We just made our ad auctions run up to 24% faster, generating real, measured revenue for publishers, without a single disruption to your site. Here’s how.

That auction system runs on infrastructure our engineering team builds and maintains, work you’ll never see or need to think about, but that shows up directly in your revenue.

Built Faster, From the Ground Up

Our engineering team rebuilt Mediavine’s server-to-server (S2S) auction infrastructure from the ground up. This technology sits behind every ad auction on your site, helping advertisers compete for each impression as quickly and efficiently as possible.

The old system was already handling an enormous amount of traffic, tens of thousands of these lightning-fast auctions every single second, across every Mediavine publisher’s site combined. Rather than pause everything to rebuild it in one high-risk push, the team moved traffic onto the new system in stages, starting at 2%, holding at 26% for nearly two weeks to confirm it was solid, then moving to 38%, 50%, and eventually 100%. Every increase was backed by real production data before the next one began.

The Numbers That Matter to You

• Auctions now run 18-24% faster. More advertisers get to place a bid before the auction closes. More bidders competing for the same ad space means higher prices, which means more money for you.
• Faster auctions pull more competing demand into every impression. More bidders on the same placement raises what advertisers pay, which lifts the value of each impression across the network. That applies to every page view, every day, not to a one-time window.
• The new system also uses far less computing power, about 60% less processing power and a third of the number of servers it used to need. Here’s why that matters to you: less strain on the system means more room for it to stay fast and stable even during your busiest moments, like when a post goes viral or during the high-traffic rush of Q4, instead of slowing down right when you need it most.

The Work Never Stops

This is an example of how our engineering team works, making small, carefully tested improvements to the systems your revenue depends on, checking real results at every step, rather than disappearing for months to make one giant risky change. That approach is what lets us keep improving the infrastructure behind your monetization continuously, without ever disrupting your site or your business.

If you’re a publisher evaluating who to trust with your monetization, especially if you’re running a larger, high-traffic site, this is worth knowing. The technology underneath your ad revenue isn’t something we built once. It’s actively engineered, tested, and improved by a team that treats speed and reliability as core to the product, not an afterthought.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an ad auction, exactly?

Every time someone loads a page on your site, there’s a split-second process happening behind the scenes. Advertisers compete against each other for the chance to show an ad on that page. This is an auction, and it has to happen in milliseconds, faster than a blink, before the page finishes loading. The faster and more efficient that auction is, the more advertisers get a real chance to bid before the window closes, and more competition means better prices for that ad space.

What is Mediavine’s S2S auction infrastructure?
Mediavine runs a real-time, server-to-server (S2S) ad auction system that powers how advertisers compete for available ad space across the Mediavine publisher network.

Every time a visitor loads a page on a Mediavine publisher’s site, that system instantly runs an auction where advertisers bid for the opportunity to display an ad. In a matter of milliseconds, the highest-value bid wins, helping ensure each impression is matched with the best available demand.

This process happens thousands of times every second across the Mediavine network, creating a faster, more efficient marketplace that connects publishers with premium advertisers while maximizing the value of every ad opportunity.

Will my site load faster?
This update primarily improves the speed and efficiency of the ad auction itself. While publishers may not notice a dramatic change in page load times, faster auctions help maximize advertiser participation and improve the revenue opportunity for each impression.

What changed with the recent rebuild?
Mediavine rewrote the core infrastructure behind this auction system from scratch to run faster and more efficiently at scale. The rebuild took Mediavine’s software team 43 days to complete and launch, rolled out gradually and validated against real production data at every stage.

How much faster are ad auctions after the rebuild?
Ad auctions now run 18-24% faster. Faster auctions give more advertisers the opportunity to bid before the auction window closes, increasing competition for ad space.

Does a faster ad auction actually increase publisher revenue?
Yes. More advertisers competing for the same ad space increases competition, which drives up what advertisers pay. In the first 24 days after launch, the rebuild generated additional revenue for publishers across the network, along with a lift in average advertiser pricing.

How much more efficient is the new system?
The rebuilt system uses about 60% less processing power and a third of the servers it used to require. That reduced load gives the system more headroom to stay fast and stable, especially during your highest-traffic moments.

Do publishers need to do anything to benefit from this?
No. The rebuild runs automatically on every page view across the Mediavine network. Publishers don’t need to change any settings or take any action to benefit from it.

Two years ago, we launched Journey by Mediavine with a simple mission: bringing Mediavine’s award-winning ad management to publishers earlier in their path to success.

Today, Journey is celebrating its second birthday, and we’re marking the occasion with the biggest updates in the program’s history.

One Application. One Front Door.

Applying to Journey used to be a separate process than applying to traditional Mediavine ad management. Not anymore.

We now have one unified application for all of Mediavine, which you’ll find at mediavine.com/apply or by clicking the Apply button at the top of every page on our site.

Here’s the best part: you don’t have to figure out which program to apply for. Our application automatically evaluates your site and routes you to Journey or Mediavine, depending on which you qualify for.

One application. One front door. No guesswork.

New (Lower!) Journey Requirements

If it’s been a while since you looked at Journey’s requirements, look again.

The program now requires just 1,000 premium sessions per month.

Premium sessions mean traffic from premium ad markets like the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.

Note: you are not penalized for traffic from other countries. We love a global audience. Your site simply needs enough monetizable impressions to run ads successfully, and 1,000 premium sessions is the bar.

That’s it.

Grow is Now Optional (But We Still Love It)

This is a big one.

The application now uses Google Analytics to evaluate your traffic, which means you no longer need to run the Grow script for 30 days before applying. You can apply today, right now, with the traffic data you already have.

