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How Many Ads Should You Put On Your Website?

Generating revenue through ad placements on a website is a common strategy used by online advertising executives, bloggers, and publishers. However, there is no set rule for determining the correct number of ads to feature on a site. 

But fear not; there are guidelines that can help individuals find the optimal number of display ads to use. In this article, we’ll explore the factors that influence the number and placement of ads, such as website layout, content length, and user behavior, to help you determine the right number of ads for your website.

How Does Website Monetization Work?

Publishers have a great opportunity to monetize their websites by placing ads, a form of online advertising, on their web pages. The aim is to encourage users to interact with the ad types, leading them to a landing page where they may make a purchase, generating ad revenue for the publisher. 

Two revenue models used for online advertising are Cost Per Click (CPC) and Cost Per Mille (CPM), where CPC pays the publisher when a user clicks on an ad, while CPM pays per thousand impressions. 

There are different ad space types, including banner ads, rich media ads, interstitial ads, sidebar ads, and sticky ads, with various ad sizes and placements on a webpage. Affiliate marketing is another approach bloggers and publishers use to make money by promoting another company’s products or services. 

To learn more about programmatic advertising, including how to monetize a website, check out our beginner’s guide.

How Much Can You Make From Ads?

The amount of money a publisher can make from ads on their website depends on several factors, including their niche or genre, website traffic, ad placement, and more. 

Google AdSense is one of the most popular ad networks used by many publishers to monetize their webpage. However, the revenue generated from ads can vary greatly depending on the industry, as some niches may have higher advertising demand and click-through rates than others. 

Starting statistics indicate that publishers in the fashion industry can make around $0.45 per click, while those in the automotive industry can make around $0.80 per click. It’s important to note that these are only averages, and actual earnings may differ. 

For a more accurate estimate of how much you could earn, you can use Newor Media’s earnings calculator.  

Ultimately, the key to the successful monetization of a website is to experiment with different ad placements and strategies while keeping in mind search engine optimization and user experience.

Is There a Right Time To Put Ads Onto a Website?

While it’s ultimately up to the publisher when they decide to place ads on their website, there are strategies that can help optimize results. Two important timing considerations to keep in mind are having at least 50 high-quality pieces of content live on the website and receiving at least 100 organic visits per day. 

This amount ensures that the website has a strong foundation and can support the addition of ads without negatively impacting metrics such as website traffic, page views, and bounce rate. Quality content and SEO optimization are also crucial for driving traffic and making sure that visitors engage with the website. 

In terms of ads, it’s essential to balance the number of ads with viewability and user experience and to consider factors such as ad placement and the use of Google Ads or Adsense ads. For more in-depth reading on this topic, check out our blog page on when to put ads on your website.

Determining the Right Number of Ads for Your Website

Determining the correct number of ads for your website is a crucial aspect of successful monetization. While it may be tempting to flood your website with ads to increase revenue, finding the right balance is essential to maintaining a positive user experience and optimizing metrics such as page views and bounce rate. 

In this section, we will explore some guidelines and strategies for determining the right number of ads for your website, taking into account factors such as website layout, content length, and user behavior.

Content to Ad Ratios

The content-to-ad ratio on a webpage is important when determining the right number of online advertising. Generally speaking, it’s best to err on the side of having more quality content than ad types, as too many ads can negatively impact the user experience and lead to high bounce rates. 

As a general guideline, a content-to-ad ratio of around 4:1 or 5:1 is often recommended. This philosophy means that every ad should have at least four or five pieces of quality content. 

However, it’s essential to keep in mind that the optimal ratio may vary depending on factors such as website layout, content length, and user behavior. Experimenting with different ratios and tracking metrics such as page views and bounce rate can help determine the right balance for your website.

Popular Opinion: Best Number of Ads per Page

In terms of the ideal number of ads per page, there is some debate and variation in opinion among publishers and advertisers. Some sources suggest that three to four ads per page are ideal, while others recommend a slightly higher or lower number depending on the website, ad sizes, and content.

According to Google AdSense guidelines, publishers should aim to strike a balance between providing a good user experience and maximizing revenue. They suggest publishers should avoid placing too many ads on a page, which can negatively impact user experience and lead to high bounce rates. 

