This is the story of a Spanish movie blogger who transformed his hobby into an income stream by optimizing monetization with AdMaven.

Starting with a simple blog about films, the publisher expanded the site and increased the traffic. He earned between $20–$25 per day, using smart ad formats like Push Notifications and Popunders. Here's his story.

Case Overview

• Niche: Cinema and movies content (blog)
• Ads Used: Popunder and Push
• Main strategies:
  • Consistent revenue through subscribed users (via push notifications)
  • CPM campaigns with popunders
  • Diversifying the ad portfoilio
• Daily impressions: 15,000
• Daily profit: $25
• Top-performing GEOs: USA, Europe

Publisher background

In 2012, a movie lover decided to turn their passion for cinema into a creative venture. He created a blog dedicated to classic films, hidden gems, and personal reflections on the art of filmmaking. He chose Blogger because it was a simple platform, and began writing. Naturally, he also looked for ways to make some money from his knowledge and great content.

Initially, he relied on Google AdSense, the go-to solution for novice publishers. With basic knowledge of digital advertising, the blogger successfully linked their account, and ads started appearing on the site. Over time, he began to take interest in SEO, backlinks, and traffic acquisition. The hobby became a small income stream. The process seemed simple: write about a topic you love, and earn money through online advertising.

However, the simplicity of their setup was disrupted when Google unexpectedly banned their AdSense account. With no clear explanation for the decision, the blogger found themselves cut off from a primary revenue source. Frustrated, they began searching for alternatives.

Ad Networks Beyond AdSense

The AdSense ban became a turning point. While searching for new monetization strategies, the blogger discovered a whole new world of advertising platforms that are not Google. They tested various companies, including ADPV, ViralCPM, PopMyAds, and Chitika, as well as alternative approaches like affiliate marketing and sponsored content.

Despite steady growth in website traffic, none of these methods offered the revenue potential they had experienced with AdSense. Traditional display banners performed poorly on the movie blog - the CTR was just not good enough. Instead, newer ad formats such as popunders and push notifications started to look as a more effective way to make money.

In 2019, after much trial and error, the blogger found AdMaven - our very own advertising network, which offers a diverse range of high-performing ad formats. A recommendation on a popular webmaster forum made him curious and he decided to give it a try.

The Way to Revenue with AdMaven

Upon signing up with AdMaven, the blogger was introduced to Sharon Kugelmass, an account manager who would play an important role in their success. Together, they tested various ad formats to identify the most profitable combination for the site’s traffic profile. With guidance from Sharon, the blogger implemented popunders and push notifications, which quickly proved to be the optimal choices.

AdMaven’s integration process was seamless, with detailed recommendations for ad placement and configuration. He reports that results were immediate and exceeded expectations. CPM rates were significantly higher than those of competing platforms, prompting the blogger to phase out other advertising solutions in favor of AdMaven: "The integration process was straightforward, but the advice on ad placement made all the difference. These insights helped me increase my CPM rates significantly,” the publisher said.

The Winning Formula

AdMaven’s ad formats, especially push notifications and popunders, proved ideal for the movie blog’s audience. Push notifications generated consistent, long-term revenue from subscribed users, even when they weren’t actively visiting the site. Meanwhile, popunders delivered immediate returns through CPM campaigns, with great performance during weekends, when the site’s traffic was higher.

The blog started attracting an average of 10,000 to 15,000 daily visits, and generating between $20 and $25 per day—a substantial secondary income. There was high-quality traffic from Tier 1 countries such as the United States and Europe and AdMaven became the foundation of the blog’s monetization strategy.

Looking Ahead with AdMaven

This case study teaches us an important lesson: adaptability is key to success in the turbulent world of digital advertising. You can’t rely on one ad service to provide you with income, especially if they can close the account without reason. Staying informed about industry trends, exploring alternative ad formats, and leveraging expert guidance can transform a seemingly insurmountable challenge into an opportunity for growth.

With a steady income stream and an ability to focus on creating content, the blogger continues to share their love for cinema, knowing their monetization strategy is in expert hands.

How to Monetize a Movie Blog Like a Pro

Monetizing a movie blog doesn’t have to be complicated if you know which strategies work best. Here are some tips straight from a successful publisher who made it happen:

#Try Out Different Ad Formats

Push Notifications are a great tool in the movie niche. They bring in steady, recurring revenue from user subscriptions, even when visitors aren’t actively on the site. Pair that with Popunders, which are perfect for earning quick cash from daily traffic, and you've got a winning combo.

Here’s how the publisher put it: “Push Notifications give me passive income, while Popunders deliver instant results from my traffic. It’s the best of both worlds!"

#Focus on Peak Traffic Times

Weekend traffic is where the magic happens, usually. Our publisher noticed a surge in visits on weekends, which also came with better-paying CPM rates. By doubling down on those high-traffic days, they maximized their earnings, especially from Tier 1 countries like the U.S. and Europe.

#Ad Placement is Important

With AdMaven’s help, this publisher figured out the best places to put ads so they’re super visible but don’t annoy visitors. It’s all about finding that sweet spot between visibility and user experience.

#Go After High-Value GEOs

Not all traffic is created equal. The big bucks came from targeting audiences in Tier-1 regions like the U.S. and Germany. These areas tend to have higher CPM rates, so focusing efforts there made a big difference.

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