In fact, Grow is now entirely optional for Journey publishers.

That said, we still recommend Grow. Features like Spotlight Subscribe, Print Pass and Automailer are designed to bring readers back and grow your audience, which is exactly what Journey-level sites need most.

Retention, building and owning your audience are how Journey sites eventually graduate into Mediavine. Grow helps you get there faster.

Faster Approvals. A Direct Line if Something Breaks.

Since launching our new unified application, we’re approving applications faster than ever, with the most site launches per day in Journey’s history.

But we also recognize that with any new system, some of you have hit hiccups along the way. We hear you, and we’re on it.

That’s why we built a bug report tool directly into the application process.

If you run into something that doesn’t look right, submit it right then and there. Your reports go straight to our team, and we’re fixing issues as fast as they come in.

We’re here to get this done for you. Full stop.

Welcome to the Shared Dashboard

Journey publishers are now part of the same dashboard as Mediavine publishers.

That means better reporting, a more polished experience and, most importantly, a home that grows with you. When your site is ready to move from Journey to Mediavine, you’re already in the right place.

Why We’re Investing So Heavily in Journey by Mediavine

Let’s talk about the elephant in every publisher’s analytics: AI.

In an era where AI-generated content is flooding the web, we believe it’s more important than ever to surface real, human content and to invest in the independent publishers creating it as early in their growth path as we can.

That’s not a talking point. That’s the strategy.

Journey is how we find and support the next generation of publishers before anyone else does, and it’s why we’re pouring resources into the program.

And there’s a lot more coming.

On the roadmap: better ad performance, more ad opportunities, and more controls and reporting in your dashboard.

The Vision Remains True

Two years in, the vision hasn’t changed one bit.

Journey by Mediavine is just the start of your journey. It’s a program built to help you monetize earlier, grow smarter and ultimately graduate into Mediavine.

It’s now easier than ever to get started. Apply today and find out how far you can go.

Here’s to two years of Journey by Mediavine, and to every publisher just getting started on theirs. 🎉

Through Shine PSAs, Mediavine gives publishers the opportunity to put otherwise unfilled inventory to work, supporting nonprofit organizations that make a real difference in communities around the world. Rather than leaving ad impressions unfilled, Shine PSAs deliver public service announcements that help trusted organizations raise awareness, connect with new audiences, and amplify causes that matter.

It’s a simple concept with meaningful impact: when an ad can’t or shouldn’t be monetized, it can still do good. This summer, our ongoing partnership with No Kid Hungry helps turn those impressions into action by connecting families with resources to find meals for their children when they need them most.

Why Summer Break Can Mean Food Insecurity

For many children, school is more than a place to learn; it’s where they receive dependable, nutritious meals each day. 

When summer arrives and school cafeterias close, that support can disappear almost overnight. Millions of families suddenly face the challenge of replacing breakfast and lunch while balancing already stretched household budgets.

That’s where No Kid Hungry steps in.

Their Summer Meals initiative helps families locate free meal sites, access summer grocery benefits, and connect with community programs that ensure children continue receiving the nutrition they need throughout the break. Whether through neighborhood meal sites, grab-and-go options, or rural meal distribution, these latest efforts could help as many as 31 million children in the United States. No Kid Hungry’s ongoing programs work to make healthy meals available wherever families need them most. 

Amplifying a Mission That Matters

Awareness is often one of the biggest barriers to accessing available resources.

Families may not know that free summer meal programs exist in their communities or aren’t sure where to find them. By serving No Kid Hungry public service announcements through Shine PSAs, publishers help those messages reach more parents and caregivers at exactly the right time.

Each donated impression becomes another opportunity for someone to discover resources that can make a meaningful difference during the summer months.

No Kid Hungry has felt that impact directly. As Allison Ruta, Senior Manager of National Consumer Media & Champion Engagement for the No Kid Hungry campaign, put it: “Awareness is one of the biggest barriers in our work to end hunger, so we’re so grateful for the support and visibility from Mediavine and your incredible network who are helping us make a difference.”

The Opportunity Behind Unfilled Inventory

Because no advertising platform fills every available impression, Shine PSAs put that space to work for good.

Every ad opportunity is evaluated against advertiser targeting, available campaign budgets, user consent settings, geography, brand suitability, and real-time demand. When there isn’t a qualifying advertiser for a particular impression, that inventory intentionally goes unfilled to maintain the highest quality of monetization.

This is exactly the opportunity Shine PSAs were built to address.

Instead of displaying an empty space, eligible unfilled inventory can be used to serve public service announcements from trusted nonprofit organizations, like No Kid Hungry. Because these impressions wouldn’t have been monetized otherwise, publishers can support important causes without replacing paid advertising opportunities.

It’s an effortless way to make every impression count, even when it isn’t an eligible monetizable ad.

Making an Impact Beyond Advertising

At Mediavine, we’re always focused on helping publishers maximize the value of their inventory. Sometimes that value is measured in revenue. Other times, it’s measured in impact.

Shine PSAs make it possible to use eligible unfilled impressions to support nonprofit organizations tackling some of today’s most important challenges. Over the past few years, publishers have helped amplify campaigns focused on environmental stewardship, disaster relief, inclusion and more. Through our partnership with No Kid Hungry, those same impressions are helping to shine a light on childhood hunger during one of the most challenging seasons of the year.

