Display advertising
Google Adsense is the most popular way to earn from display ads, but it is not the only option. Several other display advertising networks offer higher payouts, better ad quality, and more features for stores with decent traffic.
What Are Display Advertising Networks?
Display advertising networks connect advertisers with website owners. They place banner ads, video ads, and other visual ads on your store pages. You earn money when visitors see or click these ads.
This is a great way to earn additional income from your store alongside your affiliate commissions.
If you are new to display ads, we recommend starting with Google Adsense first. Check out our Google Adsense guide to get started.
Popular Display Ad Networks
Here are the main display advertising networks worth considering for your affiliate store:
Mediavine
- Minimum traffic: 50,000 sessions per month
- Payouts: Significantly higher than Adsense (often 2-5x more)
- Best for: Content-heavy stores with strong article traffic
- Mediavine is widely considered the gold standard for display ads. They are selective, but the payouts reflect that quality.
Raptive (formerly AdThrive)
- Minimum traffic: 100,000 pageviews per month
- Payouts: Among the highest in the industry
- Best for: High-traffic stores in premium niches
- Raptive works with top-tier advertisers and offers excellent support. The high traffic threshold means this is a goal to work towards.
Ezoic
- Minimum traffic: No minimum (open to all sites)
- Payouts: Varies, but generally better than Adsense
- Best for: Stores that don't yet qualify for Mediavine or Raptive
- Ezoic uses AI to test ad placements automatically. It is a good stepping stone between Adsense and the premium networks.
Amazon Native Shopping Ads
- Minimum traffic: Active Amazon Associates account required
- Payouts: Commission-based (same as affiliate links)
- Best for: Stores already using Amazon affiliate products
- These ads show relevant Amazon products within your content. Since you are already an Amazon affiliate, this is an easy addition that blends naturally with your store.
Which Network Should You Choose?
Your choice depends on your traffic levels:
| Monthly Traffic | Recommended Network |
| Just starting out | Google Adsense |
| Growing (under 50k sessions) | Ezoic or Amazon Native Shopping Ads |
| 50,000+ sessions | Mediavine |
| 100,000+ pageviews | Raptive |
Tips for Display Ads on Affiliate Stores
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Protect your affiliate clicks. Place display ads on article and content pages rather than product pages. Your product pages should focus on driving affiliate sales.
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Test and compare. Try different networks for a month each and compare your total earnings (display ads plus affiliate commissions combined).
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Watch your page speed. Display ads add weight to your pages. Monitor your store speed and remove ads if they slow things down too much.
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Don't stack too many ads. More ads does not always mean more money. Too many ads will drive visitors away and hurt your search rankings.
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Check exclusivity rules. Some premium networks like Mediavine require exclusivity, meaning you cannot run other ad networks alongside them.
Getting Started
If you haven't set up display ads yet, start with Google Adsense:
🔗 Google Adsense strategy guide
🔗 How to add Google Adsense to your store
Once your traffic grows, apply to Ezoic or Mediavine for higher earnings.