Adsterra make money online

 

Introduction

Making money online via advertising is one of the most common monetization models for websites, blogs, apps, and content platforms. Among the many ad networks available, Adsterra is often recommended as an alternative to big names like Google AdSense, especially for publishers or marketers who need more flexibility, fewer restrictions, or different ad formats.

In this article, we’ll go deep into using Adsterra: how it works, how you can monetize via it, how advertisers use it, what you should watch out for, strategies to maximize revenue, real-world case studies, and whether it’s worth your time.

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What is Adsterra?

Adsterra is an ad network (ad exchange / ad monetization platform) that connects publishers (people or websites wanting to monetize their traffic) with advertisers (those who want to display ads). It was founded around 2013, and over the years it has grown in scale, offering multiple ad formats, targeting options, and support services.

• It positions itself as a flexible, publisher-friendly network, allowing smaller sites to monetize without extremely high minimum traffic thresholds. 

• It uses a “Partner Care” approach (i.e. account managers and support) that tries to help publishers optimize. 

• It supports many ad formats (popunders, banners, native ads, direct links / smartlinks, social bar, in-page push, etc.). 

• It claims to handle billions of impressions monthly, serve many advertisers, and maintain robust targeting and anti-fraud systems. 

So in essence: Adsterra is a full-fledged ad network alternative (or complement) to mainstream options, with features suited to both small and larger publishers, and advertisers seeking diverse ad formats.

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How Adsterra Works (for Publishers and Advertisers)

To understand how you can make money with Adsterra, you need to see both sides — publisher side (monetization) and advertiser side (paying to get traffic / conversions).

For Publishers (Monetization Side)

This is likely your main interest: How do you use Adsterra to monetize your site or traffic?

Here’s the general flow:

1. Sign Up & Approval

   • You register as a publisher on Adsterra, giving details about your site (URL, traffic sources, niche, etc.).

   • Adsterra reviews your site to make sure it does not violate its policies (e.g. no illegal / adult / prohibited content).

   • Once approved, you gain access to the dashboard and ad units you can deploy.

2. Choose & Place Ad Formats

   • You pick which ad formats to use (popunders, banners, native, social bar, in-page push, etc.).

   • You embed the code (JavaScript, iframe, etc.) on your pages, ideally in strategic positions.

   • Some formats are more invasive, some more subtle; your choice depends on user experience and revenue potential.

3. Targeting & Optimization

   • You can apply filters (geographic targeting, device targeting, OS, browser, connection, etc.) to show ads to the most valuable audience. 

   • You can blacklist low-performing placements, adjust bids, pause underperforming units. 

   • Integrate with tracking tools (Voluum, RedTrack, Binom, etc.) to see performance and conversions. 

4. Revenue & Payment

   • As users view or interact with ads, you earn money. That may be via CPM (cost per mille / thousand impressions), CPC (cost per click), or hybrid depending on ad types.

   • Adsterra has varying payout thresholds depending on payment method. For instance, for some methods it is as low as $5; for others, it is higher. 

   • Payments are made on a schedule (biweekly or based on net terms) once you cross the minimum threshold. 

   • They also have a referral (affiliate) program, e.g. you earn a percentage from earnings of publishers you refer. 

Thus, your task as a publisher is: bring good, legitimate traffic; choose ad formats & placements wisely; optimize; and manage ad quality so that your users experience is acceptable (not too many annoying ads).

For Advertisers

On the advertiser side, Adsterra allows advertisers to run campaigns to drive traffic, conversions, or brand awareness. Some key points:

• Advertisers deposit funds (minimum deposit often $100) and launch campaigns with targeting, creatives, and budgets. 

• They choose the ad formats (popunder, native, banner, interstitial, social bar) depending on their campaign goals. 

• They can target audiences by country, device, OS, browser, connection type, time-of-day, etc. 

• They monitor performance, optimize by pausing poorly performing zones / times, increase bids on converting placements, etc.

• The goal is to maximize ROI (return on ad spend) — e.g. conversions, leads, installs, sales, etc.

Many affiliate marketers or direct advertisers use Adsterra to push offers (software, VPN, gaming, app installs, etc.) because of its flexibility and ad formats.

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Pros & Cons of Using Adsterra

No ad network is perfect. Below is a balanced view of advantages and drawbacks (informed by reviews, publishers’ experiences, community feedback).

Pros (Advantages)

1. Low Entry Barrier & Flexibility

   • You often don’t need extremely high traffic to get approved — smaller sites can monetize. 

   • Many ad format choices let you tailor monetization to your audience and content style.

2. Multiple Ad Formats

   • Popunder, banner, native, in-page push, social bar, direct links, etc. This diversity allows experimentation and mixed monetization.