Ready to join the Mediavine publishers making a difference? Follow these quick steps to start running Shine PSA campaigns:

• Go to Settings in your Mediavine Dashboard
• Open the Shine section
• Enable No Kid Hungry or any additional nonprofit partners you’d like to support

Thank You to Our Publisher Community

Shine PSAs are only possible through the partnership of our participating publishers.

By donating eligible unfilled impressions, you’re helping trusted nonprofit organizations reach new audiences, raise awareness and connect people with life-changing resources. This summer, those impressions are helping No Kid Hungry ensure more families know where to find free meals for their children while school is out.

Thank you for helping make every eligible impression count.

If Q2 felt like a steady climb, Q3 will look a bit different. Rather than building momentum evenly across all three months, the quarter unfolds in two phases: a quieter start followed by a much stronger finish. Looking at July alone won’t tell the full story, Q3’s momentum is expected to build significantly as the quarter progresses.

The forces driving that shift aren’t new. They’re budget planning cycles and end-of-quarter spending behavior, the same ones that have shaped every quarter in this series so far. What’s different in Q3 is a variable the first half of the year didn’t have to deal with: summer.

Here’s what that actually looks like, and how to plan around it.

Early Q3 (July): Budgets Are Fresh, Spending Is Cautious

The first few days of July often carry some residual strength from July 4th spend, then pull back once advertisers return and begin pacing fresh Q3 budgets. That early swing makes July one of the more unpredictable stretches of the quarter, and a poor benchmark for what the rest of Q3 will look like.

The quarterly reset starts after the holiday. By the time advertisers are back from the long weekend, they’ve just come out of Q2’s execution phase, and Q3 budgets are brand new. As always happens at the start of a quarter, spending starts cautiously. Teams are pacing campaigns, testing what’s working, and holding off on aggressive bids until they have more signal.

That means the back half of July is often the softest stretch of the quarter.

Late June and late July are measuring two completely different moments in the advertising cycle. One is end-of-quarter, when budgets are racing to close while the other is the beginning of a new one, when spend is just finding its footing. Comparing the two isn’t an apples-to-apples read on your performance.

Summer Introduces Real Variability

Q1 and Q2 both follow a fairly predictable rhythm. Q3 doesn’t, and that’s by design, not by accident.

Summer demand behaves differently than the rest of the year because travel picks up, outdoor and lifestyle content sees more attention, and retail moments can inject demand into the market with little warning.

That variability cuts in different directions depending on your niche. A travel or outdoor site might see a real lift in July that a different vertical doesn’t. There’s no single rule that applies evenly across every content category this quarter, which is exactly what makes Q3 harder to predict than Q1 or Q2.

You can’t run the same fixed strategy all quarter and expect it to work equally well in July as it does in September because Q3 requires you to adjust as you go.

Mid-Q3 (August): The Bridge Into Stronger Demand

August is where Q3 starts to turn. Back-to-school campaigns typically begin ramping in late July and build through August, and that spend has real momentum behind it. Unlike the cautious, wait-and-see budgets driving early July, back-to-school budgets come with a hard deadline: the school year starts whether a campaign is ready or not.

That urgency shows up in demand. For publishers in family, education, retail, and lifestyle-adjacent niches especially, August tends to outperform July, and it sets the stage for the stronger push still to come in September.

Even outside those niches, August is worth watching. It’s the bridge between July’s quiet start and September’s close, and it’s usually the first clear signal of which direction the rest of the quarter is heading.

Political Ad Spend Is a Second Demand Driver

Back-to-school isn’t the only added force pushing demand higher this quarter. Midterm election spending adds a second, and unlike back-to-school, it doesn’t wrap up when the school year starts.

Political ad spend is absorbing a growing share of linear and CTV inventory. Advertisers who can’t reach their audiences efficiently through those channels are moving budget into display and online video instead. That pressure builds through August and September and peaks in October, meaning it carries this lift past Q3 and into the start of Q4.

For publishers, that’s demand shifting in your favor. More competition for the same display and video inventory usually means better rates, though the timelines are tighter and buying behavior looks less predictable than a typical cycle.

End-of-Quarter Budgets Drive the September Push

Two forces are now stacked on top of each other heading into September. Election-driven demand is still building and the same end-of-quarter budget mechanic that made late June the strongest part of Q2. As Q3 winds down, unused budget becomes a problem advertisers actively want to solve. Spending accelerates in the final weeks of the quarter as teams push to use what they’ve allocated before it’s gone.

That means late September tends to meaningfully outperform late July.

If you’re comparing performance across the quarter, measure against the pattern. A slow start and a strong close are actually the same story, just at different points in the three-month arc.

How Publishers Can Stay Ahead of Q3 Trends

A few practical ways to work with this pattern instead of reacting to it:

• Hold your best summer content strategically. If you have strong travel, outdoor, or seasonal lifestyle content, plan for it to carry weight through the whole quarter, not just the first few weeks.
• Set realistic expectations for late July. A soft stretch after the July 4th bump is normal, not a warning sign.
• Watch for the back-to-school ramp in August. If your content touches family, education, or retail, this is often the first real sign of momentum building toward September.
• Watch for one-off demand spikes. Major retail or platform events can move the market on short notice, on top of the broader seasonal pattern.
• Keep late-September performance in perspective. It’s typically the strongest stretch of the quarter, not an outlier.

Q3 in the Context of the Advertising Year

Every quarter plays a different role in the annual cycle:

• Q1 resets budgets and strategies
• Q2 stabilizes the market and builds momentum
• Q3 introduces more variability around summer demand, building through August before the strongest activity concentrates late in the quarter
• Q4 delivers peak competition

The calendar changes every year. The behavior behind it largely doesn’t.

