Building an online business is never easy. However, there should be no limits to how one can earn. Adsterra’s Smart Direct Link removes these barriers. This smart URL automatically directs traffic to the best-fitting landing pages for your traffic.
This guide combines the answers to the most common questions about Smart Direct Link monetization. How much earnings can a publisher get? What’s the most effective place for the link? How does Direct Link work?
Let’s break down the details!
An overview of Smart Direct Link monetization
Adsterra's Direct Link (or Smart Direct Link) is an ad unit for publishers and webmasters that has no visual format, just a URL.
Publishers can request this unique URL from Adsterra and place it on websites and mobile apps, or even use it to generate income from social traffic.
How Smart Direct Link works to generate revenue?
The Smart Direct Link is a simple URL. It’s also a "smart" link that automatically directs users to one of the ad pages when they click on it. Thanks to advanced algorithms, only the ads with high CPMs and strong relevance to the publisher’s audience are chosen.
Here's how it works:
A user visits your website, landing page, or social media account.
They click on the Smart Direct Link.
The user is taken to a relevant advertising offer/landing page.
You earn money based on either ad views (CPM) or specific actions (CPA).
This works similarly to popunder ads, and the Smart Direct Link can even enhance other ad types like the mentioned Popunder or Social Bar ads to increase CPM earnings.
How much does Smart Direct Link pay?
Website or social media visitors can see several relevant offers, increasing the chances of them purchasing from advertisers. Your profits increase significantly when users take actions like buying, signing up, or installing. Moreover, Adsterra pays for conversions, which makes it one of the highest-paying networks. Publishers with $1,000 daily earnings are Adsterra’s real cases. Many bloggers use high-CPM Smart Direct Link monetization, for example, Kishwar Shahzad, who earned $1,300 per day, or Umair Nasir, who got some fast results.
* Your CPM and payouts depend on a few key aspects, and understanding them can help manage your winnings. Hang around, these aspects are revealed further.
Smart Direct Link: who can use it and how?
The Smart Direct Link is a flexible tool that helps publishers earn from social traffic on platforms like TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube, as well as mobile app traffic.
While website owners often choose the Popunder ad format for its high CPM and solid revenue, adding the Smart Direct Link can further boost earnings by combining different ad types.
Before using the Smart Direct Link to monetize social traffic or website visitors, publishers need to get the ad code. Here's how to do it at Adsterra.
How do you get a Direct Link to monetize social or app traffic?
Step 1: Sign up or log in, and generate the link
Register as a publisher on Adsterra or log into your account.
Open the Direct Links tab from the left-side vertical menu.
Click Create Direct Link to start.
In the pop-up, choose the traffic type or link category. You can also exclude specific ad feed if needed.
Click Add to send the request for approval.
Adsterra reviews requests within minutes. Once approved, the link status will change from Pending to Active.
Step 2: Get Direct Link code
After approval, the Direct Link code becomes available for use. Publishers can add it to their app or use it to monetize social traffic.
The code can be found on the Direct Links page in the publisher's account. Before using it, check that the status is Active. If it still says Pending, the review process is not yet complete.
Adsterra also emails the requested ad code. Publishers can check their inbox for the unique script.
How do you get a Direct Link to monetize websites or landing pages?
Step 1: Sign up or log in, and request the link
Sign up as an Adsterra publisher or log into your account.
Open the Websites tab from the left menu.
Click Add New Website on the Websites page.
A pop-up will appear — enter the following details:
Website URL (HTTPS recommended)
Traffic category (e.g., Movies, iGaming, Sports)
Ad unit (Select Direct Link)
Exclusion filters (optional)
Click Add to submit the request.
Adsterra reviews requests within 2 to 10 minutes. Once approved, the Direct Link will be available. To find it, go to the Websites tab and locate the website the Direct Link was requested for.
Step 2: Get Direct Link code
Open the Websites page and find the domain for which you requested the link.
