Our Ad-Tech Company Surpassed $95M ARR In 2022 [Update]

Kean Graham

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Published: June 22nd, 2023

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Kean Graham

Founder, MonetizeMore

$8M

revenue/mo

Founders

290

Employees

MonetizeMore

monetizemore.com

from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

started January 2010

$8,000,000

revenue/mo

Founders

290

Employees

Discover what tools Kean recommends to grow your business!

G Suite

web hosting tool-icon

WP Engine

social media

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

YouTube

Tiktok

productivity tool-icon

Google Suite tool-icon

Trello

Notion

payments

Paypal

Stripe

analytics

Google Analytics

advertising

Facebook Ads tool-icon

Google Adwords

blog

WordPress

freelance

Upwork

crm

Hubspot

Discover what books Kean recommends to grow your business!

Want more updates on MonetizeMore? Check out these stories:

1. How We Doubled Our Traffic Over Last Year And Launched New Ad Tech (2020) ➜

2. MonetizeMore Update: How We Grew Revenue 118% This Year (2021) ➜

3. How I Disrupted The Ad Industry And Grew My Business To $20M/Year (2019) ➜

This is a follow up story for MonetizeMore. If you're interested in reading how they got started, published almost 5 years ago, check it out here.

Hello again! Remind us who you are and what business you started.

MonetizeMore is one of the fastest-growing ad tech companies with 250+ team members across the world. Trusted by over 1000+ publishers' partner websites to take care of their ad revenue optimization in over 40 countries, they’ve seen exponential growth passing $95M in annual recurring revenue (ARR) in 2022. MonetizeMore was founded by Kean Graham in January 2010.

Youtube Intro:

Tell us about what you’ve been up to. Has the business been growing?

MonetizeMore has been experiencing significant growth and achieving remarkable milestones

Firstly, I am thrilled to announce that MonetizeMore achieved a remarkable milestone by reaching USD 95 million in gross revenues in 2022. This significant accomplishment showcases the dedication and hard work of our team, as well as the effectiveness of our monetization strategies.

Another highlight for us was winning the prestigious 2022 Google Innovation of the Year award. This recognition from Google reaffirms our commitment to driving innovation in the advertising industry and pushing the boundaries of what's possible.

Thirdly, I am thrilled to announce the acquisition of Advanced Ads. This strategic move enables us to enhance our capabilities and offer our clients an even more comprehensive suite of advertising solutions. With Advanced Ads joining the MonetizeMore family, we are confident that we will continue to deliver exceptional results for our publishers and drive further growth for our business.

I am extremely proud of our team and grateful for the trust and support of our clients. We remain committed to our mission of maximizing publisher revenue through innovative monetization strategies and look forward to further growth and success in the future.

What have been your biggest challenges in the last year?

Over the past year, we have faced a few challenges in building MonetizeMore. These challenges have required us to adapt and innovate to continue delivering value to our clients and driving growth. Here are the key challenges we have encountered:

1) Recessionary market and drop in ad revenues: The recessionary market conditions have had a direct impact on ad revenues for publishers. With economic uncertainties and budget constraints, advertisers have reduced their spending, resulting in a decline in ad revenues for publishers. This has posed challenges for us in helping our clients maintain and optimize their revenue streams during these difficult times.

2) Hesitant publishers and reduced investments: Publishers, understandably, have become more cautious about making changes and investing back into their businesses to drive growth. The uncertain market conditions have made them hesitant to take risks or allocate resources toward new initiatives. This has required us to provide additional support and guidance to help publishers navigate these challenges and make informed decisions about their monetization strategies.

3) Pressures from the abolishment of third-party cookies: The ongoing industry-wide shift towards the abolishment of third-party cookies have created additional complexities and challenges. As the reliance on third-party cookies diminishes, we have had to develop alternative techniques and strategies to help our clients target and personalize ads effectively while respecting user privacy. Adapting to this changing landscape has required substantial investments in research, development, and collaboration with industry partners.

4) Threats to Google search traffic: The emergence of AI tools and evolving search algorithms has posed growing pressures on Google search traffic. These tools offer alternative ways for users to find information, potentially diverting traffic away from traditional search engines. As a result, we have needed to explore new avenues and strategies to ensure our clients' content remains visible and reaches their target audiences effectively.

Recessions can be some of the best times to start and grow a business.

Despite these challenges, we remain committed to overcoming them through innovation, collaboration, and a deep understanding of our pub’s needs. By staying ahead of industry trends, adapting our strategies, and providing exceptional service, we can continue to help our clients navigate the evolving digital landscape successfully.

What have been your biggest lessons learned in the last year?

