Monetizing your app or website through ads can feel like printing money—until it doesn’t. If your revenue isn’t living up to expectations, chances are you’re making one (or more) common but costly mistakes. Whether you’re using AdMob, AdSense, AppLovin, or another network, these pitfalls can silently strangle your earnings.
Let’s break down the top 5 ad revenue killers—and how to fix them before they ruin your bottom line.
1. Poor Ad Placement
The mistake: Ads are tucked away in low-visibility spots or interrupt the user experience in a way that leads to quick exits or low engagement.
The fix: Place ads where they’re visible but natural—like between content sections, after levels in a game, or as part of the scroll flow. Test different placements with A/B testing tools. Prioritize rewarded video ads over disruptive interstitials when possible.
Pro Tip: A banner ad below the fold is a waste of pixels.
2. Low-Quality Traffic
The mistake: Your site or app gets a high volume of users from Tier 3 countries, bots, or low-engagement sources. This tanks your eCPM.
The fix: Focus on growing real, high-intent traffic—especially from Tier 1 regions like the US, UK, and Canada. If you’re running ads to drive installs or visits, use lookalike audiences and fine-tune targeting for quality, not just quantity.
Pro Tip: Advertisers pay for value, not volume.
3. Overloading With Ads
The mistake: You’re cramming in too many ads per session, hoping more impressions = more money.
The fix: This backfires fast. Too many ads lead to fatigue, app uninstalls, and a drop in user retention—all of which kill long-term revenue. Stick to the sweet spot: 1 interstitial per 2–3 minutes, and no more than 3–4 ads per session unless you’re using rewarded formats.
Pro Tip: Fewer, better-placed ads often earn more over time.
4. Not Using Mediation or Bidding
The mistake: You’re relying on just one ad network, leaving money on the table when higher-paying networks are waiting in the wings.
The fix: Use mediation platforms (like AdMob or AppLovin MAX) to let networks compete for your ad space. Enable real-time bidding if supported—this pushes eCPMs higher by creating a marketplace for each impression.
Pro Tip: Competition isn’t just for hockey—it’s for your ad inventory, too.
5. Not Tracking or Testing Anything
The mistake: You set up ads once, then never look at performance data.
The fix: Review your ad metrics weekly. Monitor eCPM by country, format, and placement. Use Firebase or Google Analytics to see where users drop off and optimize around it. Continually test new formats, networks, and placements.
Pro Tip: If you’re not improving, you’re falling behind.
Final Thoughts
Ad revenue is part science, part art. The key is to treat it like a real business metric, not an afterthought. By fixing these common mistakes, you’ll put yourself ahead of the majority of developers and publishers who unknowingly sabotage their own earnings.
Want to see how much more you could be making? 👉 Try our free Ad Revenue Calculator and find out in seconds.