Click the downward arrow next to the domain name to view the available codes.
Make sure the status is Active. If it still shows Pending, wait a few minutes and reload the page.
Adsterra also emails the code — check the inbox for a message from the Adsterra Support Team. Click Get the Script, then copy the unique Direct Link code.
Smart Direct Link placement: platforms overview
Smart Direct Link is compatible with all platforms and CMS. Adding it is no more difficult than adding text blocks in a blog post. Check these simple steps to integrate the code into HTML pages, WordPress sites, and Blogger (Blogspot) pages.
HTML Pages and Websites
There are three simple ways to insert Adsterra Smart Direct Link into an HTML page:
The link is a URL, so it can be inserted as a standard hyperlink using the <a> tag:
<a href="your direct link URL">Link Text</a>
Another option is to make a clickable image or GIF that will redirect to the link. Here’s the script to help you:
<a href="your direct link URL"> <img src="https://adsterra.com/_nuxt/img/logo_extended.fddf2fa.svg" alt="Adsterra"> </a>
You can also create a clickable button:
<button onclick="window.location.href='your direct link URL';">Click Here</button>
WordPress pages
The flow is rather alike in HTML. Follow this guide to add Direct Link in the WordPress editor:
Open the Admin Panel, choose a post or page, and click Edit.
In the editor, select the text, button, or image where the link should be placed.
Click the 🔗 link icon or press Ctrl + K (Windows).
Paste the Adsterra Direct Link into the field.
Enable "Open in a new tab" and set the link as "no-follow".
The no-follow attribute stops search engines from indexing the link (recommended for advertising links).
Blogger’s (Blogspot) pages
Integrating the Smart Direct Link into a Blogger site is easy, too. Publishers can insert it into text, images, GIFs, or buttons.
Open the post or page where you want the link to appear.
Select a word or phrase in the text.
Click the 🔗 link icon.
Paste the Adsterra Direct Link.
Social media and mobile apps
In mobile apps, the Direct Link should be placed in visible and clickable areas like text, images, or custom banners. However, it should not be added to navigation buttons or placed too close to them, as too many accidental clicks may frustrate users. If users leave ads too quickly, the traffic may be flagged as low-quality, reducing CPM rates and overall earnings.
For social traffic, strategic placement is key. Publishers who use white-hat methods direct users to an intermediary page that contains the Direct Link. Social platforms like Instagram and TikTok do not allow third-party links in bios or profiles, and adding them may result in a ban. The alternative is to place Direct Link on a separate landing page that followers can access.
Placement hacks: best positions on the website to boost Direct Link earnings
Adsterra Smart Direct Link has no visual components as opposed to push or banner ads, which allows for seamless integration on any website without taking up extra space. Nevertheless, it is crucuial to understand the best spots on the website to place the link most effectively and maximize earnings.
The basic advice for effective placement is embedding text links in highly visible areas of the page, but there are other smart placements:
404 error pages (embedding the link into the 404 page template will monetize lost traffic)
Call-to-Action (CTA) buttons (Download, Play, Subscribe, Get Bonus, etc.)
Images and GIFs
Full-size image previews (those that expand when clicked)
Links near CTA buttons (free content offered for viewing an ad)
How different factors affect Smart Direct Link performance
1. Traffic quality
Adsterra prioritizes traffic quality over volume. Key metrics like time spent on a page, bounce rate, and pages per session help analyzing the traffic. Even websites with less than 1,000 daily visitors can earn $300–$500 in just five days if their traffic performs well on CPA campaigns. However, using bots or artificial traffic sources leads to a zero CPM and no revenue.
2. GEO and traffic type
The increased mobile usage, especially after the 2020 lockdown, shifted the trend of desktop traffic being the ultimate cashcow. Today, mobile ad views can bring in $25, $45, or even $75 CPM, from Android users on social platforms, as an example.
