Journey by Mediavine Review
Written by Casey Botticello
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning that at no additional cost to you, I will receive a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Read our full affiliate disclosure here.
Mediavine is one of the top display ad networks for bloggers with sites with substantial traffic. But what about high quality blogs that fall below the 50,000 monthly session threshold? Until recently, the answer was to simply wait (and forgo ad earnings) or to join a different display ad network in the interim.
However, with its announcement of Journey, Mediavine has opened the door to a huge number of smaller sites.
I was fortunate enough to be accepted into the first 200 site beta test, and wanted to share some details from my experience!
What is Journey by Mediavine?
Journey by Mediavine is Mediavine’s newest ad management solution for websites with traffic starting at around 10,000 sessions per month.
Just add Mediavine’s Grow tool for at least 30 days, and you can apply to Journey!
Benefits of Journey by Mediavine
- Reasonable traffic requirements
- Mediavine is proven leader in balancing achieving high RPMs for publishers while also maintaining great UX
- Easy onboarding process
- And much more
Application Requirements
Getting accepted into the standard tier of Mediavine is hard for any blog. But refreshingly, Journey by Mediavine has pretty realistic application requirements:
Journey by Mediavine
- Requires around 10,000 monthly sessions.
- Must br running Grow on your site for at least 30 days
- Apply to Journey through the Grow portal
This is notably lower than the traffic threshold of other premium display ad networks:
Payments
While it’s too early to fully report on the RPMs one can expect from Journey by Mediavine, there are a few key details about how payments work:
- Payments are made to publishers through Tipalti.
- There is a $100 minimum payout. Payments are made on the scheduled date only if the minimum payout amount is met. If revenue earned in a single month is lower than the minimum payout amount, it will continue to roll into the next month until the minimum is met.
- Payments are paid on a NET 65 basis. This means you will get your earnings for any given month, after 65 days have passed.
Day-to-Day Operation of Site
Next up, we consider Journey by Mediavine when it comes to the day-to-day operation and management of your blog’s ad earnings.
Journey Dashboard
I really like the Journey by Mediavine dashboard because it is simple & uncluttered, yet it contains all the essential metric to evaluate your site’s performance at a glance (Earnings, RPM, CPM, Ad Impressions, Sessions):
Journey Ad Settings
One of the major differences between Mediavine’s standard tier and Journey is that Journey does not allow users to control ad settings. Mediavine’s standard offering allows users to adjust virtually every ad setting imaginable.
However, this is one of the necessary tradeoffs that makes Journey possible. By streamlining the ad options, Journey can be nearly completely self-supported (no Mediavine staff are needed to adjust ad settings or intepret confusing data).
Limiting the ad configuration options also makes it harder for newer bloggers (who may be unfamiliar with display ad networks) to inadvertently mes up their website’s display ads.
Journey by Mediavine FAQs
What is Journey by Mediavine?
Journey by Mediavine is an innovative ad management solution tailored specifically for smaller publishers or those just beginning their online content creation careers. It is designed to help these publishers monetize their websites, which must have a minimum of 10,000 monthly sessions to qualify. Journey uses Mediavine’s advanced ad technology and provides access to first-party data and identity solutions, aiming to create a more sustainable and profitable business model for its users.
This platform is particularly unique because it is a completely self-service offering, making the setup and ongoing management simple and automated. Publishers need to install Grow, a user engagement toolkit from Mediavine, and keep it running for a minimum of 30 days to qualify for the ad management services provided by Journey. This tool not only facilitates the setup process but also helps in accumulating authenticated traffic, which is crucial for effective ad management.
What are the payment terms and revenue share for Journey?
Publishers participating in Journey receive a 70% share of the advertising revenue generated from their sites. Payments to publishers are made on a Net 65 schedule, meaning that earnings for a given month are paid 65 days after the end of that month. This model allows for consistent and predictable revenue as publishers grow their traffic and ad performance.
How is Journey different than the standard Mediavine ad solution?
Journey by Mediavine offers several key differences from Mediavine’s standard ad management solution, catering specifically to smaller publishers or those early in their website development. Here are the main distinctions:
-
Eligibility and Scale: Journey is targeted at sites with starting traffic of around 10,000 monthly sessions, which is lower than the threshold required for Mediavine’s main service. This makes it accessible for newer or smaller publishers who are still building their audience.
-
Simplicity and Automation: Journey is designed as a fully self-service platform, making it easier for publishers to set up and manage without needing extensive technical knowledge or support. This contrasts with the standard Mediavine service, which offers more hands-on support and customization.
-
Revenue Share and Payment Terms: While both services offer a revenue share to publishers, Journey starts at a 70% revenue share with Net 65 payment terms, which is consistent but might differ slightly as publishers grow and potentially transition to Mediavine’s main service, where revenue share can increase up to 90%.
-
Ad Management Tools: Journey provides essential ad management tools and first-party data solutions, but with fewer controls and flexibility compared to Mediavine’s full service. For instance, Journey users have less flexibility in ad placements and must use external platforms like YouTube or Vimeo for video content, which is more integrated in Mediavine’s primary service.
-
Growth Path: Journey serves as a starting point for publishers. As a site’s traffic and revenue grow, there is an opportunity to transition to Mediavine’s full services, which offer more advanced features and greater earning potential.
-
Technology and User Experience: Both platforms leverage Mediavine’s technology to ensure fast page loads and an optimized user experience, but Journey simplifies the technology stack to cater to less tech-savvy publishers or those with simpler needs.
How do RPMs on Journey compare to regular Mediavine earnings?
It is too early in my experience with the Journey by Mediavine beta test to make a definitive assessment of RPMs.
However if you want to follow along with my journey, check out my case study series on YouTube.
I need help setting up Journey...where do I go?
Journey by Mediavine is self-supported meaning you will not have dedicated account specialists and the standard high level of support.
Journey does have a support community, where some Mediavine employees (as well as other users) can ask questions.
Does Journey accept sites that are not written in English?
Yes! Journey accepts sites from publishers around the world, and having an English-language site is not a requirement.
Conclusion
Getting accepted into Mediavine can be a life changing event for a blogger. Journey by Mediavine is a great way to get your site monetized by a leading ad network, while your site is still in its early growth stage. Journey allows users to set up self-supported ads in a matter of minutes, that are similar to those in standard Mediavine sites. So make sure you check out Grow by Mediavine if you haven’t already!