If you’re curious about the mechanics behind all of this, our guide on why eCPMs rise and fall throughout the year breaks down the underlying framework in more detail, and our look at the Q2 pattern covers what happens right before Q3 begins.

And if you’re evaluating whether your current ad setup is capturing this seasonal lift the way it should, Q3 is also the ideal window to make a change before Q4 arrives.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does July feel slower than June? The very start of July often holds up thanks to July 4th spend, but the slowdown sets in once advertisers are back from the holiday and working with fresh, cautiously-paced Q3 budgets. This is the same pattern that shows up at the start of every quarter, not a sign of a problem with your site.

Is a Q3 dip normal? Yes. A softer late July is consistent with the seasonal pattern publishers see every year. What matters more than any single week is how performance trends across the full quarter.

Does August perform better than July? For many publishers, yes. Back-to-school campaigns typically start ramping in late July and build through August, giving demand a real lift ahead of the September push. Publishers in family, education, and retail-adjacent niches tend to see this most clearly.

When in Q3 should I expect the strongest performance? Late September typically outperforms the rest of the quarter, driven by advertisers spending down unused budget before the quarter closes.

Note: This piece follows the seasonality series’ standard disclaimer. Past performance can’t guarantee future results, and broader economic or market conditions can shift the pattern’s timing or intensity in a given year.

One of the world’s largest advertising platforms has changed how advertisers evaluate and buy publisher inventory and it could directly impact your revenue.

In Q2’s Kokai release, The Trade Desk began integrating Sincera‘s site-quality data directly into its buying methodology. This means advertisers using The Trade Desk can now automatically assess, filter and bid on inventory based on three key quality signals from your site: ads-to-content ratio, ads in view, and ad refresh rate.

Let’s break that down. These signals measure how much of your page is ads, whether those ads are actually visible to visitors, and how often they reload. Advertisers used to need extra steps to check this. Now it’s automatic, built directly into the tool they already use to decide where to spend.

This update is already influencing buying decisions across the open programmatic marketplace. Understanding these signals and optimizing for them is becoming increasingly important for publishers looking to maximize demand and revenue.

The three things they’re now measuring

How many ads are on your page compared to your content. 

Think of it like a ratio. If your page is 80% ads and 20% content, that’s a problem. Advertisers see that as a low-quality environment and are now empowered to avoid it automatically. A cleaner page with more content and fewer ads actually performs better with premium buyers. The optimal range is between 14-25%.

How many ads are visible on screen at the same time. 

This one surprises people. More ads visible at once isn’t a good thing. It signals a cluttered, overwhelming experience. Premium advertisers don’t want their brand showing up on a page that looks like a banner farm. They’re now measuring for it. The optimal range is 3 or fewer ads visible at once.

How fast your ads are cycling. 

Ad refresh rate is how frequently the ads on your page swap out for new ones. High refresh rates inflate the number of impressions your site generates, but each individual impression is worth less because it was on screen for a fraction of a second. Advertisers have always disliked high refresh rates. Now they can automatically penalize for them. The limit is 30 seconds, with optimal ranges between 45-120 seconds.

What this actually means for your earnings

When advertisers can filter by these signals, the money moves. Publishers who score well on all three attract more demand, and more competition for your ad space means higher earnings per page view. The advertisers most likely to filter on quality are also the ones with the biggest budgets. Performing well on these signals doesn’t just protect what you’re already earning. It positions your site for the premium demand that pays the most.

And this is just one update from one platform. The direction the industry is moving is clear. Ad quality signals are becoming a standard part of how programmatic buying works. More DSPs will follow.

Where Mediavine publishers stand

If you’re part of the Mediavine network, you’re already well positioned for these changes. Our platform is built around the same quality signals advertisers increasingly value, including balanced ad-to-content ratios, strong viewability and controlled ad refresh rates.

Mediavine’s Optimized Ad Experience (OAE) takes this a step further. As platforms like The Trade Desk continue using quality signals to evaluate inventory, OAE automatically keeps your site within preferred thresholds, helping maximize advertiser demand while delivering a better experience for your readers.

The result is fewer ads, higher viewability, improved ad-to-content ratios, and stronger long-term revenue potential, all without requiring ongoing manual optimization.

Q4 is the highest-earning quarter in digital advertising. Advertiser budgets peak, demand goes up, and CPM spikes significantly. The publishers who earn the most in Q4 are the ones who made moves in Q3, getting onboarded, optimized, and ready before the season that drives a significant portion of annual revenue.

The publishers who win Q4 aren’t just lucky with traffic. They’re with the right network. Here’s what that looks like.

What Makes Mediavine Different

Technology built and owned in-house.

Most ad networks rely on a patchwork of outside tools. Mediavine builds and maintains our own technology, including server-to-server bidding (a faster, more secure way to run ad auctions), page speed optimization, and ad placements designed to load quickly without slowing your site down. When Mediavine improves our technology, that improvement goes directly to your revenue. There is no middleman taking a cut.

99.5% human-verified inventory, independently validated by IAS, Jounce, and The Trade Desk. Zero MFA.

MFA stands for “Made for Advertising,” low-quality sites built purely to generate ad clicks, not to serve real readers. Mediavine has none of that. Every site in the network is a real publisher with real content and a real audience. That matters to advertisers, and when advertisers trust the inventory they are buying, more of them compete for your ad space. More competition means higher rates for you.

Publishers come first. Actually.

Every product decision Mediavine makes is measured against one question: does this improve publisher performance? Not advertiser convenience and definitely not the priorities of a private equity firm. We’re prioritizing publishers.