Instead, they recommend testing different ad placements and layouts to find the right balance for each individual website.

While there may not be a one-size-fits-all answer to the question of the ideal number of ads per page, many publishers and advertisers agree that it’s vital to prioritize user experience and quality content. 

Focusing on delivering value to readers through engaging and informative content can help build trust and loyalty, which can ultimately lead to more clicks and conversions on ads.

As such, we recommend starting with a conservative number of ads, such as three or four, and monitoring metrics such as bounce rate, page views, and ad revenue to determine the optimal balance for your website. 

Additionally, testing different ad formats, placements, and sizes can help determine which ads perform best and provide the most value to both the publisher and the user.

Ad Network Placement Policies

AdSense, Newor Media, and other ad networks typically have guidelines and policies in place regarding the number of ads that they can place on a single page. These policies are in place to ensure a good user experience, prevent ad spamming, and maintain the integrity of the advertising network.

For example, Google AdSense’s program policies state that publishers may not place more than three ad units, three link units, and two search boxes on any given page. Additionally, they require that ads comply with their ad placement policies, which dictate where ads can and cannot be on a page.

Newor Media also has guidelines in place to ensure that publishers are not spamming their pages with ads. They recommend a maximum of four to five ads per page and suggest testing different ad formats and placements to optimize performance and revenue.

Other ad networks may have different policies and guidelines in place. Still, the general rule is to avoid spamming pages with too many ads and to prioritize user experience and quality content.

It’s crucial for publishers to familiarize themselves with the policies and guidelines of their chosen ad network and to follow best practices for ad placement and optimization to maximize revenue while maintaining a good user experience.

Why Avoid Placing Too Many Ads

Overcrowding a page or a piece of content with too many ads can have adverse effects on the user experience and overall monetization strategy. Firstly, having too many ads on one page can slow down the website load time, leading to a poor user experience. 

If content or pages are littered with ads, this can also negatively affect the user experience, causing users to leave the site or not interact with any ads. Additionally, including too many ads above the fold can affect SEO rankings, as places like Google search may penalize websites for having too many ads in prominent positions.

Furthermore, if there is too much happening on a page for the user, chances are they will not interact with any ads, meaning nothing will be getting monetized. This overcrowding can also affect the overall design and aesthetic of the page. 

Although publishers want to display ads, the page should still be well-designed and pleasing to the eye. Lastly, using pop-up ads can also negatively affect the user experience if they continue to appear on the user’s screen, leading to frustration and potentially causing users to leave the site altogether.

To avoid these negative consequences or resort to no ad at all, publishers should focus on optimizing the user experience while still including ads in a reasonable and balanced way. This idea means being strategic about ad placement and avoiding overcrowding pages with too many ads. 

Publishers can also experiment with different ad formats and placements to find the optimal balance between user experience and monetization.

Find the Right Strategy With the Right Partner

Finding the right balance between content and ads on a website is crucial for the success of digital marketing efforts. Publishers need to consider the number of ad units and ad placement and how they affect user experience, page speed, and SEO rankings. One way to determine the ideal ratio is to test different strategies and analyze metrics such as click-through rate, bounce rate, and page views.

Newor Media takes this process a step further by offering an automated testing and human brainstorming approach to determine the exact number of ads that generate the highest possible revenues for each publisher. This method ensures that a small business and digital marketer can maximize ad revenues without compromising user experience or website performance.

In addition to ad optimization, Newor Media also offers a range of benefits that set them apart from competitors. These include personalized support from an experienced team, access to multiple ad networks, and a user-friendly dashboard that simplifies ad management.

If you’re looking to monetize your website ads and generate higher revenues, consider partnering with Newor Media. Contact their team today for more information, or sign up to become a publisher on their platform.

Matthew Whille

Senior Account Manager, Publisher Development: Newor Media

Matt is an expert in the AdTech in MarTech space, with over 10 years of experience. He currently works with our publishers to increase their earnings and has demonstrated success in client success and account management. He's skilled in programmatic, with expertise in sales planning, campaign activation, research, reporting, strategy implementation and SEO. Follow Matt for more useful programmatic content!