In this case study, we’ll break down how a Japanese publisher turned a niche manga-focused website into a serious revenue stream — generating $300,000+ using HilltopAds’ Popunder and MultiTag solutions.
The publisher runs a manga platform, primarily focused on adult-themed and hentai content. With high user engagement and consistent traffic from Japan, Southeast Asia, and parts of North America, the site had the perfect environment for monetization — but needed the right tools to unlock that potential.
The publisher started working with HilltopAds in March 2024, opting for two monetization formats:
This combination allowed the site to monetize both desktop and mobile traffic effectively, especially with HilltopAds’ aggressive bidding system for adult traffic.
HilltopAds’ dashboard provided real-time data on earnings, allowing rapid decisions on what formats and placements delivered the best returns.
The publisher consistently reinvested a portion of the revenue into SEO and content production, which helped scale organic traffic and retain users.
This case shows that with the right monetization partners and a bit of strategic testing, even niche content platforms can scale into six-figure revenue machines.
The Niche: Manga & Hentai Content
The publisher runs a manga platform, primarily focused on adult-themed and hentai content. With high user engagement and consistent traffic from Japan, Southeast Asia, and parts of North America, the site had the perfect environment for monetization — but needed the right tools to unlock that potential.
Monetization Tools Used
The publisher started working with HilltopAds in March 2024, opting for two monetization formats:
- Popunder Ads – triggered once per session, ensuring minimal disruption but high visibility.
- MultiTag Banners – combining several ad formats (display + push + video) in one script to increase fill rates and eCPMs.
This combination allowed the site to monetize both desktop and mobile traffic effectively, especially with HilltopAds’ aggressive bidding system for adult traffic.
Traffic + Optimization Strategy
- Geo Focus: Japan remained the top-performing geo, followed by the US, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
- Ad Frequency: Popunders were limited to 1 per session to keep bounce rates low.
- MultiTag Placement: Banners were placed in high-visibility zones—below chapters, above comments, and within content loops.
- Daily Monitoring: The publisher tested different layouts and optimized zones weekly based on revenue per mille (RPM) and session duration.
HilltopAds’ dashboard provided real-time data on earnings, allowing rapid decisions on what formats and placements delivered the best returns.
Results (March 2024 – June 2025)
- Total Revenue: $302,457.18
- Average eCPM: $4.90
- Top Format: Popunder (65% of revenue)
- Bounce Rate Impact: Less than 5% increase, well within acceptable limits
The publisher consistently reinvested a portion of the revenue into SEO and content production, which helped scale organic traffic and retain users.
Key Takeaways
- Popunder ads still perform well for high-engagement niches like manga and hentai.
- MultiTag banners help boost fill rates across devices and increase total revenue.
- Minimal disruption = better long-term user retention. One popunder per session worked better than multiple.
- Geos matter — focusing on Tier 1 + engaged Tier 2 countries paid off.
This case shows that with the right monetization partners and a bit of strategic testing, even niche content platforms can scale into six-figure revenue machines.