Monetizing Desktop Traffic: Why It’s Important & How to Do It Right
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Everyone’s buzzing about mobile traffic these days. But here’s something many aren’t saying: desktop traffic is still a big player.
Think of the desktop as the underrated star in the world of online browsing. By the end of this piece, you might just rethink your strategy and see the value desktop traffic still brings.
Mobile VS. Desktop Traffic
In July 2023, 42.37% of global website visits were from desktop devices, and a whopping 3.32 billion users accessed the web via their desktops. Dive a little deeper, and you’ll find that desktop usage still held 68.76% of Google searches.
These numbers alone are a head-turner. So, it’s clear why publishers are jumping on the chance to tap into this potential. Desktop offers some neat advantages that mobile hasn’t mastered yet.
Sure, many might say mobile traffic is the “it” thing, boasting higher conversion rates and activity levels.
But don’t discount desktop just yet; it’s packed with its own set of unique benefits.
Google Chrome’s Web-Utilities: A Desktop Exclusive
Here’s something cool: Web-Utilities in Google Chrome are exclusive to desktop. This means you can offer more ad spaces to partners keen on the Web Utilities market.
No need for users to hassle with extra downloads. Unfortunately, mobile users, especially those on Chrome, can’t access this feature yet.
So, if a lot of your users prefer Chrome, focusing on desktop might just give you the highest converting traffic.
Desktop vs. Mobile Search Results
Did you know desktop and mobile search results can look quite different? Websites tweak their settings based on where their traffic comes from and what devices are being used.
Plus, paid ads can sometimes push down organic results.
Users generally don’t like scrolling too much.
So, even if you have top-notch SEO, you might miss out on precious traffic if you’re not showing up at the top.
Desktop search layout differs from mobile searches
Mobile screens are smaller, so search results line up in a single column, often with more images. On desktops, there’s more focus on the text.
This gives desktop an edge. Users can scroll through results smoother and might even check out the next page.
So, even if your website isn’t topping the search results, desktop users might still find you further down the page.
CTR: Desktop vs. Mobile
When it comes to clicks, the platform matters. For mobile search, the top spot gets a 24% click-through rate (CTR), with the second spot dipping to 14%. In contrast, desktop reigns supreme with a 31% CTR for the first position, although it drops to 15% for the second spot.
What’s interesting is that as you go down the search results, mobile CTRs don’t decrease as sharply as desktop.
So, if your site is gunning for the top, desktop traffic could give you a better shot at high clicks.
Desktop Users: More Curious, More Payout
A lot of people have a smartphone these days. But when someone sits down at a desktop to search, they’re probably setting aside more time to dig deep and find quality info. They’re up for reading longer chunks of text and going through multiple results.
Think about it: when you’re hunting for flight deals, don’t you find it easier on a desktop? There’s more room to see everything clearly, and all the tiny details show up better.
Plus, flipping between tabs? Way smoother.
So, when people are on desktops, they might be more engaged, which could lead to a bigger payout for you.
Lower Bounce Rate: Desktop Users Stick Around Longer
As you can see, desktop users don’t bounce as much. They tend to stick around on websites longer than other device users. This hints that they’re really into finding specific info and might be more likely to act on what they see.
Think of bounce rate like a scorecard for how good your site’s traffic is. Advertisers check it out to see if people are gonna click on their ads. The fewer folks bounce, the better your score, and the more money you could make.
So, with desktop users bouncing less, you might pocket more cash.
Bigger Screen, Easier Tweaks
Setting up your site for desktop is smoother than for mobile. Focus on your headlines, the main message at the top, and compelling calls to action. And always test different styles to see what clicks.
The challenge? Making sure search engines understand your page’s value to get a higher rank in search results.
With the extra screen space on desktop, it’s a good idea to dig deeper into long-tail keywords.
Sites and Topics That Work with Desktop Traffic
Some website types naturally work better on desktop. Here’s a list we’ve noticed:
- News
- Video
- Music
- Converters
- Anime and games
These sites cater to users who want a lot of space and easy navigation. Yes, people can use their mobile devices for these too, but a big screen just feels better, right? It’s especially true when reading news, watching videos, or playing games.
But remember, when you dig deeper into other factors, like content formats, these trends might shift a bit.
What Ad Formats Should I Choose?
At Monetag, we offer a variety of ways to boost your website’s earnings. For desktop traffic, two formats stand out: Interstitials and Popunder (Onclick).
For example:
- News and Movies/Music: Interstitials can give users a brief ad experience before diving into the content they came for.
- Converters and Anime/Games: Popunder (Onclick) can be effective since they allow users to continue their main task while the ad loads in the background.
- Sports: Both Interstitials and Popunder can work, depending on the user flow and the type of content.
Always test and see what works best for your specific audience and content.
OnClick Popunder Ads Shine on Desktop
Desktop users enjoy more space and often read more text compared to mobile users. This might explain why OnClick Popunder Ads are such a big hit on desktop.
When we dug into the numbers, a significant chunk of publishers’ revenue came from this sizable ad format. If you’ve been using OnClick for your website, you likely know what we’re talking about.
When we look at the types of sites where Popunder really shines, we find:
- Video
- Sports
- Anime & Manga
These genres seem to have the perfect audience for Popunder ads. They’re engaged, invested, and more open to ads that popunder their primary content.
Interstitial Ads: A Desktop Winner
Interstitial Ads are another top pick for desktops. They stand out, grab attention, and if you set them up right, they can bring in a tidy sum. Many of our publishers have found success with Interstitials. With the right tweaks and optimization, you can see a nice boost in your earnings too.
In a Nutshell
Sure, mobile’s big, but don’t count desktop out! For stuff like videos, bigger screens are king.
Who doesn’t love watching movies or sports in great quality on a spacious display?
Seeing the big bucks desktop can bring in, it’s a no-brainer to fine-tune your site for it.
But hey, why not catch all the fish? Make your site work smoothly on any device. Whether your users are chilling at home, grinding at work, or moving around, you’ve got them covered.
With Monetag, of course
