launched in 2003, BidVertiser has expanded its reach to serve over 80,000 publishers and advertisers globally. It offers a diverse array of ad formats, including slider ads, popunder ads, and native ads.
What sets BidVertiser apart is that creators earn not only for clicks on ads but also receive additional income if those clicks lead to conversions or sales for the advertiser.
BidVertiser boasts a low payment threshold of $10, coupled with no minimum traffic requirements. Similar to Revcontent, it equips creators with tools for customizing the design of ad units, ensuring seamless integration with their websites and content. Additionally, it maintains a 100% fill rate.
An appealing aspect of BidVertiser is its automated approval process. Meeting the joining requirements results in instant approval, enabling creators to commence revenue generation promptly.
However, BidVertiser does have its drawbacks. The ads it serves may not always align perfectly with your audience, as it lacks contextual targeting, potentially leading to lower click-through rates. Creators are required to provide a list of preferred advertisers; otherwise, BidVertiser randomly selects them. While BidVertiser has a global reach, those with non-US traffic may not experience substantial earnings.
Key Features:
- Direct Advertising Platform: Facilitates direct connections between creators and advertisers, eliminating middlemen.
- Geo-Targeting: Enables publishers to segment their audience based on demographics and geography, presenting targeted ads for enhanced revenue generation.
- Transparency: BidVertiser provides creators with comprehensive details on incoming bids, winning bids, and revenue earned, ensuring transparency in the process.
BidVertiser’s revenue share remains undisclosed, and it operates on a CPC, CPM, and CPA payment model. Importantly, there are no traffic requirements for creators to join.
12. Mediavine
Mediavine stands out as a preferred ad network for numerous bloggers and content creators, celebrated for its commitment to optimizing earning potential while ensuring a positive user experience for audiences.
Let’s delve into the advantages.
Mediavine boasts faster ad delivery compared to many other ad networks, resulting in reduced wait times for users to view ads. Remarkably, Mediavine asserts that its ads load 200% faster than those of competitors.
Prioritizing user experience extends to other facets, including SEO-optimized website scripts and high-quality ad placements striking a balance between revenue generation and user experience.
Renowned for having some of the highest revenue per mille (RPM) in the industry, Mediavine features a substantial pool of top publishers and advertisers. It further fosters a robust community of creators who not only support one another but also engage in mutual learning and networking at conferences and events.
Similar to many ad networks, Mediavine does have a notable downside – its minimum traffic requirement. While not as daunting as some, a minimum of 50,000 sessions per month, predominantly from the USA, is necessary for qualification.
Additionally, Mediavine mandates 100% exclusivity from its publishers, meaning concurrent usage of other ad networks on the same site is prohibited.
Key Features:
- Strong Community: Publishers gain access to Mediavine’s dedicated Facebook group, facilitating networking with industry experts and fellow content creators.
- Dynamic Ad Placements: Mediavine prioritizes high-quality ads, emphasizing a superior user experience and enhanced viewability.
- Transparent Reporting: Both creators and advertisers benefit from detailed insights and analytics provided by Mediavine. The platform includes a dashboard showcasing top posts and RPMs.
Mediavine operates on a revenue share model, with 75% allocated to publishers and 25% to Mediavine. The payment model is based on CPM, and the traffic requirement for qualification is set at 50,000 monthly sessions.
13. Adsterra