Lower ad density, better placements, faster pages.

More ads on a page does not mean more money. It usually means slower load times, a worse experience for your readers, and lower rates because advertisers pay less for cluttered inventory. Mediavine deliberately runs fewer, better ads because that is what drives revenue over the long term.

Hands-on account management.

Not a support ticket system and not a tiered response queue. Every publisher above Mediavine Official is assigned a dedicated account manager who is accountable to how your site performs.

Why Q3 Is the Right Window

During Q3, traffic is more predictable and the pressure is lower. You have time to get onboarded with a new network, get comfortable, and get your setup optimized before the season that drives a huge portion of your annual revenue.

Mediavine’s onboarding is built to get publishers up and running fast. From the moment you are approved, you have access to Mediavine’s full ad technology, a dashboard that shows you exactly what your revenue is doing and why, and for all publishers above Mediavine Official, a dedicated account manager who actually knows your site.

“Good Enough” Often Masks Real Upside

Most publishers who switch to Mediavine say the same thing: they had no idea how much money they were leaving on the table until they saw what their site could actually earn.

That is not a knock on your current ad solution. Ad management is complicated. A setup that’s been left alone for a while may seem fine, until you compare it with the results that a fully optimized setup can deliver. The difference shows up in your RPM, how often ads actually load on your pages, and how your revenue holds up when your traffic fluctuates.

If your RPM has been flat for a while, or your performance guarantee looks great for the first 90 days and a lot less great after that, those are signs something is off.

The Real Cost of Staying with the Wrong Network

Performance guarantees are one of the most common tactics competing ad networks use to attract publishers. On the surface, the offer sounds compelling. What often gets overlooked is what happens after the guarantee period ends.

The key factor is revenue share, the percentage of ad revenue you actually keep. Mediavine Premiere publishers retain 90% of the revenue their sites generate. Many competing networks retain 25%, leaving publishers with just 75%.

Consider a site earning $500,000 annually. Even with an aggressive guarantee promising a 30% revenue lift for six months, switching ad management would cost that publisher more than $112,000 over two years compared to staying with Mediavine. With a more typical guarantee, the two-year cost exceeds $135,000.

Short-term guarantees can create an initial boost, but long-term revenue share has a far greater impact on publisher earnings over time. The guarantee period is temporary. The revenue share you are left with is not.

Q3 Is the Window and Q4 Is the Payoff.

If you have been wondering whether it is time to switch, the answer is yes, and the time is now. You still have the runway to do it right, get set up, get optimized, and go into Q4 ready.

Apply to Mediavine and find out what your site could actually be earning.

Apply Now at mediavine.com/apply.

The most successful publishers in digital media build trust by showing up authentically, creating genuine content, and cultivating communities that connect.

This Pride Month, we’re celebrating five LGBTQ+ publishers in the Mediavine network who have built thriving digital businesses by doing exactly that. Their niches range from food and travel to gardening and disability advocacy. Their audiences vary significantly, but they all share a commitment to authenticity, inclusivity, and creating welcoming spaces.

Introducing…

Kathryn Doherty

Looking for practical recipes that make family dinners easier? Family Food on the Table is packed with approachable, healthy meals designed for real life. Founded by Kathryn Doherty, the site helps busy families get nutritious meals on the table without unnecessary stress or perfectionism.

Kathryn’s content is rooted in meeting readers where they are, whether that’s juggling work, school activities, or simply trying to get dinner ready after a long day. Her welcoming approach and practical solutions have made Family Food on the Table a trusted resource for families of all kinds.

Danielle Madden

Meal prep can feel overwhelming, but Project Meal Plan makes it accessible. Created by Danielle Madden, the site focuses on approachable meal prep recipes and planning strategies that help readers simplify their weekly routines.

Danielle has built a loyal audience by creating a space where everyone feels welcome. Through practical recipes and thoughtful community engagement, Project Meal Plan empowers readers to build confidence in the kitchen while making healthy eating more achievable.

Maartje Hensen

Travel looks different depending on who you are, and Once Upon a Journey embraces that reality. The travel and lifestyle platform created by Maartje Hensen draws from personal experiences navigating the world as a non-binary queer traveler.

Through destination guides, travel resources, and lifestyle content, Maartje offers a perspective that helps readers explore the world with confidence while celebrating both adventure and authenticity.

Raffaele DiLallo

For plant enthusiasts seeking expert advice without the intimidation factor, Ohio Tropics is a go-to destination. Founded by Raffaele DiLallo, the site offers practical guidance on houseplant care, rooted in years of hands-on experience.

Known for his approachable teaching style and honesty about both successes and failures, Raffaele has cultivated a thriving community of plant lovers who appreciate the welcoming, judgment-free environment he cultivates.

Meriah Nichols

At the intersection of disability advocacy, travel, parenting, and personal storytelling sits Meriah Nichols‘ platform. Through her work, Meriah explores life through multiple lenses, including disability, motherhood, and queerness, creating content that challenges assumptions and celebrates diversity.

Her long-running relationship with her audience has allowed readers to grow alongside her as she shares her evolving experiences and perspectives, building a community rooted in connection and understanding.

Branden Harvey

Good news is a radical act and Branden Harvey has built a media company around it. As the founder and CEO of Good Good Good, Branden created the Goodnewspaper, a printed newspaper dedicated entirely to good news, hosts the podcast Sounds Good, and has built an online community of more than 500,000 people committed to making the world better.

