Best native traffic sources for advertisers and media buyers
- levidkerington
- Sep 14
- 6 min read
Native traffic sources: where to get native ad placements
Advertising platforms are becoming increasingly demanding, and users are becoming more sophisticated in terms of content. Classic formats are no longer delivering the expected results, so advertisers are looking for alternatives that allow them to reach their audience without aggressive pressure. This is where native traffic sources come into play - tools that help to embed ads into the context naturally and invisibly, increasing trust in the product at a glance.
Native traffic doesn't just attract attention - it generates interest in the offer through relevant content. When a user does not feel like they are being sold something, the chances of conversion increase significantly. This format is ideal for arbitrageurs, brands, media buyers, and anyone who works with result-based advertising.
What is native traffic and why it matters
Native traffic is the traffic generated by advertising that is as similar as possible to the regular content of the platform where it is placed. Such ads organically fit into the structure of a website or news feed: they have similar fonts, colours and design style, but are always marked as sponsored or promotional content. For example, blocks with headings such as "Recommended reading" or "Popular among readers" may contain advertising links, but they are perceived as part of the main content. Such traffic stands out among other formats because it does not cause the user to feel pressured or intrusive, and is therefore much more likely to lead to a click and further interaction.
This format should not be confused with "jeans" - customised materials without labelling, or with product placement, where advertising is hidden in the story. Native advertising is always labelled and placed on external resources, and its main goal is to be useful and relevant. Popular formats include sponsored articles in blogs or media, posts on social media, and integrations into recommendation lists. Thanks to this, native traffic is able to reach the target audience on the right platform, maintaining trust, ensuring the content is interesting, and bypassing AdBlock. According to the IPG & Sharethrough study, 53% of users prefer native ads to banners, and 32% are even ready to share them on social media.
Top 5 native traffic sources for advertisers
Below we have listed the platforms that consistently show results and are suitable for both beginners and experienced media buyers:
Platform | Min. budget | Key GEOs | Targeting features | Content restrictions | Pros | Cons |
Taboola | test $2 dollars + 3-3.6% commission | USA, English-speaking countries, reaching up to 1 billion users | GEO, device, OS, subject matter | Prohibition of slimming products, software of dubious origin, only "white" traffic | Access to premium platforms (even Bloomberg), analytics, A/B tests | Difficult to get started, strict moderation, there may be a long wait for a response |
Outbrain | from $10/day or $300/month | USA, Europe, India, Australia, reaching more than 560 million users | GEO, behavioural targeting | Strict moderation, blocking of dangerous offers | Support for major media (CNN, Guardian), easy integration | Does not accept aggressive advertising, high quality requirements |
Revcontent | average cost per click $0.5 | English-speaking countries | GEO, device, adaptive widgets | Prohibition of politics, content that violates the law | High flexibility, adaptability of design, large volume of recommendations | Cuts off many sources, requires format compliance |
MGID | from $100 | 210+ countries, reaching 800+ million users | GEO, browser, device, language, topic, retargeting | Restrictions on unlicensed casinos, uncertified gaming software | Global reach, retargeting, conversion counters | Full customisation available with 5000+ unique visits |
Yahoo Gemini | from $5 (test) or $25 (standard) | US and all regions where Yahoo operates | GEO, gender, age, device, platform, OS | Strict restrictions under US law, prohibition of adultery | Easy setup, import from Google Ads, deep coverage | Restrictions on the niche, it is difficult to scale for aggressive offers |
Native traffic platforms: pros and cons
Each of the platforms that are among the top native traffic sources has its own peculiarities, limitations and approaches to advertising. For example, Taboola is focused on the premium segment, with the ability to reach large platforms such as Bloomberg, but at the same time requires high quality creatives and strictly moderates content. Outbrain is an ideal option for brands and companies with image campaigns, but it is not suitable for aggressive gaming or gambling due to the high level of filtering. If you need flexibility, quick launch, and a low entry threshold, you should pay attention to MGID, which is better suited for scaling traffic in Tier-2 markets. Here is our comparative analysis of the pros and cons:
Taboola. Access to top media, high-quality analytics, A/B testing, but high requirements for bids and content, and complicated support.
Outbrain. Reliability, brand reputation, large coverage, but high minimum budgets, strict moderation.
Revcontent. Fast launch, adaptive widgets, but high competition, restrictions on niche content.
MGID. Flexible settings, easy moderation, good support, but full analytics is available only for sites with 5000+ users per day.
Yahoo Gemini. Easy integration, deep geo-targeting, but strict restrictions on topics.
The right choice of platform depends not only on the budget, but also on the niche, GEO, creative approach and business model. If you know how to use the advantages of each system correctly, native traffic sources can yield results both in the format of branded coverage and for direct product advertising.
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How to choose the best native traffic source for your vertical
To choose a source of native traffic, it is not enough to simply register on a well-known platform. Each vertical requires an individual approach - budget, GEO, audience type, and even targeting depth are taken into account. For example, native traffic for nurture offers in Tier-2 countries will work quite differently from branded advertising in the US. It is important to know which networks support your topic, have a user-friendly interface, automation, and offer access to premium traffic or cheap sources. Here's what to look for when choosing sources of that type of traffic:
Niche. For example, MGID is suitable for certified content, licensed gambling, and Outbrain for brands and applications.
GEO. Taboola, Yahoo Gemini work well on Tier-1, MGID is universal for most countries.
Targeting. The deeper the possibilities (gender, age, interests, device), the more precisely you can customise your audience.
Restrictions. Some networks do not allow the promotion of crypto, adalts, and betting. Take this into account when launching advertising campaigns and creating creatives.
Difficulty of launching. Some services provide a personal manager and trackers, while others require full manual setup.
Minimum budget. For example, Taboola is a small start, while MGID is for more experienced advertisers.
As a result, native traffic sources are not a one-size-fits-all solution. What will work in eCommerce with a large budget will be ineffective in the cryptocurrency niche with moderation restrictions. Study the rules of the platform, test different audiences and formats - this is the only way to find the best traffic for your vertical.
Tips to optimize your spend on native traffic
To ensure that native traffic brings consistent results, it is important to take a competent approach to launching campaigns, from creative development to data analysis. Most mistakes happen at the testing stage: advertisers use aggressive visuals, immediately lead the user to a sale, and neglect the context. But the essence of native advertising is trust - the creative should look like natural content, not a classic ad. Otherwise, you lose the benefits of native traffic sources and get the usual "cheap clicks" without real conversion. That's why we offer you to find out how to optimise your native advertising costs:
Avoid flashy headlines. They increase CTR but reduce lead quality and conversion.
Develop a high-quality pre-landing page. The page should provide the user with real benefits and solve the problem.
Build a story. From the headline to the offer, everything should be logically connected.
Information presentation. No direct call to purchase, just an expert recommendation.
Test audiences, GEO, devices. Do not drain the entire budget on the first day.
Scale up gradually. After you get the first conversions, increase the volume of traffic, but do it carefully, remembering to constantly test.
Cost optimisation is not only about the numbers in the tracker, but also about understanding user behaviour. If native traffic sources are used correctly, the result will be scalable and predictable. And if you ignore the basic rules, even the most promising campaign will drain the budget without a return on investment.
Conclusion
Native traffic is not just an alternative to classical advertising, but a separate ecosystem with flexible formats, deep targeting and high monetisation potential. Choosing the right native traffic sources depends on your vertical, budget, and audience, but most importantly, on the ability to work with content that does not look like advertising but is perceived as useful information.
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