Getting accepted into Journey by MediaVine was a game changer for my blog. In just three months, I managed to reach the threshold and secure a spot in this coveted ad network. If you’re wondering how I did it, what the requirements are, or whether it’s the right move for your blog, you’re in the right place. Let’s chat about everything you need to know!
What is MediaVine?
MediaVine is an ad management company that helps bloggers and content creators make money from their websites through well-placed, high-quality ads. They’re known for their personalized approach, focusing on optimizing ad placements to boost your revenue while keeping your site user-friendly. It’s a popular choice for bloggers who want to increase their income without compromising on their site’s quality.
What is Journey by MediaVine?
Journey by MediaVine is a new program for growing blogs around 10,000 sessions per month. It is required that you also have their plugin Grow installed on your website for a minimum of 30 days before you are accepted. It’s a premium ad management service designed for bloggers and content creators who have grown their audience and want to monetize their site more effectively. With Journey, you get access to higher-paying ads, a more personalized service, and additional resources to help you grow your blog even further.
Why I Chose Journey by MediaVine to Monetize my Growing Blog
After my first few months of blogging, I realized that to take my site to the next level, I needed more than just great content—I needed a reliable income stream that matched my growing traffic. MediaVine is known for its excellent RPMs (Revenue per Mille), which means more income for the same amount of traffic compared to other ad networks. Plus, their commitment to user experience (UX) aligned perfectly with my goal to maintain a clean and engaging website for my readers. To be accepted into MediaVine, you needed a minimum of 50k sessions per month. I was really excited to hear that I could get into the Journey program (currently in beta) with just 10k sessions.
How to get Accepted in 3 Months
Getting accepted into Journey by MediaVine in just three months might seem like a whirlwind, but it all came down to strategic planning, hard work, and a bit of patience. Here’s how I did it:
1. Start with Keyword Research
Before anything else, I performed a lot of keyword research using SEMRush. I looked for content ideas with a low competition score and high search volume. I made sure that the ideas matched with my brand and vision for the blog. In addition to SEMRush I also used Keywords Everywhere to check in on Keywords on Pinterest (which has given me the most traffic to my blog so far in the first 3 months)
2. Focus on Quality Content
Once I had my content planned out with keyword research, I created high-quality, evergreen content that resonated with my target audience. This content needed to be informative, well-researched, and valuable. Quality content naturally attracts more visitors and keeps them engaged, which is crucial for boosting your page views.
To create the content I relied on my own ideas, but had some help from ChatGPT and KoalaAI (read my full review of KoalaAI here). I make sure to heavily edit the content to make it my own and provide an outline with my initial thoughts to keep it from sounding too robotic.
3. Optimize for MediaVine
After getting accepted into Journey, I learned that MediaVine, as well as other ad networks do not work as well with page builders (anyone who knows me knows I love Elementor and Showit!), so in order to better optimize my website for ads, I chose to go with a Kadence theme. Kadence works with Gutenberg blocks which is better for ad placement. It is also reported to improve your website’s speed (although, I have not found this to be the case as I always optimize Elementor for speed).
I actually really love working with Kadence and am thinking about selling some blogging templates in the future.
4. Leverage Pinterest
I used Pinterest to drive traffic to my blog. Pinterest, in particular, was a goldmine for generating consistent traffic. I created eye-catching pins for each blog post and used Pinterest SEO to get my content in front of more users. Now after 3 months of consistent posting I’m up to 200k+ impressions on Pinterest and 70+ followers, allowing me to grow much faster than on other Social Media platforms like Instagram or TikTok.
5. Monitor and Adjust
Throughout the three months, I regularly checked my Google Analytics, SEMRush, Google Search Console and other tools to see what was working and what wasn’t. If a post wasn’t performing well, I’d tweak it or promote it more. This continuous improvement mindset was crucial in keeping my traffic on an upward trajectory.