   • Some formats are more aggressive (popunders), some more subtle (native). You can pick a suitable mix.

3. Timely Payments / Multiple Payment Options

   • Payments typically biweekly or on net terms, which is faster than many monthly-only networks. 

   • Payment methods include WebMoney, Paxum, crypto, local bank, wire, etc. 

   • Some methods have low minimum thresholds (e.g. $5).

       4             Support & Partner Care
                     They offer account managers, support to help you optimize your setups.

                       Some users praise the responsiveness and assistance. 
        5         Anti-AdBlock & Fill Rates

2. They have anti-adblock solutions to recover revenue from users with adblockers. 
3. High fill rates in many cases (i.e. publishers rarely see empty ad inventory). 
4. Global Reach
6. Good serving across different geographies; you can monetize traffic from many countries—not only tier-1. 
7. For niche traffic (e.g. less served countries), Adsterra might perform better than networks optimized only for US, UK, etc.

Cons (Disadvantages / Risks)

1. Ad Quality / Intrusiveness / User Experience

   • Some ad formats (popunders, auto-redirects) are considered intrusive; overuse can annoy visitors or hurt retention.

   • Some publishers report that unwanted ad types creep in (popunders added even when not explicitly used). 

   • Possible Malware / Malvertising Complaints

2. • There are reports (e.g. on Reddit) that Adsterra or some of its third-party ads placed malicious or undesirable content, making sites look like they host malware / spam.

   • Some say users get blacklisted by antivirus or flagged due to ad behavior. 

   • The network claims to have multi-level security / scanning, but no system is perfect. 

3. Mixed Reputation / Complaints about Payments or Account Bans

   • On Trustpilot and other review sites, there are both positive and negative reviews. Some users claim earnings were withheld, payments delayed, or accounts banned without clear explanations. 

   • Some community forums warn about “random account bans” or stricter enforcement on monetization rules.

   1. Revenue Variability & Low CPM for Some Traffic

4. • If your traffic is from low-CPM regions or low-quality sources, earnings may be very low.

   • Some reviewers say that while the network claims high rates, actual margins (after filtering, invalid traffic deductions, etc.) may be modest. 

   • Also, rates vary a lot depending on device, country, niche, time of day.

5. Stringent Policies / Compliance Risk

   • Violation of content or traffic policies can lead to rejection, account suspension, or revenue being withheld.

   • Aggressive ad formats (especially those that mislead or auto-redirect) are more likely to be scrutinized or penalized.

Thus, while Adsterra offers good opportunity, using it safely and ethically is key to long-term success.

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How to Use Adsterra Effectively: A Step-by-Step Roadmap

Here’s a practical guide and roadmap to launch and scale monetization with Adsterra.

Step 1: Preparation & Planning

Pick a Niche / Traffic Source

• Choose a niche or content vertical that draws reliable, consistent traffic (e.g. tech reviews, VPN/security, streaming, gaming, software, utilities).

• Know your traffic source: SEO traffic, social media, email, direct traffic, etc. Quality is more important than quantity.

• Focus on geographies that pay well (e.g. US, UK, Canada) if possible, while monetizing other regions as secondary.

Create Good Content & Structure

• Your site / platform should have real, original content. Thin or copied content is risky.

• Structure your site well: fast loading, good UX, mobile responsive, good navigation.

• Plan where ad placements could go (header, after paragraphs, sidebars, bottom, etc.).

Step 2: Sign Up & Get Approved

• Register with Adsterra as a publisher, fill in all required details.

• Ensure your site is compliant (no prohibited content).

• Sometimes approval is quick; in other cases, it might take a day or so.

• Once approved, you can access your dashboard and ad options.

Step 3: Testing Ad Formats & Placements

• Start by deploying a few safe formats (non-intrusive) to see how your users respond.

• Try multiple ad formats side by side (e.g. native + banner + social bar) and track performance.

• Experiment with ad placement (e.g. above fold, within content, mid-article).

• Use A/B testing or rotate placements to see what yields the best CPM / engagement.

Step 4: Targeting & Filtering

• Apply geo-targeting: exclude regions that pay poorly or have a lot of invalid traffic.

• Use device/OS/browser targeting to show ads to your most valuable users.

• Blacklist sources or ad zones that perform poorly or have a lot of invalid clicks.

• Use dayparting (show ads in high-converting hours).

• Adjust bids dynamically based on performance zones.

Step 5: Use Smartlinks / Direct Links

One feature Adsterra supports is Smartlinks (also called direct links). These are links you can embed in content or images that lead directly to the monetized offer or intermediate landing.

One success story (on Adsterra’s blog) describes:

• Using trending news or content to entice clicks.

