In the fast-moving world of performance marketing, picking the right ad network can either make you or break you. As we head into 2025, marketers need to make sure every ad dollar counts and brings real results. Since everyone's attention is split between tons of platforms, having the right ad network is super important for reaching the most people, getting conversions, and a good return on your money (ROI).
Performance marketers need platforms that let them target exactly who they want, give them info in real time, have prices that work for them, and a bunch of different ad options. In this article, we'll chat about the best ad networks you should be checking out to see results in 2025.
What to Look for in an Ad Network for Performance Marketing?
Before we jump into the list, let's talk about what makes an ad network good for performance marketing, so you know what to keep in mind:
- Clear and correct reports
- Ability to reach a big audience and target the right people
- Good ways to keep your brand safe and catch fake clicks
- Support for different kinds of ads (like regular display ads, videos, and ads that fit in with the content)
- Price plans that can grow with you (like paying per click, action, or view)
- Works with programs that track where your sales come from and analyze your data
If you keep these things in mind, you can be sure your ad money turns into real, measurable results.
1. Google Ads: The King of Performance-Based Advertising
Why should you use Google Ads?
Google Ads is a big deal in online advertising, especially for performance marketing. With billions of searches happening every day, it's a great way to get in front of people who are really looking for what you offer on Google Search, YouTube, and elsewhere.
Cool things you can do:
- Clever ways to bid on ads (like Target CPA or ROAS)
- Find and target specific groups of people
- Measure how many people buy something after seeing your ad using Google Analytics 4
- Ads that use AI
Great for:
Search engine marketing (SEM), online stores, getting leads, and campaigns that reach across borders.
2. Meta Ads (Facebook & Instagram): A Retargeting Pro
How does Meta Ads help performance marketers?
Facebook and Instagram are still giants in social media advertising. Their huge pile of data lets marketers target their audiences with amazing accuracy.
Cool things you can do:
- Find people who are similar to your current customers
- Use the Conversion API to better track results now that cookies are becoming less common
- Show specific products to people who are likely to buy them
- Get back the leads you almost lost
Great for:
Collecting leads, getting people back to your online store to buy, getting installs for your mobile app, and selling on social media.
3. TikTok Ads: The New Kid on the Block
Is TikTok any good for performance campaigns?
Yep! TikTok's short videos and super-engaged users are a big opportunity for brands focused on performance, especially if you're trying to reach Gen Z and Millennials.
Cool things you can do:
- Partner with influencers with Spark Ads
- Track conversions with the TikTok Pixel
- Use video and carousel ad styles
- Target audiences smartly with AI
Great for:
Direct-to-consumer brands, mobile apps, promoting events, and marketing trendy products.
4. Microsoft Advertising: An Opportunity You Might Be Missing
Why should performance marketers consider Microsoft Advertising?
Microsoft Advertising (aka Bing Ads) is often missed, but it lets you reach people on Bing, Yahoo, and AOL. It's not as crowded as other platforms, so you might get lower costs per click and bigger returns.
Cool things you can do:
- Target people based on their LinkedIn profiles (only on Microsoft)
- Import audiences from Google Ads
- Focus on what people want with broad keyword matches
- Reach more professionals for B2B marketing
Great for:
B2B campaigns, marketers watching their budget, and getting leads from professionals.
5. Outbrain & Taboola: Native Ads That Perform
Can native ad networks work for performance marketing?
For Sure. Native ad networks like Outbrain and Taboola put your ads inside articles on big media sites, which brings in real traffic.
Cool things you can do:
- Get high click-through rates because the ads don't feel as intrusive
- Target based on interests
- Test different ads to see what works best
- Connect with tracking tools
Great for:
Ads that involve content, affiliate marketing, sales funnels, and getting traffic.
6. Amazon Ads: A Must for E-Commerce Campaigns
Why is Amazon Advertising so important?
If you sell products, Amazon Ads let you reach people who are ready to buy right now. Their huge amount of shopper info lets you target exactly the right people.
Cool things you can do:
- Promote specific products and your brand
- Use display and video ads on Amazon
- Get detailed reports on where your sales come from
- Connect with your seller dashboard
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Great for:
Online stores, direct-to-consumer brands, and cross-selling products on Amazon.
7. LinkedIn Ads: B2B Performance Marketing Done Right
Is LinkedIn just for showing off your brand, or can it get you conversions?
LinkedIn Ads let you target people by their job title, company size, industry, and experience level, which is awesome for B2B performance marketing.
Cool things you can do:
- Get leads easily with high-converting Lead Gen Forms
- Target specific companies
- Get great analytics and track your ROI
- Use sponsored content, InMail, and text ads
Great for:
B2B lead generation, SaaS marketing, professional services, and expensive offers.
8. PropellerAds: Flexible Ads That Reach the World
What's good about PropellerAds for performance marketers?
PropellerAds lets you reach traffic from all over the world and offers different ad formats, like push notifications, interstitials, and native ads.
Cool things you can do:
- Use AI to automatically optimize your ads
- Target different languages
- See how your ads are doing in real time
- Use CPA and CPC pricing
Great for:
Affiliate marketing, promoting apps, and getting leads worldwide.
9. Adsterra: High-Volume Ads
Is Adsterra a good choice for performance campaigns?
Yes, especially if you're an affiliate or focus on cost per acquisition. Adsterra offers a bunch of ad choices directly and through automated systems.
Cool things you can do:
- Use push notifications, pop-under ads, banners, and native ads
- Filter out fake traffic
- Target locations and devices
- Bid using CPA and CPM
Great for:
Affiliates, lead generation, mobile app ads, and campaigns where you're watching costs.
10. Revcontent: High-Quality Traffic
What's different about Revcontent?
Revcontent focuses on high-quality native ad spots that get people involved. It's great for performance marketers who need to spread their content.
Cool things you can do:
- Target specific groups of people
- Target devices and operating systems
- Use fast-loading native ad widgets
- Use flexible CPC pricing
Great for:
Lead magnets, building lists, long articles, and articles that are meant to convert readers.
Final Thoughts: How to Pick the Right Ad Network
Choosing the best ad network for your performance marketing depends on what you want to achieve, who you're trying to reach, and what you're selling. Some networks, like Google Ads and Meta, reach a lot of people and offer strong what you can do. Others, like TikTok or LinkedIn, are better for specific audiences.
To make the best choice:
- Start with what you want to achieve
- Match that with what the network does best
- Think about your budget and how much competition there is
- Test and keep an eye on how things are going
The best performance marketers in 2025 will use a mix of networks to reach people at different points in the buying process, while keeping a close watch on their ROI.
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