Unlock content with ads

Hi there,
I've been searching the forum for a while now but didn't find anything that would answer my question:/
I have a website that offers products for music production for free (created them myself). The download links are placed on different download pages and I added a few ads (with adsense). However, for the number of downloads they don't make much money. Most of the people just download my stuff without clicking anything and that's it. About 400-500 daily visitors result in only 20-30 clicks. That's why I wanted to ask if there is a possibility to lock my download button with an ad or ad video, or maybe overlay it with an ad that needs to be clicked before being able to download the item. Is there a "simple solution" to it as I don't really want to sign up for any service like OGAds, CPAgrip or anything... They don't match my content (surveys and stuff) and I don't want to drive my visitors away or annoy them. But if anyone that downloads a product would click on one ad, I would be really happy. Is there any "easy way" to achieve that within wordpress itself?
I'm really thankful for any suggestion!

HisAirness_23 said:

Hi there,
I've been searching the forum for a while now but didn't find anything that would answer my question:/
I have a website that offers products for music production for free (created them myself). The download links are placed on different download pages and I added a few ads (with adsense). However, for the number of downloads they don't make much money. Most of the people just download my stuff without clicking anything and that's it. About 400-500 daily visitors result in only 20-30 clicks. That's why I wanted to ask if there is a possibility to lock my download button with an ad or ad video, or maybe overlay it with an ad that needs to be clicked before being able to download the item. Is there a "simple solution" to it as I don't really want to sign up for any service like OGAds, CPAgrip or anything... They don't match my content (surveys and stuff) and I don't want to drive my visitors away or annoy them. But if anyone that downloads a product would click on one ad, I would be really happy. Is there any "easy way" to achieve that within wordpress itself?
I'm really thankful for any suggestion!

Click to expand...

You could have it set up kind of fake, this is what I'd do.

Set up a download page and your ad page and say click on an ad to get to the download.

Then set say a 30 second auto redirect on your ad page to your download page.

People will click an ad thinking they need to, to unlock the download and after they have clicked the page will just automatically redirect.

You'll have to be careful with getting people to click ads to access anything though.

What you want to do is what is called incentive advertising.

Unfortunately you cannot just place any ad you like in your own content locker, they wont pay out unless they allow incentivised advertising. That means you can only use networks like ogads to do this.

So a better way might be creating your own interstitial advertising. Which goes something like this:

Your product link -> bridge page with ad on it + say 5s countdown then continue button -> product

GringoMonkey said:

What you want to do is what is called incentive advertising.

Unfortunately you cannot just place any ad you like in your own content locker, they wont pay out unless they allow incentivised advertising. That means you can only use networks like ogads to do this.

So a better way might be creating your own interstitial advertising. Which goes someyhing like this:

Your product link -> bridge page with ad on it + say 5s countdown then continue button -> product

Click to expand...

This is actually probably the best way but you'll probably be getting CPM rather than CPC.

Something like adfly, you could also be sneaky and have them pass through a few before they get to your file.

CPApro said:

This is actually probably the best way but you'll probably be getting CPM rather than CPC.

Something like adfly, you could also be sneaky and have them pass through a few before they get to your file.

Click to expand...

You can quite easily create your own and put cpc or cpa ads on them instead of using someone like adfly. I have done it many times.

GringoMonkey said:

You can quite easily create your own and put cpc or cpa ads on them instead of using someone like adfly. I have done it many times.

Click to expand...

Oh yeah, thanks for that mate I'm shit at coding.

Out of interest what ads would you put in a setup like that?

CPApro said:

Oh yeah, thanks for that mate I'm shit at coding.

Out of interest what ads would you put in a setup like that?

Click to expand...

Sorry thought you said you created your own music production programs, so could code!

You can put anything on the interstitial page, just depends what ad networks you joined.

If you like i can take a look at your site for you?

GringoMonkey said:

Sorry thought you said you created your own music production programs, so could code!

You can put anything on the interstitial page, just depends what ad networks you joined.

If you like i can take a look at your site for you?

Click to expand...

It's not my site mate, I offered advice to the op but your advice is probably way safer than mine haha

CPApro said:

This is actually probably the best way but you'll probably be getting CPM rather than CPC.

Something like adfly, you could also be sneaky and have them pass through a few before they get to your file.

Click to expand...

I tried Adfly but you don't get paid much and it's kinda spammy. I didn't like any of these type of services. Thanks though.

GringoMonkey said:

What you want to do is what is called incentive advertising.

Unfortunately you cannot just place any ad you like in your own content locker, they wont pay out unless they allow incentivised advertising. That means you can only use networks like ogads to do this.

So a better way might be creating your own interstitial advertising. Which goes something like this:

Your product link -> bridge page with ad on it + say 5s countdown then continue button -> product

Click to expand...

Ok, thanks for the answers already! Yes, I know it is incentive advertising and not really legal :/
It's just that I put in much work for my products and want to get at least sth back. I also have products for sale on the site but people are buying less and less and it's hard to make a living off that.