Best Website Practices for Increasing RPMs (AKA how to make more money from your blog)
If you’re looking to boost your Revenue per Mille (RPM) and make the most out of your ad placements, there are several key practices to keep in mind. RPM optimization is not just about the ads themselves but how your site is structured, the content you provide, and the overall user experience.
- Improve Site Speed: Faster sites not only offer a better user experience but also ensure that ads load quickly, increasing their viewability. A higher viewability score means advertisers are more likely to pay a premium for your ad slots. You can enhance your site’s speed by enabling lazy loading for images, optimizing your site for mobile, and using tools like Mediavine’s Trellis for WordPress or Kadence【18†source】【22†source】.
- Use Shorter Sentences and Paragraphs: In the mobile-first world, long blocks of text can deter readers, causing them to scroll past your content—and your ads. By breaking your content into shorter, more digestible paragraphs, you increase engagement, which in turn improves ad viewability. This simple formatting tweak can significantly impact your RPM【21†source】.
- Optimize Ad Placement: Strategic ad placement is crucial for maximizing your RPM. Make sure your most valuable content (MVC) is positioned to maintain high ad viewability, and avoid placing ads in areas where they might be skipped over. Also, ensure that your site’s content leading up to the MVC is engaging to keep readers interested and interacting with your ads【19†source】【20†source】.
- Utilize Video Content: Embedding videos within your posts can lead to higher engagement, as videos tend to keep users on the page longer. This engagement directly translates into better-performing ads, which can significantly boost your RPM. Make sure the videos are relevant and well-integrated into your content to maximize their impact【18†source】【20†source】.
By focusing on these key areas—site speed, content formatting, ad placement, and video integration—you can create an environment that maximizes your RPM while maintaining a positive experience for your readers. Remember, RPM optimization is an ongoing process, so continually monitor your site’s performance and make adjustments as needed to stay ahead.
Requirements for Joining Journey by MediaVine
To be considered for Journey, your site needs to meet certain criteria:
- Traffic: While the specific number can vary, most blogs need at least 10,000 monthly sessions to be eligible. This ensures you have a growing audience that advertisers are interested in.
- Content: Your blog must have high-quality, original content. MediaVine places a strong emphasis on user experience, so your site should be clean, easy to navigate, and free from intrusive ads.
- Engagement: MediaVine looks for blogs with engaged audiences. High bounce rates or low time-on-page metrics could hurt your chances, so focus on creating content that keeps readers on your site longer.
What to Expect After Joining
Once you’re in, the real journey begins. MediaVine’s Journey program offers a suite of tools and resources to help you maximize your earnings. You’ll have access to their dashboard, which gives detailed insights into your ad performance, and their support team, which can help you optimize your site even further.
Here are a few things to look forward to:
- Higher RPMs for Growing Websites: Journey is designed to offer better RPMs to blogs that are growing, allowing you to monetize sooner.
- Personalized Support: You’ll get more hands-on help from the MediaVine team, which can be invaluable as you continue to grow your blog.
- Exclusive Resources: Journey members have access to exclusive webinars, guides, and other resources to help you continue scaling your site.
Is Journey Right for You?
Journey by MediaVine is a fantastic option if you’re serious about monetizing your blog and have the traffic to back it up. It’s perfect for bloggers who want to earn more from their content without sacrificing user experience.
However, if your blog is still in its early stages or you’re not quite hitting the traffic numbers yet, don’t worry. Focus on creating great content, driving traffic, and building your audience. With time and effort, you can get there too. Installing Grow on your website now is a great idea to start growing your audience.
Final Thoughts
Joining Journey by MediaVine was a significant milestone for my blog, and it can be for yours too. By focusing on quality content, optimizing for SEO, leveraging social media, engaging with your audience, and continuously monitoring your progress, you can reach the traffic goals needed to join this premium ad network.
If you’re aiming to get into Journey, my advice is to stay consistent, be patient, and never stop learning. Your hard work will pay off, and before you know it, you’ll be reaping the benefits of this incredible program.