• Having a middle page explaining something, and then embedding a Smartlink.

• By doing this, the author claims to generate monthly revenue (e.g. $2,000) from social traffic. 

Smartlinks let you monetize even link-based traffic (e.g. social shares) without needing your own site.

Step 6: Track & Optimize

• Use a tracker (Voluum, RedTrack, Binom, etc.) to monitor conversions, CTR, revenue per placement.

• Identify underperforming zones / times and pause or blacklist them.

• Scale up placements / bids in zones that show high ROI.

• Monitor for invalid traffic, bots, suspicious patterns.

• Use Adsterra’s anti-adblock tools to recover revenue lost to ad blockers.

Step 7: Scale & Diversify

• Once you find winning formats / placements, scale them (increase traffic, bid, budget).

• Expand to new geos or niches, but cautiously.

• Add multiple monetization streams (other ad networks, affiliate offers) to diversify risk.

• Keep refining content and SEO / traffic strategies to increase quality traffic flow.

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Real-World Examples & Case Studies

Example from Adsterra’s Blog

One of their “success story” articles describes how the author used Smartlinks + social traffic:

• The author had social media blogs (on Twitter and Facebook) about finance topics.

• They monitored trending topics and posted attention-grabbing headlines linking to a middle page.

• On the middle page, they embedded an Adsterra Smartlink.

• They claim to have earned up to $2,000 monthly using this method. 

While this is a promotional story, it shows how you can monetize link-based social traffic even without heavy content sites.

Reports & Publisher Feedback

• Some publishers report high CPMs (e.g. $16 CPM) when things line up. One user said early reports were promising, but later ad types added (popunders, redirects) caused issues. 

• Others have positive testimonials of steady earnings and fast payouts. 

• On the flip side, many community postings warn about possible account bans, payment delays, or ad quality concerns. 

These examples show that results can vary significantly depending on traffic quality, niche, and how you manage your account.

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Common Mistakes & Pitfalls

To increase your chance of success, avoid these typical mistakes:

1. Overloading with Aggressive Ads
   Putting too many popunders, auto-redirects, or intrusive formats will annoy users, increase bounce rate, possibly get your site flagged by security tools.

2. Ignoring Traffic Quality
   If your traffic source is bot-heavy, incentivized traffic, or low-engagement, many ad networks (including Adsterra) may withhold revenue or penalize it.

3. Not Tracking / Optimizing
   Without proper tracking, you won’t know which ad zones or formats are profitable. Avoid “set and forget.” Monitor regularly.

4. Violating Ad / Network Policies
   Using prohibited content, misrepresenting offers, auto-click tricks, or misleading ads is a fast way to get your account banned or revenue withheld.

5. Not Diversifying
   Relying solely on one ad network is risky. If your account is suspended or revenue falls, you lose everything. Always have backup monetization (other ad networks, affiliate revenue, etc.)

6. Scaling Too Fast
   When you find something working, scaling too rapidly (increasing traffic, bid, volume) can trigger network alarms or lead to invalid traffic issues.

7. Not Disputing / Communicating
   If you see suspicious revenue drops or account issues, contact support early, ask for explanations, preserve logs and evidence.

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Is Adsterra a Scam? Legitimacy & Risks

Many people ask: “Is Adsterra legit or just another scam?” The honest answer is: It’s not inherently a scam, but like many ad networks, it has mixed reviews and risks.

Evidence Supporting Legitimacy

• Many publishers report receiving payments, sometimes reliably. 

• Adsterra has been in the ad business for years and runs large-scale operations, with thousands of publishers and advertisers. 

• It offers multiple payment methods, has support, and publishes guides / blog content. 

• On review platforms (Trustpilot, G2, etc.), there are many positive reviews. 

Evidence Suggesting Caution

• Many negative reviews exist claiming withheld revenue, account bans, or unclear explanations. 

• Reports from publishers that malicious / annoying ad creatives slipped through. 

• Some community members warn that while Adsterra is “not a scam,” it's easy to misuse or fall victim to its pitfalls. 

So, in practice, whether Adsterra works well for you depends heavily on how you use it — your traffic quality, your content, your adherence to policies, and your optimization.

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Estimating Earnings: What Can You Expect?

One of the frequent questions is: How much can I realistically make with Adsterra?

