Blog · Website monetization

How to monetize a website beyond AdSense

Published Updated 4 min read
Short answerYou can earn more than AdSense alone by adding other ad partners and formats next to it: video, fullscreen interstitials or popunders, for example. The key is to keep within each partner's policies, avoid overloading pages and judge every change by revenue per thousand sessions, not by one network's numbers.
Contents
  1. Why look beyond AdSense?
  2. Can you use AdSense and other ad networks together?
  3. Which formats to add
  4. How to add a second network without hurting the site
  5. How to measure whether it really earns more
  6. Header bidding: the next step
  7. Checklist
  8. Frequently asked questions

Google AdSense is often the first ad network a website owner tries, and for good reason: it is easy to start and has a large pool of advertisers. But many publishers reach a point where AdSense alone leaves money on the table: some formats are not available, some pages earn little, or the account is limited. This article explains how to add other monetization without breaking anything.

Why look beyond AdSense?

  • Formats. Your site may suit formats that your current setup does not use, such as preroll in your own video player, a preloader on embedded videos or a popunder.
  • Fill. Not every ad request gets a good ad. Another partner can fill requests that would otherwise earn little or nothing.
  • Diversification. If all revenue depends on one account, any suspension or policy change hits the whole business.
  • Regional demand. Some partners have stronger demand in specific regions, for example LATAM, Europe or the CIS.

Can you use AdSense and other ad networks together?

Yes, in general. AdSense allows other ads on the same pages as long as those ads follow AdSense policies — for example, they must not imitate Google ads or push your site into a poor user experience. Policies change, so always read the current AdSense program policies and the rules of every other partner before you combine them. Wizads ads are compatible with Google AdSense and other ad networks.

Which formats to add

Your situation Format to try Why
You host videos in your own player Preroll via VAST Video ads usually pay more per impression than banners
Videos are embedded from an external player Preloader Shows a video ad over a player you cannot modify
Long articles with lots of scrolling Autoplay with Flyroll A sticky player stays in view while reading
Mostly mobile traffic Fullscreen interstitial Takes the whole screen once, at page open
Visitors click through many pages Popunder Opens in a new tab after a click, does not cover content

Start with one new format on part of the site rather than everywhere at once.

How to add a second network without hurting the site

  1. Map your current units. Which ad units exist, where, and what each one earns.
  2. Pick one experiment. One new partner, one format, one section of the site.
  3. Keep the layout stable. Reserve space for ad slots so the page does not jump while ads load. Layout shifts hurt both users and Core Web Vitals.
  4. Mind the density. Do not add units on top of everything already there; replace weak units instead.
  5. Add the partner's ads.txt lines. Without them, many buyers will not bid. See our ads.txt guide.
  6. Check speed. Compare page load and interaction metrics before and after.
  7. Run it long enough. Two to four weeks smooths out daily and weekly swings.

How to measure whether it really earns more

Each network's dashboard shows only its own revenue. To see the real effect, use one number for the whole site:

  • Revenue per thousand sessions (session RPM) = total ad revenue from all partners ÷ sessions × 1,000.
  • Compare it for the same pages and the same period length, before and during the test.
  • Watch bounce rate and pages per session: if visitors leave faster, the gain may disappear next month.

If session RPM goes up and engagement stays the same, keep the change. If not, roll it back and try a different format or placement.

Header bidding: the next step

When you work with several demand partners, header bidding lets them bid for the same impression at the same time, instead of passing it from one network to the next. It takes more setup, but it is the standard way to make partners compete. Wizads supports Prebid for the banner format.

Checklist

  • Read the current policies of AdSense and every other partner
  • Choose one format and one section for the first test
  • Reserve space for ad slots
  • Add ads.txt lines for the new partner
  • Measure session RPM, bounce rate and speed before and during the test
  • Keep what improves total revenue, remove what does not

Frequently asked questions

Will adding another network reduce my AdSense earnings?

It can, if the new units take attention from existing ones or slow down the page. That is why you measure total revenue per thousand sessions rather than each network separately.

Do I need a lot of traffic to add other networks?

Requirements differ. Wizads, for example, accepts sites from 1,000 unique visitors per day and moderates new sites within 24 hours. See the publisher page for details.

Which is better: one network or several?

Several partners usually mean more competition and better fill, but each one adds code to the page. Most publishers find a balance with two or three well-chosen partners. Our website monetization guide covers the basics.

About the author

Wizads team

Wizads is an advertising network with its own DSP, SSP and ad server. Our team writes about programmatic advertising, website monetization and buying traffic.

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