How to monetize a mobile app with sponsorships
Direct brand deals for app developers: where placements belong in an app, why they beat ad networks on the same users, and what to prepare before pitching.
Mobile developers default to ad networks and then wonder why the revenue is disappointing. Networks pay a fraction of what a direct sponsor pays for the same user, because the network is selling anonymous impressions while a direct sponsor is buying a defined audience inside a product they can see.
Direct deals also solve the experience problem. One tasteful sponsor placement in a sensible surface is a very different product from an interstitial every third screen, and users react accordingly - which is exactly why the sponsor pays more for it.
How it works for a mobile app
- Placement position decides everything
- Sponsored content in a feed, a branded feature or a sensible footer works. Interstitials and forced views earn more per impression and cost you the retention that made the app valuable.
- Sell engaged users, not installs
- Monthly actives and session frequency are what a sponsor should be paying for. Install counts flatter the pitch and undersell the asset.
- Relevance is the whole product
- A fitness app pairing with a nutrition brand is a recommendation; the same app carrying an unrelated banner is an annoyance at the same CPM.
What you can actually sell
- Sponsored placements inside feeds and content lists
- Branded features, filters or content sections
- Logo placements on splash, settings or about screens
- Package deals combining in-app placement with push or email
What to charge
Session frequency means impressions accumulate faster than user counts suggest, so price on sessions rather than installs. Pick the calculator niche that matches what your app is about rather than 'mobile' - a finance app and a game are not the same buy.
| If your subject is | Benchmark CPM | Flat rate at 10K | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Productivity | $4.50 | $100 / spot / month | Full rates |
| Health & Fitness | $5.00 | $110 / spot / month | Full rates |
| Finance & Investing | $12.00 | $270 / spot / month | Full rates |
| Gaming & Esports | $3.50 | $80 / spot / month | Full rates |
Benchmarks for a site at 10,000 monthly visitors with 2 ad spots. Run your own numbers to adjust for your traffic.
What these placements sell for on Adsly
Live prices from listings currently offering the formats above.
| Format | Listed spots | From | Median | Up to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package Deal | 16 | $30 | $729 | $99,000 |
| Banner Ad | 15 | $3 | $50 | $499 |
| Sponsored Content | 9 | $10 | $80 | $2,000 |
| Logo Placement | 7 | $9 | $100 | $1,499 |
What to have ready before you pitch
Nearly every sponsor asks for the same handful of things. Having them written down turns a two-week email thread into one message.
- 1 Monthly active users and average sessions per user
- 2 Platform split and audience geography
- 3 A mockup of the placement in the live interface
- 4 Retention numbers, if they are a selling point
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Questions about monetizing a mobile app
Direct sponsorship or an ad network?
Networks fill inventory automatically at low rates; direct deals pay far more but you have to sell them. Apps with a defined audience usually do better going direct, and many run a network only as a fallback for unsold space.
How many users do I need?
Tens of thousands of monthly actives makes it straightforward, but a smaller app with a specific professional audience can sell earlier. Session frequency does a lot of work here - a daily-use app with modest numbers is a strong pitch.
Will sponsorship hurt my ratings?
Placement decides it. Users routinely accept a labelled sponsor in a sensible surface and routinely leave one-star reviews over interstitials. The direct deal is what lets you choose the gentler option and still earn more.
Does Adsly take a commission on sponsorship deals?
No. Adsly charges nothing on the deals you close - you agree terms directly with the sponsor and keep 100% of what they pay. The business model is listing fees, and publishing is free if you run the Adsly badge on your site.
Do I need to set prices before listing?
No. Plenty of listings go live with no priced opportunities at all - the listing itself is a profile brands can find. You can add opportunities with your own prices later, whenever you have decided what to charge.
Run something else too?
Let sponsors come to you
List a mobile app on Adsly and brands browsing for your kind of audience can find and message you directly. Free to publish with the Adsly badge, 0% commission on every deal, and you add priced opportunities whenever you are ready.
List a mobile app