What Is AdBlock?

AdBlock is plugin (or extension) that is used in web browsers to eliminate advertisements from displaying on websites. Although AdBlock provides a less distracting web-browsing experience, AdBlock is significantly decreasing ad revenue earned by content creators using monetization tools like Google Adsense.

Between June 2013 and June 2014, AdBlock usage increased 70% in only 12 months, nearly doubling in Google Chrome usage. AdBlock is used by over 144 million users and is driven by young Internet users, also the primary consumers of online content. 41% of AdBlock users are between 18 & 29 years old, posing an increasing concern for the future of ad revenue as users grow older in age.

How To Counter AdBlock On Your Website

There are solutions for countering AdBlock on your website in 2015 without turning away visitors that choose to enable the plugin. Sites like YouTube and Facebook are discouraging the use of AdBlock and leading campaigns to support content creators.

Patreon

Start employing monthly, recurring contributions using creator support sites like Patreon. Patreon allows content creators and artists to obtain funding from their fans or patrons, on a recurring basis, or per artwork. Consumers pledge a certain amount of funding per month to the creator and may receive featured content for doing so.

YouTube Red

YouTube’s new program, YouTube Red, allows visitors to subscribe for ad-free videos. Like Patreon, YouTube Red is a new tool that gives content creators stability from new streams of recurring revenue.

Invest In Giveaways

Start featuring giveaways for users that share your content on social media. Giveaways engage your community with interactive experiences and provide an incentive to support you.

Build Relationships

Establishing a connection with your visitors keeps them invested in you. Create content that humanizes you as a content producer and encourages your supporters to become more involved. More often than not, it flatters them and produces more participation.

Do Not Promote AdBlock

Flying banners or pop-ups on your website will introduce AdBlock to users unaware of the plugin. Refrain from promoting AdBlock. Promote sharing, supporting, and getting more involved in your community.

How To Detect Users With AdBlock

Analyze your audience and determine the impact AdBlock is having on your website. WordPress users can install plugins like Ad Blocking Detector to detect the number of incoming visitors using AdBlock. Plugins like Anti-AdBlock will politely send a message to AdBlock users on your site to disable AdBlock.

There are an increasing number of new tools being created to counter the increasing surge of AdBlock users. These approaches provide creators with the opportunity to “block” AdBlock and benefit from more efficient, sustainable forms of revenue. AdBlock developers are integrating certain “targeted” ads to compromise with the growing community of “anti-adblockers.”