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What Are Display Ads and How Do They Work?
Display ads are the banner-style advertisements you see on websites. They can be images, videos or interactive graphics that promote products or services. When a visitor lands on your blog, these ads appear automatically. You get paid either when someone sees the ad (impressions) or when they click on it (CPC or cost per click).
The amount you earn depends on several factors. These include your traffic volume, the niche you blog about, where your readers are based, and the ad network you use. UK traffic is generally valuable because advertisers pay more to reach a British audience. If your blog gets mostly UK visitors, you are already in a strong position to earn a decent income from display ads.
Getting Started with Google AdSense
Google AdSense is usually the first ad network beginners try. It is free to join and easy to set up. You simply place a code snippet on your blog, and Google automatically serves relevant ads. To qualify, you need to have published enough content and your blog needs to follow Google’s policies.
AdSense is a good starting point, but it does not pay as well as premium ad networks. Once you start getting consistent traffic, you will want to upgrade to something better. Most UK bloggers move on from AdSense once they reach around 10,000 monthly page views.
For more on improving your traffic before applying to premium ad networks, check out our guide on SEO for UK Bloggers: A Complete Guide to Ranking Higher on Google in 2026.
Ezoic: The Best First Step After AdSense
Ezoic is a popular ad network for UK bloggers who have outgrown AdSense but are not yet big enough for Mediavine or AdThrive. It uses artificial intelligence to test different ad placements and find the setup that earns the most money.
One of the best things about Ezoic is that it has no minimum traffic requirement. You can join with as few as 10,000 monthly sessions. This makes it an excellent choice for growing blogs. Ezoic also offers a free site speed tool called Leap, which helps improve your loading times while your ads are running.
Ezoic typically pays more than AdSense. Many UK bloggers report earning two to three times more after switching. The setup process takes a few hours, and you will need to connect your domain to Ezoic’s nameservers.
Mediavine: The Gold Standard for Food and Lifestyle Bloggers
Mediavine is one of the most respected ad networks in the blogging world. It requires at least 50,000 monthly sessions to join. Mediavine works best for bloggers in lifestyle, food, travel, parenting and similar niches.
Mediavine pays well because it uses high-paying programmatic advertising. It also gives you control over which ad categories appear on your blog. You can block ads for alcohol, politics or anything that does not fit your brand.
UK bloggers with Mediavine often earn a good monthly income once their traffic is established. The network is known for being transparent about earnings and providing excellent support to publishers.
If you are building a UK blog with display ads in mind, remember that content quality matters. Take a look at our post on How to Write Evergreen Blog Content That Drives Traffic for Years to make sure your articles keep bringing in visitors long after publication.
AdThrive: For High-Traffic Blogs
AdThrive is owned by the same company as Mediavine but serves the highest-traffic blogs. You need at least 100,000 monthly page views to apply. AdThrive offers premium ad placements and typically pays the highest rates of any ad network.
AdThrive is invite-only in some cases, but you can also apply directly through their website. The network focuses on maximising revenue for established publishers. If your UK blog is growing quickly and hitting these traffic levels, AdThrive is worth considering.
How to Prepare Your Blog for Premium Ad Networks
Before you apply to any premium ad network, there are a few things you should do. First, make sure your blog loads quickly. Slow sites get rejected because they affect ad performance. Use a caching plugin, optimise your images and consider a content delivery network.
Second, focus on creating high-quality, original content. Ad networks review your blog before accepting you. They want to see well-written posts that provide real value to readers. Thin or copied content will get you rejected.
Third, build your traffic consistently. Use social media, Pinterest, and search engine optimisation to grow your audience. The more targeted traffic you have, the more attractive you are to ad networks.
For more traffic-building strategies, read our guide on How to Use Google Search Console to Grow Your UK Blog Traffic.
How Much Can UK Bloggers Earn from Display Ads?
Earnings vary widely depending on your niche and traffic. A UK blog with 50,000 monthly sessions in a lifestyle niche might earn anywhere from £500 to £1,500 per month with Mediavine. A blog with 100,000 sessions could earn £1,500 to £4,000 or more.
Certain niches pay better than others. Personal finance, business and technology blogs tend to have higher RPMs (revenue per thousand impressions) because advertisers pay more for those audiences. Lifestyle and food blogs earn moderate rates, while entertainment or humour blogs may earn less.
UK traffic is valuable. Advertisers pay a premium to reach British readers because they have higher purchasing power. If most of your audience is in the UK, you will earn more than a blog with the same amount of traffic from other regions.
Common Mistakes to Avoid with Display Ads
One common mistake is putting too many ads on your blog. This makes the site look messy and drives readers away. Stick to a reasonable number of ad placements. Quality over quantity applies to ads too.
Another mistake is not optimising ad placement. Use heat maps or the AI testing tools that networks like Ezoic provide. Ads above the fold and within content usually perform best.
Do not forget about mobile users. Most of your traffic will come from phones. Make sure your ads display properly on mobile devices. All major ad networks handle this automatically, but it is worth checking.
For more on building a strong blog foundation, check out our article on How to Create a Blog Content Strategy That Drives Traffic and Grows Your Audience in 2026.
Final Thoughts
Display ads are one of the simplest ways to make money from your UK blog. Start with AdSense if you are new, move to Ezoic when your traffic grows, and aim for Mediavine or AdThrive once you hit their thresholds. The key is to focus on creating valuable content and building your audience. The ad revenue will follow.
Remember that display ads work best alongside other income streams like affiliate marketing, digital products or sponsored posts. For more ideas, check out our guide on How to Create and Sell Digital Products from Your UK Blog to diversify your income.