While there’s no guaranteed number (each site, niche, traffic source, geography is different), here are some ballpark estimates and variables to guide your expectations:

Variable	High-End Potential	Mid / Typical	Low-End / Risky
Traffic from Tier-1 (US / UK / CA)	$3–$8+ CPM (for good formats)	$1–$3 CPM	< $1 or negligible
Traffic from Tier-2 / Tier-3 geos	$0.50–$2 CPM	$0.20–$1	Very low (< $0.10)
Volume	Hundreds of thousands or millions of pageviews	Tens of thousands	< few thousands
Monetization mix	Using native + push + smartlinks + banners	Using 1–2 formats	Only banners or low-yield formats
Optimization & filtering	Aggressive optimization, blacklisting, scaling	Some tweaking	No monitoring

For example, a publisher with 200,000 monthly pageviews from US/Canada, using good ad formats and optimizations, might earn somewhere between $200 to $1,000+ depending on ad formats and fill rates.

In one case, a publisher claimed to achieve $2,000/month using smartlink + social traffic method. 

Another user claimed very high CPMs (like $16) early, although with caveats and later issues. 

But many publishers also report modest earnings — sometimes in low tens or low hundreds of dollars — especially if their traffic is from lower-paying regions or not well optimized.

Thus, use modest expectations initially, optimize carefully, and scale only when you see consistent performance.

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Best Practices & Tips for Maximizing Revenue

Here are strategies you can adopt to improve your earnings and reduce risks:

1. Prioritize user experience & balance
   Don’t overload with intrusive ads. Let your content be the hero, and insert ads in a balanced way so users don’t feel spammed.

2. Test, test, test
   Try multiple ad units, placements, formats. Use split-testing to see what performs best. Rotate creatives.

3. Monitor and black/whitelist aggressively
   Identify low-performing zones or geos and pause them. Blacklist suspicious placements or traffic sources.

4. Focus on higher-CPM geos first
   If possible, push your best content to Tier-1 countries. Use geo-targeting to direct best ads to best geos.

5. Use anti-adblock / revenue recovery features
   Many visitors use ad blockers. Utilize Adsterra’s anti-adblock or alternate ad formats to recoup some lost revenue.

6. Optimize mobile & device-specific placement
   Many users come via mobile; some ad formats are better suited there. Optimize accordingly.

7. Ensure fast page load & good site health
   Slow or broken pages reduce ad visibility and user retention. Keep your site optimized and efficient.

8. Be careful with smartlink / direct-link content
   If using Smartlinks or direct linking, ensure they are not misleading, avoid policy violations, make transitions smooth.

9. Keep logs & documentation
   Keep analytics, trackers, logs so if Adsterra questions your account or payments, you have backup.

10. Scale cautiously
    Don’t explode traffic or spend suddenly. Grow gradually and watch any abnormal dips or flags.

11. Diversify monetization
    Use more than one ad network, integrate affiliate offers, sell your product, etc. Don’t rely on a single revenue source.

12. Stay updated on policies & ad network changes
    Adsterra may change terms or policies; stay alert to email announcements or dashboard notices.

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Sample Outline / Template You Can Use

Below is a suggested structure you can adapt if you want to write your own article / blog post about using Adsterra to make money.

1. Introduction

   • Why ad monetization remains a key strategy

   • Why Adsterra is interesting / worth exploring

2. What is Adsterra?

   • Basic definition, history, scale

   • Position vs. competitors

3. How It Works (Publisher & Advertiser Side)

   • Registration, approval

   • Ad formats and placements

   • Targeting, optimization

   • Revenue flow & payment

4. Advantages & Disadvantages

   • Pros

   • Cons / risks / user reviews

5. Step-by-Step Guide to Monetize with Adsterra

   • Preparation: niche, content, traffic

   • Setup & approval

   • Testing ad formats

   • Targeting & filtering

   • Smartlinks / direct linking

   • Tracking, optimization, scaling

6. Case Studies and Examples

   • From Adsterra success stories

   • Publisher feedback / reviews

   • What they did right / wrong

7. Common Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them

8. Earning Estimates & Revenue Expectations

9. Advanced Tips & Growth Strategies

10. Legitimacy, Risks & User Experiences

11. Conclusion & Recommendations

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Final Thoughts & Recommendation

Adsterra offers a compelling option for monetizing web traffic, especially for publishers who may not yet qualify for premium ad networks or who want more ad format flexibility. Its diversity of ad types, relatively low barrier to entry, and multiple payment methods make it appealing.

That said, success with Adsterra is not guaranteed. Much depends on your traffic quality, niche, optimization efforts, and care in avoiding policy violations. Many publishers report positive earnings; however, equally many warn of withheld revenue, account bans, or ad quality concerns.

If you plan to go forward with Adsterra, here’s how I’d suggest you proceed:

• Start small and test. Don’t risk your entire site or brand in one go.

• Use conservative ad formats initially, monitor closely, and scale gradually.

• Keep strict compliance with their policies.

• Log all your performance data.

• Combine Adsterra with other monetization methods to diversify risk.