Firstly, we have recognized the greater need for robust bot-blocking measures in the mobile app industry. As fraudulent activities and bot traffic continue to be a significant concern, we have realized the importance of enhancing our bot detection capabilities and implementing stricter measures to protect our publishers' ad inventory.

At MonetizeMore, we are driven by a powerful vision: to bring integrity to the field of ad tech and alleviate the anxieties associated with it. We recognize the challenges and concerns that publishers and advertisers face in this ever-evolving landscape, and we are determined to be the solution that instills trust, transparency, and peace of mind.

Our mission is clear—to become the premier provider of ad tech solutions across all major channels. We are laser-focused on protecting and expanding long-term revenues for our clients, ensuring ad inventory transparency and ownership, mitigating fraud, and diagnosing live issues in publishers' ad inventories. By addressing these critical aspects, we aim to empower our clients with the tools and insights they need to succeed in the complex world of digital advertising.

But we don't stop there. We have set ourselves a Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG) that drives our ambition—to achieve $100 million in annual net revenue by 2032. It may sound audacious, but we believe in our ability to make a significant impact in the industry. This BHAG serves as a north star, guiding our strategic decisions and pushing us to constantly innovate and excel in all that we do.

At the core of our company are our deeply ingrained values. Integrity is the foundation of everything we do. We are committed to conducting business with honesty, ethics, and transparency, always putting the best interests of our clients and partners first. Building strong relationships is another fundamental value we hold dear. We believe in fostering long-term partnerships based on trust, mutual respect, and shared success.

To achieve our vision and mission, we embrace an enterprising and bold mindset. We are not afraid to take risks, challenge the status quo, and push the boundaries of what's possible. We continuously strive for improvement, seeking new ways to optimize our solutions, enhance our technology, and deliver exceptional results for our clients. Collaboration is also at the heart of our culture. We recognize that we are part of a larger ecosystem, and by working together—internally and with our clients and partners—we can achieve even greater outcomes.

With our BHAG (big hairy audacious goal) to achieve $100 million in annual net revenue by 2032, we aim high, guided by our core values of integrity, building strong relationships, being enterprising and bold, striving for continuous improvement, and fostering collaboration. We are committed to making a lasting and positive impact in the ad tech industry, and we invite you to join us on this exciting journey toward a future of trust and success.

Furthermore, the new MonetizeMore Affiliate Partner Program presents a promising solution, offering the chance to work less and make more money. Through our innovative program, you can unlock the potential of recurring commissions and earn a generous 15% payout by bringing in new publisher clients. We have developed an affiliate program that empowers individuals to leverage their network and generate substantial monthly commissions. Whether you're an experienced digital publisher or simply someone looking to explore new avenues of income, the MonetizeMore Affiliate Program offers a seamless and lucrative opportunity to monetize your connections and boost your earnings.

The core principle behind the MonetizeMore Affiliate Program is simple. By partnering with MonetizeMore and referring new publisher clients, you become an invaluable extension of our business development and marketing efforts. As you bring in new clients, you earn recurring commissions based on a 15% payout structure. Learn more about MonetizeMore Affiliate Program here.

What’s in the plans for the upcoming year, and the next 5 years?

Looking ahead to the upcoming year and the next five years, MonetizeMore has exciting plans to further expand and innovate in the digital advertising industry.

In the near term, we have ambitious goals to expand our presence and offerings in the mobile app space. We aim to develop specialized solutions tailored to the unique challenges and opportunities of mobile app monetization. By leveraging our expertise in ad optimization and incorporating mobile-specific strategies, we will empower app publishers to maximize their revenue potential.

Additionally, We have been diving deeper into our publisher personas to understand their business models. We've been experimenting with different pricing structures that resonate with specific types of publishers and further drive growth within their businesses.

Lastly, we are committed to harnessing the power of AI to automate processes and provide even more value to our clients. By leveraging AI algorithms and machine learning capabilities, we aim to optimize ad placements, targeting, and performance in real-time. This will enable us to deliver more precise and effective monetization solutions, driving increased revenues for our publishers while streamlining operational efficiencies.

What’s the best thing you read in the last year?

My favorite podcast is My First Million. Sam and Shaan do a great job presenting new business ideas but, most of all, uncovering useful takeaways that separate successful entrepreneurs from the rest.

This podcast stands out for its ability to present fresh business ideas and provide valuable insights that distinguish successful entrepreneurs from the rest. I found myself consistently engaged and motivated by their discussions, which ultimately influenced my approach to leadership and fueled my enthusiasm for working on my own business, MonetizeMore.

What sets "My First Million" apart is its ability to explore a wide range of innovative and intriguing business opportunities. Sam and Shaan have a knack for uncovering ideas that are not only captivating but also hold significant potential for success. Whether they discuss emerging market trends, untapped niches, or disruptive business models, their insights always leave me inspired and eager to explore new avenues within my entrepreneurial journey.