Although iOS traffic is generally more costly, Android traffic on Adsterra seems to bridge the gap. Advertisers invest in high-paying campaigns for VPNs, Utilities, Cleaners, and Boosters, mainly targeting Android users.
Traffic from Tier-1 countries (e.g., US, UK, Australia) continues to be in demand, too. However, publishers can sometimes get greater payouts with traffic from South Africa (ZA) or South Korea (KR).
3. Traffic volume
Higher traffic volume, and, therefore, bigger impressions, lead to greater profits. Publishers should focus on increasing the number of website visitors to boost revenue. That’s why understanding SEO and traffic growth hacks can elevate monetization results.
4. Niche and audience
Not all website visitors interact with ads. Even with high traffic, users in certain niches may avoid popunders or other ad formats. To maximize earnings without affecting user experience, publishers should run A/B tests before adding ad codes.
Smart Direct Link monetization: perks for pubs
Any type of traffic accepted: earn from organic, social, mobile, and desktop traffic.
Easy integration: place it anywhere on a webpage.
Boosted earnings: display the most relevant and highest-paying offers to each visitor.
Compatibility with other ad formats: use it alongside other Adsterra ad formats.
Higher revenue potential: don’t filter out niche or explicit ads to increase payouts.
Beginner-friendly: ideal for monetizing even a single-page site or traffic with no website at all.
Smart Direct Link: top questions answered
Is Smart Direct Link Compatible with All Websites?
In general, yes.
However, sites with ad-sensitive audiences might find less intrusive formats like In-Page Push (Social Bar) more suitable. For blogs on topics like religion or parenting, Direct Link may not be the best choice, as users typically prefer content that stays on-topic. Native ads could be a better option. Additionally, publishers should avoid placing the link on navigation buttons or using deceptive strategies.
How does Adsterra set the CPM rates for Direct Link?
Adsterra strikes a perfect balance between CPM and CPA campaigns. This means earnings are based on both ad views and user actions. The payout structure is straightforward: the more conversions, the higher the eCPM. However, even with lower conversion rates, publishers can still achieve strong CPM earnings if they drive significant traffic volumes.
Is it recommended for publishers to use paid traffic for Direct Link?
Purchasing traffic for Smart Direct Link can be effective, but it demands skill. Only those with experience in traffic acquisition and conversion optimization can make it work. This strategy is ideal for affiliate marketers and publishers savvy in budget planning and optimization.
For those interested in using paid traffic, seeking advice from Adsterra’s support team is recommended. Their specialists can help identify the most profitable traffic for each case. Live chat support is available 24/7 for any inquiries.
Where Does the Smart Direct Link Send Users?
When a user clicks on a text, image, or button with the Smart Direct Link, they are immediately taken to a relevant ad page. Adsterra manages thousands of ad campaigns simultaneously, but its algorithm picks the most suitable offer based on the publisher’s traffic.
Are publishers able to customize banners and pop-ups and add Smart Direct Link on it?
Publishers with graphic design skills can create personalized banners or pop-ups and embed the Smart Direct Link. This approach is commonly used on CMS platforms that do not support ad scripts. Instead, they design a static banner with an image and title, then attach the link for monetization.
Can publishers filter the offers shown to users through Direct Link?
Publishers can ask Adsterra managers to exclude ad categories that are not suitable for their audience. Additionally, when adding a new website in their account, they can apply filters to remove unwanted ad types before starting monetization.
Does Adsterra Direct Link work alongside other ad formats?
Publishers on Adsterra are allowed to run multiple ad formats at once. However, overloading a page with too many ads is not advised, as it can discourage visitors and lower engagement and conversions. Publishers can use Smart Direct Link alongside Popunder ads, Social Bar ads (push ads), and Native or standard Banners.
Wrapping up
While quick online profits are believed to be uncommon, beginner-friendly and effective monetization should be available to all publishers. Adsterra’s Smart Direct Link offers an easy way to earn revenue, whether through a website, social media, or mobile app. Start boosting your earnings today!
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