Before Good Good Good, Branden traveled the world as a humanitarian photographer, working with clients including the United Nations and Feeding America. He was invited to the first-ever White House photography meetup and was hired to cover Pope Francis’ visit to the United States on behalf of The Vatican. His work has been featured by The New York Times, Men’s Health, and Mashable, among others.

Branden brings the same intentionality to his publishing work that he brings to everything else. The belief that the stories we tell shape the world we live in.

Building Community Through Authenticity

Despite serving different audiences and content verticals, the foundations of these publishers’ successes are remarkably similar. They’ve built businesses by making people feel seen, welcomed, and understood.

Creating Spaces Where Everyone Belongs

For many LGBTQ+ publishers, Pride is deeply connected to the idea of belonging. That philosophy often extends beyond identity and into the communities they build online.

Danielle Madden says her identity has shaped the environment she creates for her readers. “My identity as a bisexual woman has made me keenly aware of some of the challenges faced by anyone who has ever felt different or out of place. That awareness shapes the kind of space I try to create at Project Meal Plan.”

Even as a recipe site, her goal is simple: “I want anyone to feel welcome within that niche if they find Project Meal Plan.”

Kathryn Doherty shares a similar philosophy. To her, Pride is “an opportunity to celebrate progress, community and love in all its forms,” something reflected in both her content and her approach to readers. She creates recipes “designed to work for families of all kinds” and says her audience feels comfortable sharing their specific needs because they know they’ll be met with understanding rather than judgment.

For Branden Harvey, that sense of belonging runs through everything Good Good Good publishes. “Every single day, Good Good Good publishes stories of people who have found ways to make a difference in the world,” he says. “For our readers, those stories serve as a reminder that change is possible and that hope is real. Many of our readers take that newfound sense of hope and turn it into action.”

When audiences feel welcomed instead of judged, trust follows.

Showing Up Honestly

Many of these publishers spoke about authenticity not as a branding strategy, but as a way of moving through the world.

For Kathryn Doherty, that means embracing imperfection. “I show up as I am— no makeup and hair not done, kitchen not clean— and try to share recipes that are helpful and solve problems.”

For Raffaele DiLallo, authenticity is inseparable from Pride itself. “Pride, to me, is about showing up fully as yourself without apology,” he says. “I spent years compartmentalizing different parts of my identity, and at some point I just got tired of that.”

That mindset has shaped Ohio Tropics from the beginning. “I don’t make Pride a headline, but I also don’t hide from it. That authenticity is baked into everything I do.”

Readers consistently respond to publishers who choose honesty over perfection, and connection over performance.

Turning Lived Experience Into Unique Perspective

In a publishing landscape where content is increasingly commoditized, lived experience remains one of the strongest differentiators a publisher can have.

For Maartje Hensen, their identity directly informs the stories they tell. “As a non-binary queer person, my identity has heavily influenced my work. My travel and lifestyle blog draws from my own experiences navigating the world as a queer person.”

Their definition of Pride reflects that perspective. “Pride is a protest. It’s a time to make our voices be heard for the most marginalized in our community,” they explain. “And sure, it’s also a celebration of queer joy, because we don’t have to be miserable while fighting this battle.”

Meriah Nichols sees Pride through a similarly expansive lens. “Pride means moving beyond acceptance or merely surviving in a world not built for us,” she says. “Pride means reclaiming joy, ditching shame, and celebrating how our differences shift culture forward.”

The most memorable publishers aren’t trying to sound like everyone else. They’re leaning into experiences and perspectives that only they can bring to the conversation.

Representation Isn’t a Campaign

Several publishers emphasized that authentic inclusion can’t be limited to a single month on the calendar.

Raffaele DiLallo offers straightforward advice for brands hoping to connect with LGBTQ+ audiences: “Don’t show up once in June and disappear.”

He notes that audiences can quickly spot the difference between genuine support and performance. “They can tell the difference between a brand that actually values them and one that’s using a rainbow logo as a marketing tactic.”

Meriah Nichols echoes that sentiment. “Pride isn’t performative. It isn’t a once-a-year thing to be celebrated or paid attention to.”

Instead, she argues that diversity should be reflected consistently in the people brands hire, partner with, and elevate throughout the year. “The things that we’re proud of are natural and normal parts of human diversity,” she says. “They need to be integrated into brands and advertising in authentic, holistic ways.”

Branden Harvey’s approach to running Good Good Good reflects that same principle year-round. “I made the decision to keep Good Good Good fully independent so we could make our own autonomous decisions and live out our mission without outside pressure,” he says. That independence means the publication never has to compromise on the stories it tells or the communities it covers, in June or any other month.

Community Is the Foundation

Pride and community go hand in hand. It’s about creating spaces where people can show up as themselves and know they’ll be welcomed.

Whether they’re helping families get dinner on the table, teaching meal prep, sharing travel experiences, helping plant lovers thrive, or advocating for disability and LGBTQ+ visibility, these publishers have built loyal audiences through that same principle.

Their success is a reminder that the strongest publishing brands aren’t built solely on traffic or trends. They’re built on trust, connection, and a genuine commitment to serving the people who show up every day.

Branden Harvey puts it simply: “The world is made better — bit by bit. And then one day you look up and realize all those small acts of hope and action have added up to a better world.”

Have your own story and want to be featured in our blog content? Reach out to marketing@mediavine.com

In recognition of Juneteenth, Mediavine is honoring this pivotal moment in American history by spotlighting the inspired work of Black publishers in our network. Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom, resilience, and culture, and we honor that spirit by uplifting Black voices and highlighting the culinary traditions that bring people together.

