Top 7 Ad Networks for Beginners

For bloggers, vloggers, podcasters, and creatives of any kind, ad networks are their bread and butter. Finding the top ad networks for beginners that work for your audience can be the difference between online success and failure. To become an online success, you have to strike a balance between monetizing your content but not spamming your viewers with ads.

One the other side of the fence, online advertising is one of the most cost-efficient and productive marketing methods for emerging businesses.

Here are a few top ad networks that can help beginner bloggers earn passive income successfully. The following list is curated to highlight the top ad networks that are easy to use and provide excellent financial compensation.

Note: this article is purely written to provide information and has no affiliate links.

Basic add types

There are many ad types for your website. Most ad networks will focus on the three main ad types, so we will summarize them for you.

CPC

Our favorite ad type for beginners is CPC because every time someone clicks the ad, you get paid. This ad type is standard on beginner websites because the ad network has little risk.  

CPA

Per action adds another layer to per click. The fee depends on the click plus a specific action like a purchase. So we try to use this on a site where there is buyer intent, like reviews. It is also beginner-friendly from the ad networks standpoint as they have minimal risk.

CPM

Per mille relates cost to the number of people who see the advertisement. The rates for CPM are measured per 1000 views. We recommend this method for high traffic websites and as the most passive method.

Many networks have traffic minimums, and if you get enough traffic, you might consider a premium ad network for better rates. There is always an approval process for CPM networks so they can verify traffic and content suitability.

AdSense

AdSense is one of the biggest names in the business. As one of Google’s many companies, it comes with a certain level of reliability and security. The site offers CPC based advertisements or Cost Per Click. For the uninitiated, this is when a business places an ad and pays you for only the number of people clicking through.

So, for example, you have a blog where you feature an ad 30 times a day. During this time, 15 customers go from your blog to the website of the business sponsoring the ad. According to CPC policies, you receive payment for 15 clicks. This is a format a lot of top ad networks follow.

One way you can maximize your AdSense revenue is by integrating it with Google Analytics, which is another tool that helps businesses record and analyze data related to online traffic, sales, etc.

Pros

• High reliability since it is owned by Google
• Transparency for both parties involved
• Contextual ad networking platform, so the ads are targeted based on audience interests and niche, which performs better since users are more likely to click on these ads

Cons

• Difficult approval process
• If you break any of their restrictions, it is easy to get your account blocked
• Recent reports of invalid clicks have been increasing

Media.net

One of the top ad networks, Media.net, is an excellent alternative to AdSense. Like AdSense, they provide contextual ad networking. To understand how this works, you first need to recognize what targeting means and how networks like Media.net do it.

Everyone knows that the success of advertisements, no matter what kind, depends mainly on who sees it, along with when and where. Most blogs and websites cater to niche audiences, i.e., subgroups within a more extensive customer base. So, the beauty industry may be a customer base, and a website catering specifically to Asian skincare would serve as a niche.

What top ad networks like Media.net do is that they’ll scan your website to identify keywords. These are phrases you often use that draw your audience to your content. Then they match advertisements to those keywords.

As a result, the ads your audience sees are carefully curated to fit your content and their needs. Your audience is more likely to click on these ads, you are more likely to get paid for them, and the business that sponsored the ad is more likely to make a sale. Everybody wins.

Pros

• Media.net runs Yahoo and Bing ads, so it is a reliable ad agency
• Contextual advertising which maximizes profits
• They offer CPC, CPA, and CPM programs.
• You can choose to receive payment per click, per action, or per mille.

Cons

• Ad layouts are unique, so you will need to adjust your website design to match
• Payment methods are through Paypal and Web Money and have a minimum requirement of $100.

Propeller Ads

Similar to Media.net, Propeller Ads also offers users options for CPC, CPA, and CPM programs. But what distinguishes them from other top ad networks is their enhanced useability. Propeller Ads has easy to use screen options and layout for all devices, be it your mobile or desktop.

And their ad placements and format are suited to everything from social media platforms to games. So if your content isn’t restricted to writing on a blog and if you want to monetize a wide variety of platforms, then Propeller Ads is the network for you.

