Frequently Asked Questions

Last reviewed: March 7, 2026

Can I display your ads on my site?

Yes, by invitation only. We carefully select both publishers and advertisers to maintain network quality. To request an invitation, submit your site for review.

What do you look for in an applicant?

We evaluate:

1. Relevance of our ads to your audience.
2. Your average number of monthly page views.
3. Whether your site is actively maintained.
4. Current capacity in our network for new publishers.
5. Your ability to comply with our terms of service, including ad placement and exclusivity requirements.

How do I apply to join the network?

Submit your website URL and traffic statistics through our application form. We review applications within 5–7 business days. If approved, you'll receive an email invitation with setup instructions. If we don't have capacity or your site isn't a fit, we'll let you know and you're welcome to reapply later.

Am I allowed to display other ads on my site?

Carbon is an exclusive network. When you join, you agree to display only Carbon ads on your site and not use Carbon as backfill for other ad networks. See our placement policy for details.

What is your target audience?

English-speaking developers and designers, primarily in the United States, Canada, and Europe. These regions usually have the strongest demand and highest fill rates. We also serve other regions when advertiser demand allows.

How much will I make?

Typical range: $0.50–$1.10 CPM (cost per thousand impressions). Your actual CPM depends on audience engagement (CTR), geographic mix, and current advertiser demand, and is not guaranteed.

How does the payout work?

Net-30. We pay within 30 days after the month ends for that month's impressions. Earnings go to your BuySellAds account, which we create automatically when you join. You can withdraw once you meet the minimum balance for your selected method.

We also support Open Collective payouts. Ask your account manager to enable this option. Applicable Open Collective and host fees depend on your account setup.

How often are Open Collective payouts processed?

Quarterly (current policy). As of March 2026, Open Collective payouts are processed once per quarter. For example, earnings from April–June are paid out in July. Ask your account manager if your account has custom timing.

What is the minimum payout?

$1 (before withdrawal-method minimums are applied).

What withdrawal methods do you support?

• Paypal: $20 minimum balance, transaction fees apply.
• Check: $50 minimum balance.
• Wire Transfer: $500 minimum balance, $35 fee. We process wires through Bill.com—you don't need a Bill.com account to receive funds.

Why don't my page views and ad impressions match?

They rarely match exactly. A page view and an ad impression are different measurements. Carbon reports served impressions only, meaning we count impressions when an eligible Carbon ad request is served and renders. If a visit has no eligible demand, that page view won't become a Carbon impression.

Other common reasons for discrepancies:

• Ad blockers
• Invalid or bot traffic filtered by one system but not another
• Users leaving before the ad loads
• Disabled JavaScript or browser settings blocking scripts
• JavaScript errors on the page
• Ad tag not installed on all pages
• Different reporting rules, time zones, and attribution logic across analytics tools