Moreover, the podcast goes beyond presenting mere concepts and ideas. Sam and Shaan delve into actionable takeaways that can be applied in real-world scenarios. This practical approach is what makes "My First Million" truly valuable. As a listener, I have gained numerous useful strategies and tactics that have helped me become a better leader within MonetizeMore. Whether it's optimizing our operations, implementing innovative marketing techniques, or fostering a growth mindset within the team, I have found tangible lessons from the podcast that I can directly apply to my business.

Listening to Sam and Shaan, who are regarded as thought leaders in the entrepreneurial space, has been a source of additional energy and motivation for me. Their enthusiasm, expertise, and genuine passion for entrepreneurship are infectious. It's refreshing to hear their candid discussions, as they share both their successes and failures, providing a realistic and relatable perspective on building businesses. This authenticity resonates with me and has given me a renewed sense of purpose and determination to tackle the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

Through their thought-provoking discussions, Sam and Shaan have expanded my horizons, inspired my entrepreneurial spirit, and equipped me with practical insights to enhance my leadership skills. The podcast serves as a constant reminder that the entrepreneurial journey is dynamic and full of possibilities, and it has become an integral part of my personal and professional growth. I highly recommend "My First Million" to anyone seeking inspiration, actionable advice, and a fresh perspective on entrepreneurship.

Advice for other entrepreneurs who might be struggling to grow their business?

Embrace recessions as opportunities: Recessions can be some of the best times to start and grow a business. During challenging economic times, market dynamics shift, and new opportunities arise. Look for gaps in the market and identify problems that need solving.

By adapting your business model, exploring innovative solutions, and staying agile, you can position your company for growth even in uncertain times. Viewing recessions as opportunities rather than obstacles can be a game-changer for entrepreneurs. By recognizing the shifting market dynamics, identifying problems that need solving, and being willing to adapt and innovate, entrepreneurs can position their businesses for growth even in uncertain times.

With the right mindset and a focus on leveraging the unique advantages presented by recessions, entrepreneurs can thrive and emerge stronger from economic downturns.

Validate your ideas through experiments: When you have an idea, it's crucial to validate it before investing significant time and resources. Create small-scale experiments to test the viability and potential of your idea. Collect feedback, analyze the results, and make informed decisions based on the data. This iterative approach allows you to refine and optimize your concept, increasing the chances of success when you move forward.

Focus on the problem, not the solution: It's essential to be attached to the problem you're trying to solve rather than being fixated on a specific solution. As an entrepreneur, your ultimate goal is to address a real pain point or need in the market.

Stay open to different approaches and be willing to adapt and pivot if necessary. By remaining focused on the problem and actively seeking feedback and insights from your target audience, you can refine your solution and better meet their needs.

Continuously iterate and incorporate feedback: Once you have a minimum viable product (MVP) that has shown initial success, it's crucial to keep iterating and improving based on feedback from users and customers. Actively seek feedback, listen to your customers' needs and pain points, and incorporate their suggestions into your product or service.

This iterative process allows you to continuously enhance your offering and provide increasing value to your customers, ultimately driving growth for your business.

Are you looking to hire for certain positions right now?

Multimedia Designer:

This role involves creating visually appealing and engaging graphics, videos, and web content. The Multimedia Designer will work closely with the creative team to develop and execute designs that align with the company's branding and marketing objectives.

Responsibilities may include designing website layouts, producing promotional videos, creating infographics, and developing visual assets for various digital platforms. The ideal candidate should have a strong understanding of design principles, proficiency in graphic design software, and the ability to think creatively to deliver impactful multimedia content.

Enterprise Account Executive (LATAM):

This position is focused on managing and expanding business relationships with enterprise-level clients in the Latin American region. The Enterprise Account Executive will be responsible for identifying new business opportunities, building strong relationships with key stakeholders, and driving revenue growth. They will collaborate with internal teams to understand client needs, develop tailored solutions, and negotiate contracts. This role requires strong sales and account management skills, a deep understanding of the LATAM market, and the ability to effectively communicate the value of the company's products and services to potential clients.

Full Stack Developer:

As a Full Stack Developer, the individual will be responsible for designing and implementing web applications from front-end to back-end. They will work on both client-side and server-side development, ensuring seamless integration of various components and functionalities. Responsibilities may include developing user interfaces, creating APIs, writing server-side code, and optimizing application performance. The ideal candidate should have a solid understanding of web development technologies and frameworks, proficiency in programming languages such as JavaScript and Python, and the ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality software solutions.

Where can we go to learn more?

If you have any questions or comments, drop a comment below!