Written by Krisztián Stark
Key takeaways
- Start from what visitors came to do on each page, then choose the model that pays for that intent: sales, leads, sponsors, memberships, offers, or views.
- Measure every model in revenue per 1,000 page views so you can compare them with the display baseline you are replacing.
- Launch one model at a time for four to eight weeks, keep what beats the baseline, and stack two or three models on different pages.
How do you monetize a website without AdSense?
To monetize a website without AdSense, match a revenue model to what visitors come to do on each page: affiliate links for pages with buying intent, lead generation for service and quote pages, sponsorships and memberships for a loyal audience, an offerwall or rewards program for users who want to earn, and another display network for steady content traffic. Then measure each model in revenue per 1,000 page views and keep the ones that pay best. The plan below takes you there in seven steps.
If you want a list of networks and models to choose from, read AdSense alternatives first. This page is the plan for putting them to work.
Step 1: Measure what your site has
Pull four numbers from your analytics for the last 90 days:
- Monthly page views and sessions. Some programs set thresholds on one, some on the other.
- Top countries. Display and affiliate programs pay more for some markets than others. Tier 1, 2 and 3 countries explains the split.
- Signed-in or returning users. Memberships and rewards programs need people who come back.
- Your top 20 pages and why people land on them. Label each one: learn, compare, buy, hire, play, or earn.
The last list is the most useful. A site where most traffic lands on “best X for Y” pages is an affiliate site whether you planned it or not.
Step 2: Set an RPM baseline
RPM is revenue per 1,000 page views: RPM = revenue ÷ page views × 1,000. If you ran AdSense before, use its RPM. If not, take a conservative display estimate for your countries and niche. Every model you try must beat this number, measured the same way. eCPM vs RPM explains the formulas, and the eCPM and RPM calculator does the sums.
Example: a site with 40,000 monthly page views and a $4 display RPM has a baseline of 40 × $4 = $160 a month. The figures are illustrative.
Step 3: Match each page type to a model
| Page type | Visitor intent | First model to try | What you need |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reviews, comparisons, “best of” lists | Buy | Affiliate links | Honest testing, clear disclosure |
| Service, quote, or calculator pages | Hire or sign up | Lead generation | A form and a buyer who pays per lead |
| Tutorials and deep guides | Learn | Digital products or display ads | Something worth selling, or steady volume |
| Community, forum, newsletter | Belong | Memberships and sponsorships | A loyal core and a media kit |
| Games, tools, rewards pages | Play or earn | Offerwall with your own points | User accounts and a server that stores balances |
| News and entertainment | Browse | Another display or native network | Traffic that meets the network’s threshold |
Pick one primary model for the pages that bring most of your traffic. A second model can come later, on different pages.
Step 4: Check program requirements
Most programs have an entry bar or a payout threshold. A few examples from official sources, to show the range:
| Program | Requirement | Source, date |
|---|---|---|
| AdSense, for comparison | Payment once the balance reaches the $100 threshold | Google AdSense Help |
| Journey by Mediavine | 1,000 monthly sessions, with enough traffic from premium markets such as the US, UK, Canada, and Australia | Mediavine blog, August 2026 |
| Raptive | 25,000 monthly page views | Raptive blog, October 2025 |
| Amazon Associates | At least three qualified sales within the first 180 days before the application is reviewed | Amazon Associates Help |
| Sharklio offerwall | No minimum traffic; $50 minimum payout | Sharklio publisher program |
Programs change these often, so check each one on the day you apply. If a threshold is out of reach, start with a model that has none, such as affiliate programs, sponsorships, or an offerwall.
Step 5: Set up tracking, disclosure, and privacy
- Tracking. Use separate tracking IDs or sub IDs per page group, so you can see which pages earn. Tag sponsor links with UTM parameters.
- Disclosure. The US Federal Trade Commission’s Endorsement Guides FAQ says a financial relationship with a brand must be disclosed clearly, close to the link, in words readers understand. It gives “I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post” as an example. Label sponsored posts the same way.
- Privacy. Every new partner may receive visitor data. Add each one to your privacy policy and cookie consent before you go live.
Step 6: Launch one model at a time
Add one model, leave the rest of the site alone, and run it for four to eight weeks. Affiliate sales and sponsor deals take time to show up, and offers on a rewards page need returning users. If you change three things at once, you will not know which one worked.
For an offerwall, build a single earn page for signed-in users, explain what points buy, and link it from your menu. How to build an earn page that converts covers the layout, and How to start a rewards website covers payouts and fraud.
Step 7: Compare in RPM, then stack
Convert every model to revenue per 1,000 page views of the whole site and compare it with your baseline. Then keep the winners and give each its own pages.
Illustrative month: the same 40,000 page views, three models
Affiliate links on ten review pages: 6,000 page views, 3% click through, 4% of clicks buy, $8 commission each, so 7.2 sales and $57.60. An offerwall for 300 signed-in members: 20% complete an offer at $0.75 each to the site, so 60 completions and $45. One sponsored newsletter slot: $150. Total $252.60, an RPM of $6.32 against the $4 baseline. Every number is invented to show the method; the point is to measure your own the same way.
Use the offerwall earnings calculator to estimate the offerwall line before you build. If you are weighing commissions against rewards for the same users, Offerwall vs affiliate links compares them.
Adding an offerwall without traffic minimums
Sharklio has no minimum traffic for publishers. Add the offerwall with a signed link, an auto-resizing iframe, or a floating Earn button, or build your own design with the Offers API. Members earn your own currency at your own exchange rate and user split, offers are matched to their country and device, and every credit and reversal reaches your server as a signed postback. Payouts are Net‑15 with a $50 minimum, in crypto. Apply once from the dashboard on the publishers page; the team usually reviews properties within one or two business days.
Frequently asked questions
Can I make money from a website without ads at all?
Yes. Affiliate links, lead generation, sponsorships you place as content, memberships, digital products, and an offerwall that users choose to open all earn without banner ads.
What is the fastest way to monetize a new website without AdSense?
Affiliate links on pages with buying intent, or an offerwall if your site already has signed-in users, because neither needs large traffic to start. Display networks usually need steady traffic first.
Should I remove AdSense before trying other models?
No. Keep it as your baseline on the pages where it earns, test one new model on a different group of pages, and remove ads only where the new model beats them. If you add rewards, keep display ads off the earn page.
Can I use several models on the same website?
Yes, and most sites earn more that way. Put each model on the pages that match its intent, and keep rewards away from any display ads, since ad networks forbid encouraging clicks on their ads.