We invite you to explore this curated collection of thoughtfully crafted recipes you can make for Juneteenth. From beverages to entrees to desserts, you’ll find a celebration of flavor and heritage that honors this cultural moment.

Spotlighting 6 Incredible Publishers

These six talented publishers’ recipes and stories reflect the richness, depth, and joy of Black food culture:

Kenneth Temple is a Food Network Chopped Champion and New Orleans native who loves cooking the best Southern Creole classics from scratch. His Creole Oxtail Stew is a bold, slow-cooked celebration of New Orleans flavor. This is the kind of dish that brings everyone to the table.

Food Fidelity is Marwin Brown, a recipe developer and passionate home cook who brings together Southern comfort food, soul food traditions, and global influences in approachable, flavor-packed recipes. His Homemade Pork and Beans transforms a nostalgic classic into something special, combining tender pork belly, molasses, brown sugar, and slow-simmered beans for a smoky-sweet dish that’s hearty enough to earn a place alongside any spread.

Heal Me Delicious is run by Nicole Charles from her home kitchen in Toronto. Drawing on the bright, bold Caribbean flavors of her childhood in Trinidad, Nicole’s Watermelon Jelly and Custard is a dye-free, gluten-free summer dessert that layers homemade watermelon jello with creamy vegan custard and fresh fruit. It’s refreshing, absolutely beautiful, and made entirely from scratch.

Cooks with Soul is the husband and wife team of Marrekus and Krysten Wilkes, sharing hundreds of Southern soul food recipes, many passed down through generations. Their Berry Hibiscus Lemonade is a direct nod to the cultural significance of the iconic “red drink” in the Black community. It’s a vibrant, homemade blend of hibiscus tea, fresh strawberries, and raspberries that’s as meaningful as it is delicious.

Razzle Dazzle Life is Tamara Johnson, a self-proclaimed Southern gal serving up simple family recipes and weeknight dinner inspiration. Her Texas Style Smoked Beef Brisket is a 12-hour labor of love, filled with garlic butter, rubbed with spices, and smoked low and slow until it’s melt-in-your-mouth tender. Tamara calls it a must for Juneteenth, and we couldn’t agree more.

Whisk It Real Gud is April Boller Wright, a food blogger, recipe developer, and photographer based in Maryland. Her Southern Peach Cobbler has been shared over 223,000 times, and one taste tells you exactly why. With a buttery, crisp topping that bakes up like pie crust and peaches that stew in a rich caramel syrup, it’s the kind of dessert that becomes a family staple.

Celebrating Culture Through Community

At Mediavine, our publishing community is at the heart of everything we do. Juneteenth is a reminder that the recipes we share, the stories we tell, and the tables we gather around all reflect the history, resilience, and joy of Black culture in America.

To everyone who cooked, shared, and celebrated with us: thank you.

Ready to discover more? Follow our featured publishers above for more incredible recipes.

A performance guarantee sounds like a no-risk proposition. Run the math over two years and a different picture emerges, regardless of what the guarantee promises.

Performance guarantees are one of the most common tools competing networks use to recruit Mediavine publishers. The offer varies. Sometimes it’s a 30% lift, sometimes 15%. Sometimes the guarantee runs three months, sometimes six. The pitch always sounds favorable in the short term. 

What it doesn’t show you is what happens after the guarantee period ends.

Here’s what the numbers actually look like across four common scenarios.

All scenarios are based on a site earning $500,000 per year in gross revenue. These figures reflect Mediavine’s 90% revenue share for Premiere publishers. The alternative network’s standard revenue share is 75%.

Scenario 1: 30% guarantee, 3 months

The most aggressive offer. A 30% lift above current revenue for the first three months, then standard 75% revenue share for the remainder.

Year 1: Mediavine $450,000 / Alternative network $403,125 

Year 2: Mediavine $450,000 / Alternative network $375,000

Two-year cost of switching: -$121,875

Scenario 2: 15% guarantee, 3 months

A more modest guarantee. A 15% lift for three months, then standard 75% revenue share.

Year 1: Mediavine $450,000 / Alternative network $389,375 

Year 2: Mediavine $450,000 / Alternative network $375,000

Two-year cost of switching: -$135,625

Scenario 3: 30% guarantee, 6 months

A longer guarantee period at the higher lift. Six months at 30% above current revenue, then standard 75% revenue share.

Year 1: Mediavine $450,000 / Alternative network $412,500 

Year 2: Mediavine $450,000 / Alternative network $375,000

Two-year cost of switching: -$112,500

Scenario 4: 15% guarantee, 6 months

The most favorable scenario. The longest guarantee period at a 15% lift, then standard 75% revenue share.

Year 1: Mediavine $450,000 / Alternative network $425,000 

Year 2: Mediavine $450,000 / Alternative network $375,000

Two-year cost of switching: -$100,000

What the math is telling you

In every scenario, including the most generous guarantee on offer, switching costs six figures over two years compared to staying with Mediavine.

The guarantee terms change but the conclusion doesn’t.

That’s because the guarantee is designed to make the short-term math look attractive. It works for the network making the offer. The guarantee period creates switching costs, builds dependency, and locks publishers into a revenue share structure that trails Mediavine’s Premiere revenue share by 15 points.

A 30% lift for 90 days sounds significant. Measured against 21 months at a lower revenue share, it isn’t.

The bottom line

Before evaluating any offer, run the full two-year comparison. Factor in the revenue share after the guarantee ends, not just during it. The short-term lift is real. So is the long-term cost.

A performance guarantee is temporary. The revenue share you’re left with isn’t.

