Online advertising basics for web publishers

Online Advertising Explained: The very basics

An introduction to advertising on your website for publishers that want to start at the beginning

Publishers can make money by displaying ads on their websites

There are many different kinds of ads that publishers can choose to show

Different sizes

Different formats
e.g. Text, Rich Media, Flash

Different positions on web page
e.g. Banners (along top), skyscrapers (along side)

Different payment models
Publisher paid if ad is displayed (CPM)
Publisher paid if visitors clicks on ad (CPC)
Publisher paid if visitor clicks on ad and goes on to purchase product / service (CPA)

It is easy for a publisher to start making money by displaying ads...

Services exist to make it easy for publishers to get started e.g. There are many different kinds of ads that publishers can choose to show

Services exist to make it easy for publishers to get started e.g.

...but harder for publishers to maximize the revenue they make from displaying ads