Adsterra stands out as a reputable and dependable ad network, providing global coverage and serving as a compelling alternative to larger networks. It particularly caters to creators seeking extensive worldwide coverage and a diverse range of ad types.
Presenting itself as the premier ad network for publishers, Adsterra boasts a swift 10-minute approval process, a 100% fill rate, and a network comprising over 12,000 advertisers. Notably, there is no minimum traffic requirement for joining.
As a self-serve platform, Adsterra ensures ease of use, offering publishers a selection of ad types such as Popunder, social bar, in-page push, native banners, and standard banners. Beyond typical desktop and mobile website traffic, Adsterra allows monetization of social and mobile app traffic.
Adsterra brings additional advantages, including a three-level anti-fraud system for a secure experience, flexible payment options tailored to individual needs, and a Partner Care support system. The support system provides 24/7 multilingual chat assistance for users.
On the downside, Adsterra maintains a minimum payment threshold of $100, and CPM rates may vary based on location.
Key Features:
- Referral Program: Adsterra offers a referral program for publishers, enabling them to earn 5% of the revenue generated from anyone they refer.
- Strong Security: Employing a combination of in-house and third-party fraud detection tools, along with manual human reviews, Adsterra is committed to providing top-notch security.
- Customer Support: With 24/7 support available in multiple languages, Adsterra ensures assistance is readily accessible for its users.
Adsterra operates with an undisclosed revenue share model and supports various payment models, including CPC, CPM, CPI, CPA, and CPL. Notably, there are no traffic requirements for publishers to join.
14. Sovrn (Formerly VigLink)

Sovrn operates as a supply-side platform (SSP), providing a suite of tools and services to publishers and creators for effective content monetization. Its approach integrates traditional ad-serving techniques with advanced methods such as automated affiliate linking, powered by VigLink, a company acquired by Sovrn.
Creators utilizing Sovrn gain access to the Sovrn Data Collective, recognized as the “world’s largest publisher collective for deep consumer insights and enriched audience data.” Currently serving over 60,000 sites, Sovrn offers an array of services including an ad exchange, ad management, and more.
Setting up Sovrn’s tools and integrating them with your website is a straightforward process. Notably, Sovrn can automatically convert relevant links to affiliate links, even on older content. The platform provides customizable ad formats to suit your audience.
While Sovrn does not impose minimum traffic requirements for joining, it does have a minimum payout threshold set at $25 ($50 for wire transfer). The approval process is relatively strict, and payments follow a net-60 structure.
Key Features:
- Signal: Sovrn’s Signal feature empowers publishers to delve into their audience’s behavior, utilizing these insights to tailor their ad units.
- Automated Affiliate Conversion: Formerly known as VigLink, this feature enables the automatic conversion of standard links into affiliate links.
- Access to Sovrn Data Collective: Publishers can leverage data from Sovrn’s collective to understand which ads audiences are engaging with, aiding in revenue optimization.
Sovrn operates on a revenue share model, allocating 75% to publishers and retaining 25%. It supports various payment models, including CPM, CPC, and CPA. Sovrn does not impose traffic requirements for participation.
15. BuySellAds

BuySellAds operates as an ad marketplace, facilitating revenue generation for publishers by directly connecting them with advertisers across websites, newsletters, and podcasts.
The process involves publishers listing their available ad inventory and CPM in a centralized marketplace. Advertisers can then submit bids for these ad placements, with creators reviewing and approving the proposed creative before the ads go live on their sites.
BuySellAds prides itself on offering an easy-to-use platform, featuring non-disruptive ad types, contextual brand sponsorships aligned with content, and a dependable payment schedule.
While the platform offers numerous advantages, there’s a slight learning curve for beginners. Additionally, there are minimum payment thresholds, ranging from $20 for PayPal to $500 for wire transfer.
Key Features:
- Range of Products: Creators can monetize various platforms, including websites, newsletters, and podcasts.
- Pricing Control: Publishers have the flexibility to set their own rates through BuySellAds, giving them more control over their earnings.
- Marketplace: BuySellAds’ marketplace facilitates direct connections between publishers and advertisers, ensuring that ad placements align with the goals of both parties.
BuySellAds operates on a revenue share model, allocating 75% to publishers and retaining 25%. The payment model is primarily based on CPM, and there are no specific traffic requirements for participation.
16. Ezoic

