While I don't actually setup the networks, I do work with the ad sales team at Grooveshark (mostly in development for new proposals). This doesn't directly answer your question, but here's a few things I've learned:
1. Setting up a network outside of Google Ads is all about traffic. Most of the networks have minimum traffic quotas and won't really talk to you until you satisfy their requirements.
2. Most use Google's DFP (DoubleClick For Publishers) to serve/price ads.
3. Be aware that the lower quality ad networks are susceptible to malware intrusion which sometimes run through their ads and you will have no control over when they infect your users.
1. True regarding minimums. But ultimately depends on what your objective is. A company like Retargeter doesn't have minimums as high as some of the larger networks due to the type of campaigns they run.
2. Many use DFP, but many also use Microsoft ATLAS, Open X (an open source ad server), among others.
3. Definitely true. Shouldn't be a problem as long as you stick to the more well known names in the space. Another concern with lower quality networks is click-fraud.
Comments
While I don't actually setup the networks, I do work with the ad sales team at Grooveshark (mostly in development for new proposals). This doesn't directly answer your question, but here's a few things I've learned:
1. Setting up a network outside of Google Ads is all about traffic. Most of the networks have minimum traffic quotas and won't really talk to you until you satisfy their requirements.
2. Most use Google's DFP (DoubleClick For Publishers) to serve/price ads.
3. Be aware that the lower quality ad networks are susceptible to malware intrusion which sometimes run through their ads and you will have no control over when they infect your users.
1. True regarding minimums. But ultimately depends on what your objective is. A company like Retargeter doesn't have minimums as high as some of the larger networks due to the type of campaigns they run.
2. Many use DFP, but many also use Microsoft ATLAS, Open X (an open source ad server), among others.
3. Definitely true. Shouldn't be a problem as long as you stick to the more well known names in the space. Another concern with lower quality networks is click-fraud.