*This is a hypothetical example for illustrative purposes only. Individual results will vary.

Google Search is constantly evolving and many updates have little immediate impact on how publishers operate. Google’s latest launch, however, offers a meaningful signal about where search and content discovery are headed: a greater emphasis on publisher identity and brand recognition.

On June 4, Google introduced Search Profiles, a new feature that gives publishers a dedicated presence within Google Search. These profiles allow publishers to showcase their latest articles, videos, social media content, and website links in a centralized location, making it easier for readers to discover and engage with their content.

One of the most notable aspects of Search Profiles is the ability for users to follow publishers directly from the profile page. While Google has not detailed the full impact of this feature, follows may help strengthen a publisher’s visibility across Google’s ecosystem, including Google Discover.

For publishers unfamiliar with Discover, it is Google’s personalized content feed that appears within the Google app and on some Android devices. Rather than relying on traditional search queries, Discover surfaces content based on a user’s interests and engagement patterns. For many independent publishers, Discover has become a significant source of traffic and audience growth.

Taken together, these updates suggest that Google is continuing to invest in helping users build direct relationships with trusted creators and publishers. As search evolves beyond individual pages and keywords, establishing a recognizable brand and fostering audience loyalty may become increasingly important components of long-term growth.

So What Does It Do, Exactly?

Once you claim your profile, it pulls in your latest content from connected platforms and updates automatically. It shows up in Google Search results, in your Knowledge Panel (the information box Google surfaces for recognized brands and people), through Discover, and at a shareable direct link.

Right now, Search Profiles are available in the U.S. to publishers with at least 100,000 followers on YouTube, Instagram, or X, or 300,000 on TikTok. Google has said it plans to expand access and add more features soon.

The Big Picture

Google is no longer just ranking pages. It is deciding which publishers to trust.

The follow feature is the clearest proof of that. When someone follows your profile, your content shows up in their Discover feed more reliably. Google is building a direct line between publishers and their audiences within its own products by recognizing brands, not just URLs.

Here’s Where to Put Your Energy

Keep creating your high-quality content, growing your audience, and building your brand. If you’re eligible, claim your Search Profile and make sure your connected platforms are up to date.

This won’t change your revenue numbers this week, but more control over how you appear in Google Search and Discover is a net positive. The publishers who treat their brand as an asset right now will be better positioned as search keeps evolving.

We’re watching how adoption plays out and will keep you posted when there’s more to share.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Google Search Profiles?

Google Search Profiles is a dedicated page inside Google Search where publishers can display their latest articles, videos, social posts, and website links in one place. Readers can follow a publisher directly from their profile, which makes that publisher’s content more likely to appear in their Google Discover feed. Think of it as a hub for your brand inside Google Search.

It gives publishers a more structured presence within Google’s ecosystem, rather than relying only on individual pages to surface in results.

What is Google Discover?

Google Discover is the feed of recommended content that appears on the Google app home screen. It surfaces articles and videos based on a reader’s interests and browsing behavior, without them having to search for anything. It is one of the most significant sources of referral traffic for independent publishers, meaning it sends a meaningful share of readers to sites like yours.

Unlike traditional search, Discover is proactive rather than reactive, meaning content is pushed to users based on predictive relevance. This makes it especially important for publishers focused on evergreen content, lifestyle topics, and audience engagement.

Does this affect my search rankings or traffic right now?

Not directly. Search Profiles do not change how your pages rank in search results today. What they do is give you more visibility and control over how your brand appears across Google Search and Discover, and make it easier for readers to follow and find your content consistently.

Over time, this can indirectly influence performance by improving brand recognition and increasing repeat exposure, but it is not a ranking factor in itself.

Is this available to all Mediavine publishers?

Not yet. Search Profiles are currently available in the U.S. to publishers with an established following on at least one major platform. The current thresholds are 100,000 followers on YouTube, Instagram, or X, or 300,000 on TikTok. Google has said it plans to expand access in the coming months.

This phased rollout means eligibility is still limited while Google tests adoption and usage patterns. Broader availability will likely come as they refine the product and expand to more creator segments.

I don’t meet the follower thresholds. Do I need to do anything?

Not right now. Keep focusing on building high-quality content and growing your audience. As Google expands access, more publishers will become eligible. We will share updates as that happens.

In the meantime, there is no manual setup or workaround required, and being prepared with strong connected social and content channels will make onboarding smoother once eligibility opens up.

I meet the requirements. How do I claim my profile?

You can access your Search Profile through your Knowledge Panel in Google Search, by tapping your name in Google Discover, or through a direct profile URL. Make sure your connected platforms are up to date before claiming, so your profile pulls in accurate, current content.

It’s also a good idea to review how your brand appears across connected accounts first, since those inputs will largely determine what surfaces in your profile automatically.

Will this help my RPM or ad revenue?

Not directly or immediately. Search Profiles are a brand visibility and audience growth tool, not an ad optimization feature. That said, publishers with stronger brand recognition and more engaged audiences tend to perform better over the long term as search continues to evolve. More consistent visibility in Discover can contribute to traffic growth, which does affect revenue over time.

Is Mediavine doing anything in response to this update?

We are monitoring adoption and performance data as Search Profiles roll out more broadly. Our recommendation to publishers stays consistent: invest in high-quality content, audience development, and brand building. Those are the inputs that matter most as search continues to shift toward recognizing trusted publishers rather than just ranking individual pages.

We’re also watching how these profiles influence distribution in Discover and whether they change how audiences engage with publisher brands over time, so we can adjust guidance as the feature matures.