Patrick Togun
Member
One question I get from bloggers all the time is:
"Should I use AdSense or Mediavine?"
And honestly?
Many people are asking the wrong question.
Because the real question should be:
"Which one makes sense for my blog right now?"
Let me explain.
A lot of beginners see screenshots from Mediavine publishers making thousands of dollars every month and immediately assume AdSense is useless.
That's a mistake.
Very big mistake.
The truth is that AdSense and Mediavine serve different stages of a blogging business.
If your blog is new, AdSense is usually your starting point.
Not because it's the highest paying option.
But because it's easier to get started.
You can learn how display advertising works.
You can understand traffic behavior.
You can collect data.
And most importantly, you can start earning while growing your blog.
That's practical.
Now let's talk about Mediavine.
Mediavine is a different game.
Generally, Mediavine publishers earn much higher RPMs than the average AdSense publisher.
Why?
Because Mediavine has stronger advertiser relationships, better optimization, and often focuses heavily on premium traffic.
But here's what many beginners don't understand...
You can't skip the journey.
You can't have 500 monthly visitors and expect Mediavine-level earnings.
The foundation must come first.
Traffic first.
Content first.
Authority first.
This is why I always tell bloggers to take a calculative approach.
Step 1:
Get your blog online.
Step 2:
Publish quality content consistently.
Step 3:
Focus on SEO and low-competition keywords.
Step 4:
Get AdSense approval.
Step 5:
Grow traffic aggressively.
Step 6:
Diversify income while building traffic.
This is important because relying only on display ads is risky.
Very risky.
The smartest bloggers today don't depend on one monetization method.
They combine:
✓ AdSense or Mediavine
✓ Affiliate marketing
✓ Referral programs
✓ Digital products
✓ Sponsored content
✓ Email marketing
That's where real money comes from.
For example...
A blog making $500 from AdSense could also make another $1,000 from affiliate commissions.
I've seen it happen many times.
And honestly?
Affiliate marketing often becomes more profitable than display ads.
Especially when you're helping people solve real problems.
That's why I tell new bloggers not to become obsessed with RPM alone.
Traffic quality matters.
Audience trust matters.
Buyer intent matters.
At the end of the day, my advice is simple:
If you're a beginner, focus on growing traffic and getting AdSense approval first.
Don't rush Mediavine.
Build the foundation.
Learn SEO.
Create helpful content.
Monetize smartly.
Then as your traffic grows, premium ad networks like Mediavine become a natural next step.
Because blogging is not about making money this week.
It's about building an asset that can pay you for years.
"Should I use AdSense or Mediavine?"
And honestly?
Many people are asking the wrong question.
Because the real question should be:
"Which one makes sense for my blog right now?"
Let me explain.
A lot of beginners see screenshots from Mediavine publishers making thousands of dollars every month and immediately assume AdSense is useless.
That's a mistake.
Very big mistake.
The truth is that AdSense and Mediavine serve different stages of a blogging business.
If your blog is new, AdSense is usually your starting point.
Not because it's the highest paying option.
But because it's easier to get started.
You can learn how display advertising works.
You can understand traffic behavior.
You can collect data.
And most importantly, you can start earning while growing your blog.
That's practical.
Now let's talk about Mediavine.
Mediavine is a different game.
Generally, Mediavine publishers earn much higher RPMs than the average AdSense publisher.
Why?
Because Mediavine has stronger advertiser relationships, better optimization, and often focuses heavily on premium traffic.
But here's what many beginners don't understand...
You can't skip the journey.
You can't have 500 monthly visitors and expect Mediavine-level earnings.
The foundation must come first.
Traffic first.
Content first.
Authority first.
This is why I always tell bloggers to take a calculative approach.
Step 1:
Get your blog online.
Step 2:
Publish quality content consistently.
Step 3:
Focus on SEO and low-competition keywords.
Step 4:
Get AdSense approval.
Step 5:
Grow traffic aggressively.
Step 6:
Diversify income while building traffic.
This is important because relying only on display ads is risky.
Very risky.
The smartest bloggers today don't depend on one monetization method.
They combine:
✓ AdSense or Mediavine
✓ Affiliate marketing
✓ Referral programs
✓ Digital products
✓ Sponsored content
✓ Email marketing
That's where real money comes from.
For example...
A blog making $500 from AdSense could also make another $1,000 from affiliate commissions.
I've seen it happen many times.
And honestly?
Affiliate marketing often becomes more profitable than display ads.
Especially when you're helping people solve real problems.
That's why I tell new bloggers not to become obsessed with RPM alone.
Traffic quality matters.
Audience trust matters.
Buyer intent matters.
At the end of the day, my advice is simple:
If you're a beginner, focus on growing traffic and getting AdSense approval first.
Don't rush Mediavine.
Build the foundation.
Learn SEO.
Create helpful content.
Monetize smartly.
Then as your traffic grows, premium ad networks like Mediavine become a natural next step.
Because blogging is not about making money this week.
It's about building an asset that can pay you for years.