Another reason they stand out is their lack of an approval process. Unlike AdSense, which makes users jump through a bunch of hurdles and comply with a whole list of demands, almost anyone can use Propeller Ads. They are diligent with their fast payments, and their minimum payment requirements are 100 dollars on PayZa or Payoneer. But that limit goes up to $550 if you want a bank transfer.

Pros

• Multiple program options which include CPA, CPC, and CPM
• Easy to use on any device
• Optimized design for websites, social media platforms, games, and anywhere else you want to monetize your content.
• No complicated approval process

Cons

• Minimum payment at $100 on Payza or Payoneer, $500 with bank transfer

Popads

Although all of the networks mentioned so far are top ad networks, and beginners can easily use them, they do not cater specifically to beginner bloggers, startup publishers, or small businesses. This is where Popads comes in.

For one, they have an instant approval policy like Propeller Ads, so you don’t need to meet any traffic requirements. However, unlike other top ad networks, they have a higher CPM rate, so you get paid more based merely on the number of people who visit your website and the number of times you post the ad. This is perfect for startups whose sole goal is increasing online traffic.

Secondly, their payment minimum is a low $5, which is great for beginner bloggers who are struggling to meet costs, much less make a profit. You can receive payment using Paypal or Payoneer. You can also use Popads to place advertisements on any type of website without limitation or restriction.

Pros

• High CPM rate perfect for beginners
• Payment minimum at $5, which caters to people starting out
• No approval policy

Cons

• No ad program options available

Chitika

Similar to Popads, Chitika caters to a beginner audience offering goods rates for CPM, clicks per mille. This policy is designed so that you get more money as your online traffic increases. You don’t have to worry about people clicking through to the site or purchasing products. All your viewers need to do is visit your site and see the ad.

They also have no requirements for new sites so that you can join today. The payment thresholds are at a low $10 for Paypal and $50 for cheques. These are slightly higher than Popads but not by much.

It is important to remember that you don’t have to restrict yourself to one ad service. You can use two or more simultaneously and diversify your income streams.  

Pros

• High CPM rate perfect for beginners
• Payment minimum at $10, which caters to people starting out
• No approval policy

Cons

• No ad program options available

Infolinks

Infolinks is definitely one of the top ad networks, but it is not for everybody. While there are a lot of different ad networks that promise amazing results, there are only a few that will mesh with your audience. Your goal is to identify and pick the format your audience will relate to.

Infolinks is an excellent ad service for websites whose content is text-centric. If you are a creative whose content is text-based, then this is the service for you. Their ads come as in-text formats, banners, and overlays. You can also choose between placing them in-screen or in-frame.

They work with companies like Amazon, eBay, and Facebook, which gives them a level of reliability. You will receive payments in a timely fashion, and their minimum withdrawal limit is 50 dollars. Infolinks offers a range of payment methods which include Paypal, Payoneer, bank transfers, and online checks. 

Pros

• Payment minimum at $10, which is the midrange
• Useful for websites with text-centric content
• Range of payment methods
• Increased reliability since they work with companies like Amazon and eBay

Cons

• Only suitable for a limited user base

Revenue hits

Revenue hits works in a fashion that is quite different from other advertising platforms on the market. And if this method suits you, then you can make a lot of money fast. Some users make anywhere between 10 and 100 dollars daily.

The reason their methods are so different is that they only offer CPA or click per action ads. This means you only get paid when someone follows a link through your website and purchases a product. You receive payment per item sold, instantly, and at very high rates.

So, if you are a website that gives product reviews or has a following that comes to you for comparisons between products, then you can make a lot of money using Revenue Hits. Because your customer base is already prepared to make a purchase when they come to you. And that can instantly transfer into cash in your pocket.

Pros

• Payment minimum at $50, which is the midrange
• Offers a range of payment options which includes Payoneer, Paypal, and bank transfer
• Daily payment at high rates

Cons

• Only offers CPA or Cash Per Action benefits.

Conclusion

 If you are looking for an advertising company, there are a lot of top ad networks for beginners that you can choose. But, your decision must ultimately depend on your customer base and the type of content you post.