You’ve got yourself a working WordPress site, and you’re hosting it, but it’s syphoning money into someone else’s pockets. It’s not a decision that presents difficulties. You either want to generate some monetary return, or you don’t.

The decision is sub-branch. E-commerce and physical products or providing a service and being open to online advertising.

Now the question is, do you want this return to source your primary income or will a supplement fit the bill? And now that you’ve made your decision which network suits?

WordPress users are provided choices that range from AdSense to BuySellAds and that includes WordPress’ very own advertising network, WordAds. WordAds is the brand we’re covering in detail.

What is WordAds?

It’s a relatively young advertising network that during it’s formative years existed as an exclusive advertising program for WordPress.com users. Naturally, the ads kept WordPress.com accounts free and paying premium users had an incentive to opt into the network to earn some extra cash. In other words, it was WordAds or nothing.

By the November WordAds 2.0 appeared and then In December 2015, Automattic rocked the virtual boats announcing that self-hosted WordPress users could also join WordAds. So then it was a question of WordAds or AdSense?

Comparisons of the Rivals

Is there a comparison between Google’s own advertising network, AdSense and is it and it’s colleague rivals? Well, yes and no.

Site owners who follow logic should probably only opt for one advertising network. Choosing either AdSense or WordAds is personal. But if you didn’t know,

AdSense is also a WordAds partner and if you want to know if fidelity is a word in this relationship it just means you may notice AdSense advertising campaigns displayed within WordAds banners.

Google and Automattic Have Opposing Philosophies

While Google’s primary loyalty lies with increasing profits, and who isn’t? Their priority will always be with the businesses who purchase advertisements from Google. And if one is to be forward, Google isn’t going to give a rip if the ad doesn’t result in much for your site.

Now, to view the other side of the coin, Automattic’s primary interest is the publisher, therefore, it is highly unlikely they’re going to sacrifice publisher needs. It would be detrimental to their own interests.

As it turns out, Automattic has combined the advertiser and publishers’ needs into one unique relationship.

Who is WordAds For?

Anyone who is using WordPress can use WordAds so long as the application requirements are adhered to. So WordAds are going appeal to those who:

  • Are seeking a streamlined way to run ads on their website which includes ease of use for those who are not interested in the technical side of ad management.
  • Want a tailored advertising network.
  • Are banned from Google AdSense or who rejected it.Just aren’t fans of Google.

WordAds Adverts; Are they Impressive?

Ads either turn you on or they can be intrusive. For many people, it’s the latter. But, and this is important, if you’re producing exceptional content, then you can rest assured 90% of your visitors will turn a blind eye to ads. Have a look at the WordAds adverts before you decide to run with them. It’ll give you insight as to what they’re going to look like on your site.

Three types are available.

Simple – These are ads that are displayed at the bottom of every post and come in two forms:

Middle Rectangle Image (300px by 250px)Video where both the style and the frequency of appearance are moderate and with a maximum of one ad within your content, avoids a desperate spam-looking website.

When activated, the horizontal header ad at 728px by 90px is larger, less attractive and appear site-wide in your header section.

Finally, the widget ads that can be placed in any widget-ready area of your website. You’ll notice the extra flexibility where you’re able to place as many of these widgets as you wish. Just don’t overload your site.

The widget ads come in two sizes

  • Middle Rectangle size (300px by 250px)
  • Wide Skyscraper (160px by 600px)

You may or may not know, but users are unable to select which advertising campaigns they want to display on their site, however, WordAds tend to run with national campaigns which might compensate for the lack of choice as they attract better payment and less click away from your visitors.

Are You Eligible for WordAds?

If you’re running WordPress, you can apply for WordAds but don’t be disappointed if you’re not accepted. Your site is considered through its traffic levels which is typical of business acumen, and sites are rejected if they fail to generate page views in the thousands per month.

Google AdSense has a strict criteria that includes:

  • The site owner is over 18.
  • The website has been active for over 6 months.
  • The site must publish good content and more than just a handful of articles published.
  • That its content isn’t in prohibited niches.
  • Traffic must be obtained from legitimate sources.
  • The website must not “trick” users into clicking ads.

If you’re thinking no problem, I’ll skip the strict criteria and head on over to WordAds, prepare for a WordAds application form that asks only two questions: your country of residence and PayPal email address.

How Do I Install WordAds?

Install two plugins: Jetpack and AdControl to display WordAds advertisements on your website and note; you can deactivate any (or all) of Jetpack’s unwanted modules to keep your site running smoothly.

To install Jetpack from the WordPress dashboard, navigate to Plugins click Add New. Search for “Jetpack,” and follow the activation instructions. To connect Jetpack click the button; you’ll be asked to connect your website with your WordPress.com account. Next, repeat the plugin installation process, this time searching for “AdControl”.

Once you’ve been accepted into the WordAds network, accept Terms of Service, which is displayed in a notifications bar on the Plugins screen, with a link pointing at your Settings.

Click the Settings link, and you’ll be redirected to a new Calypso dashboard. From the Calypso dashboard, navigate to AdControl click Settings; read the terms of service then click the check-box and hit Save.

To configure the AdControl plugin from your regular, self-hosted WordPress dashboard, click through to Settings click AdControl. Configuration settings are easy to follow; they’ll ask whether you want your ads displayed to every visitor, non-logged-in visitors, or nobody (ads disabled). You can also activate the header ad by ticking the check-box.

For WordAds widgets you need to navigate to Appearance click on Widgets. To display an ad, use the drag-and-drop interface to place AdControl Widgets in any widget area. As previously mentioned, WordAds supports two widget advertisement sizes: middle rectangle and skyscraper. Select your preferred option from the drop-down list, and then hit Save.

It is recommended you check your website now to ensure all your preferences are working. Note their position and consider if they’re too distracting. If they’re annoying to you, they’re going to annoy your visitors. You’ve got the opportunity to make necessary adjustments to avoid that.

The Earning Capacity of WordAds

Earning from advertising is a consistent and subtle opportunity to acquire some extra dollars. It is by no means a get-rich-quick scheme. Just be aware you will require large volumes of traffic to earn lucrative sums from advertising.

With the popularity and reliability of the WordPress user network, WordAds pays competitively, and payments are made monthly. Ensure however you have a float of $100 before expecting any money to show up per month otherwise, your earnings will roll over until it does show. These are typical payment terms, and AdSense appears to pay the best rates.

On a foot note, WordAds only supports CPM (Cost per Impression. It’s not CPI because the M represents the Roman numeral 1000).

Lets Wrap it Up

WordAds although relatively new has an application process that is quick and painless, however, although easy, some people don’t enjoy the lack of control over ad content, size and placement, but if you remain aware of all three that are keeping the technical stuff at a minimum, then WordAds is an easy to use network.

What is now doesn’t necessarily remain at the top and AdSense could slide a little if the WordPress community sees a little more advantage in its competition.