Ezoic stands out as a technology-driven ad network that harnesses the power of AI to optimize ad placements, enhance revenue, and maintain a positive user experience for publishers.
As a Google Certified Publishing Partner, Ezoic adheres to industry standards in serving ads on websites. It distinguishes itself by being the first in the industry to integrate AI and machine learning into its features. These technologies enable Ezoic to conduct tests on various ad placements, formats, and sizes, determining the most effective formula for publishers to maximize earnings while ensuring a superior user experience.
Ezoic provides creators with the flexibility to choose placeholders for ad locations or specify user experience metrics, such as page load time. The AI considers these preferences when deciding how to serve ads to the audience. Notably, there is no minimum traffic requirement for signing up, and Ezoic caters to global traffic, allowing creators to generate income from diverse sources.
However, it’s important to note that significant earnings may be more likely with US traffic, and there might be a learning curve as creators familiarize themselves with Ezoic’s tools. Temporary performance issues may also arise as Ezoic experiments with different layouts and placements to optimize results.
Key Features:
- Mediation: Ezoic’s Mediation feature enables publishers to integrate and manage multiple ad networks, including Google AdSense, alongside Ezoic. This allows networks to compete for ad inventory, ensuring creators receive the highest possible bids.
- Leap: An exclusive toolset, Leap provides creators with insights and tips to improve speed metrics, page load times, and Core Web Vitals scores.
- Humix: An innovative video tool that allows creators to share and display videos from other publishers on their own website.
Ezoic operates on a revenue share model, allocating 90% to publishers and retaining 10%. The payment model includes CPM and Earnings Per Thousand Visitors (EPMV). The traffic requirement for participation is 10,000 monthly visitors.
17. RevenueHits

RevenueHits distinguishes itself as a self-service, performance-driven ad network tailored for creators with high-intent audiences likely to engage in actions like making purchases or signing up for advertisers.
The core of RevenueHits’ model revolves around a performance-based approach, particularly emphasizing cost per action (CPA). In this framework, creators earn income when users click an ad on their site and successfully complete an action, such as making a purchase or signing up for the advertiser’s service.
Key Highlights:
- CPA Model: Publishers receive payments based on user actions, such as sales, sign-ups, registrations, form fills, or other predefined activities.
- Ad Formats: RevenueHits offers a range of ad formats, including display banners, shadow box, floating banners, footer sticky, in-page push, and more.
- Referral Program: Creators can participate in a referral program, earning up to 10% of the earnings generated by publishers they refer for a year.
Noteworthy Aspects:
- No Minimum Traffic Requirement: RevenueHits welcomes publishers without a minimum traffic requirement, offering flexibility in participation.
- High Earnings Potential: With payouts of up to $50 per acquisition, there is a substantial earnings potential for creators, especially those with a high-intent audience.
- Payment Thresholds: Publishers should be aware of minimum payment thresholds, set at $20 for PayPal and $500 for wire transfers.
- Payment Model: RevenueHits operates on multiple payment models, including CPA, CPL (Cost Per Lead), and CPM (Cost Per Mille).
- Ad Quality and User Experience: While RevenueHits presents an opportunity for earnings, it may not have the same reputation for high-quality ads that prioritize a positive user experience compared to some other networks.
- Undisclosed Revenue Share: The specific revenue share percentage that RevenueHits retains is undisclosed.
In summary, RevenueHits offers an alternative approach with a focus on performance-driven models, making it suitable for creators seeking opportunities based on user actions. The absence of a minimum traffic requirement and the potential for high earnings based on user conversions contribute to the appeal of this ad network. However, creators should consider the trade-offs, including the minimum payment thresholds and potential variations in overall earnings.
Selecting the right ad network is a crucial decision for content creators, bloggers, and publishers. The process involves understanding the nuances, weighing the pros and cons of each platform, and grasping their diverse payment models and methods.
The key factor is ensuring that the chosen platform aligns with your content goals and values. Before making a decision, it’s essential to clarify what matters most to you – whether it’s the quality of ads, user experience, or payout frequency – and verify that these priorities are reflected in the ad network you opt for.
Whether you’re a novice blogger embarking on the journey to monetize your content or an experienced creator reevaluating your revenue strategy, this guide aims to assist you in making well-informed decisions to maximize your earnings.
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