Unfortunately, bad things occasionally happen when it comes to monetizing websites. Bad things sometimes happen when relying on Google AdSense for online income. Google does not always make their reasons for closing down a publisher account clear or known. This leaves many webmasters each year scrambling for alternatives.
Luckily, there are options available. They do not always produce an income at the same level of AdSense, but sadly sometimes your options are something or nothing.
Lijit allows Publishers to earn with both advertising space and a personalized search feature. Payments are made monthly via PayPal with a $25 minimum.
AdBrite offers quite a few ad options; full page, CPM banners, CPC banners, content ads, keyword targeting and video advertising. You do have the option to manually approve advertisers with AdBrite. Payment is made by check only. The default threshold is set at $100, however you can choose a minimum as low as $5.
Bidvertiser pays monthly by check ($100 minimum) or PayPal ($10). Ad options include banners, rectangles, skyscrapers and mobile. You can view the Publisher Guidelines here.
Chitika offers search-targeted, mobile and local ads. This network is unique in that only search traffic will be shown ads. Your regular readers’ experience will remain unchanged. Payments are made Net 30 by PayPal ($10 minimum) or check ($50 minimum).
Infolinks is often listed as an AdSenes alternative, however this is in-text advertising not ad blocks. Keywords within your content will be targeted by advertisers. The minimum payment threshold for PayPal, eCheck, ACH and Payoneer is $50. If you receive payment via Bank Wire Transfer or Western Union it is $100.
Clicksor offers inline text links, text or graphical banners, pop-unders and interstitial ads. Payment is made every 15 days by PayPal, check or wire transfer with a $50 minimum.
Kontera is another in-text advertising option. The payment threshold is $50. Kontera is currently offering a signing bonus to sites with more than 25,000 pageviews per month.
Media.net offers content ads, search targeting, a web bar and mobile advertising. Advertisers come from a number of sources, including the Yahoo/Bing Marketplace. Payment is made Net 30 via PayPal or wire transfer with a $100 minimum.
IZEA Media is an advertising network from Social Spark. Payments are calculated per impression not per click. Payments can be made by PayPal. There is a $2 fee for withdrawals under $50.
Are you aware of any Google AdSense alternatives that I missed? Have you had success with any of the above?
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About Angie Nelson
Thanks Angie, I have been looking at different ways to monetize. Do you use all of them of just a few? and if so which ones would you highly recommend?
I have not tried them all. I do use AdSense, which prevents me from using some of these.
I have tried IZEA Media and Lijit. I was happy with their ads. I just felt I could make more with other options.
I have heard good things about Media.net and Infolinks, but I have not tried those personally.
I think Izea has gone down to 25 cents per 1000 views for new users!! I removed them from my site yesterday. I am going to try out some other options. Thanks for this list!! I wish it were easy to try them all and see what works best for my sites!
Whoa! Thanks for sharing the IZEA update, Miranda. I was making far, far more than that when I had their ad blocks up. What a bummer. I really liked their ads.
I have had good luck with (so far) with media.net and Infolinks. Izea Media has been good, too, but like Miranda I did remove their ads from my main site since I believe there are other more lucrative options for the space they previously occupied.
It’s scary rolling that dice. I’m happy that media.net is working out so well!
What a timely post, seeing as how I was just banned from Google Adsense.
I haven’t had that much luck with ad networks, as the CPM model requires that you have millions of pages views to make any decent money. I’ve heard good things about Infolinks and daily deal sites like MooLaLa.
My plan moving forward to is do more direct ad sales, secure corporate sponsorships and to participate in more affiliate programs.
I just signed up for MooLaLa under you, Holly. I use daily deal referral programs a lot on my budget site.
I do still use AdSense, but it isn’t in my big earner category. I think that is a good thing based on your and others’ experiences recently. If I had to replace it, I think I could. And, I’m sure you will rather easily also.
Hi Angie, this is Pamela from Infolinks. Thanks for including us in this list! In-Text ads are just one of the many advertising tools that we offer. We have several other non In-Text options to go along. And we’re also compatible with AdSense, making us a great complement to them on any site.
Happy blogging!
Pamela
I think infolinks is the second best for the most people. Media.net is not bad also, but they are very picky with approving blogs!