The idea with a bridge page sounds good. I have a landing page for my product with a download button. If they click it I will forward them to a bridge page with only one ad on it. However, if I just add a countdown timer below, and a continue button to the actual download page appears below, they still won't click the ad? Or do you think people will more likely click the single ad rather than multiple ads on the download page itself?
Maybe the ad would convert better if I use a popup as bridge page?

Pop ups are not so good. Best redirect to the bridge page and yes just with a single ad.

While they wait, just looking at it, more likely to act!

You can even advertise other music related stuff.

GringoMonkey said:

Pop ups are not so good. Best redirect to the bridge page and yes just with a single ad.

While they wait, just looking at it, more likely to act!

You can even advertise other music related stuff.

Click to expand...

Ok. I just created a bridge page with a single ad. But I cannot target only music related stuff without blocking all other categories in Adsense globally, right? I think Adsense looks for the best fitting ads already though if I am not mistaken. Thanks again!

HisAirness_23 said:

Ok. I just created a bridge page with a single ad. But I cannot target only music related stuff without blocking all other categories in Adsense globally, right? I think Adsense looks for the best fitting ads already though if I am not mistaken. Thanks again!

Click to expand...

Due to retargeting campaigns adsense operates on more what the viewer was last searching for rather than your site content.

If i was you i would mix up the ads every few days to see what performs best.

So for example you could join a music related affiliate program and try that for a few days.

You might even put a banner for the affiliate program on the download page.

The point is try different combinations and see what makes you the most $.

Btw do you get them to register their email to get the download?

You could build yourself a nice email marketing business

GringoMonkey said:

Due to retargeting campaigns adsense operates on more what the viewer was last searching for rather than your site content.
If i was you i would mix up the ads every few days to see what performs best.
So for example you could join a music related affiliate program and try that for a few days.
You might even put a banner for the affiliate program on the download page.
The point is try different combinations and see what makes you the most $.
Btw do you get them to register their email to get the download?
You could build yourself a nice email marketing business

Click to expand...

Yes, that is correct. However, the only thing I can do is block certain categories in Adsense. I have blocked the maximum amount of categories, but there are still many unblocked not related to music. There is no other way to do that, right?
That's a good idea. However, I am already affiliated with another beat selling website (Airbit) but they only offer commissions if someone signs up for their service. I added some affiliate banners in an article for them on my blog of the site, but conversions are also not really great. I will try another affiliate program from Loopmasters now. Actually, they are a competitor but they have slightly different products, so I might give it a try.

I added all bridge urls to the channel urls in Adsense now so I can check the stats. It is not looking good so far though (about 40 visitors and no click). Looks like they figured out they need to wait and simply click the continue button. I had a 20 seconds timer for the download button on the download page as well but I removed it yesterday to not stress the visitors too much. Looks like that wasn't a great idea though, as the amount of clicks are 0 for today so far.
See attachment for what the bridge page looks like to me.

This whole niche is really difficult to monetize (music producers /beatmakers), most probably because the clients are young and/or broke Someone who is looking for free Drum Kits & Sample Packs doesn't have much money to spend, unfortunately. Also the competition is getting bigger and bigger (Splice, Sounds.com, ADSRSounds, Maschine Masters, Producerloops, etc....)
I already have a huge e-mail list but as I said, not great to monetize. Actually, until a few weeks ago I had all of the free products included into my shop system, but my database blew up because of all the free payment records and users created on the website. I even had to delete many old accounts that haven't been accessed anymore for a longer period of time but it took hours so I changed it to a free external download without any forms. Also, sales have been declining drastically so I was looking to generate some extra income. Anyways, long story.... I appreciate your efforts and help!

From the ad you showed me above 20 seconds is a bit too long, 5-10 would be better.

How many email details do you have?

I dont work in this niche, but I actually produce my own beats - as a hobby - could you send me your site link?

GringoMonkey said:

From the ad you showed me above 20 seconds is a bit too long, 5-10 would be better.

How many email details do you have?

I dont work in this niche, but I actually produce my own beats - as a hobby - could you send me your site link?

Click to expand...

Ok, will change it to ten.

Hm, about 8k in Mailchimp and about 30k accounts with e-mails on my website Not sure how many are still active though. Been collecting since 2016. Ah, that's cool. I cannot send it here as I don't have the needed amount of posts yet. Can I send you a pm? I guess I need 4-5 more posts here

Nvm, I'm stupid You can just google for Beats24-7.

Ah right sorry i thought you said it was music software, it just seems to be paid for beats, with a few free ones.

So is nobody is buying the beats?

GringoMonkey said:

Ah right sorry i thought you said it was music software, it just seems to be paid for beats, with a few free ones.

So is nobody is buying the beats?

Click to expand...

Hm? It is Drum Kits, Sample Packs, Preset Banks (Kontakt, Omnisphere, Sylenth, etc.), Construction Kits and more. And there are also Beats on the site but nobody really purchases them anymore. I uploaded Beats on the site back in the day when people were still buying but then switched to Producer Kits.

PS: The bridge pages don't really work well or better. I think I will switch back to main download pages again.