How fun! Best of luck on your recipes!

Thanks so much for catching that Michael! You’re 100% (1000/1000) correct. 🙂

Update made.

I want to confirm the CTR calculation though:

5 clicks / 1,000 page views = 0.05% CTR

shouldn’t that be 5/1000 = 0.005 –> 0.5% CTR not 0.05% CTR?

Bingo!

Thanks so much Bjork! This is very helpful! If I can’t find the locations for the passback tag on the other networks I will reach out to them. To make sure that I have this correct:
1) I place the code for the highest CPM (following the networks rules of placement and number of ad slots etc). directly on my site in the proper slot.
2) Place the passback code for second highest CPM network in the passback section of ad network #1 (for that specific ad unit)
3) wash rinse and repeat with other ad networks
4) (and most importantly) fill out the data in the spreadsheet you’ve created to make sure that I always have the highest CPM networks at the top of the waterfall.

If you’re just getting started I’d suggest using the passback ad code with the ad networks vs. using DFP. DFP is great if you’re running your own ads, but it’s probably best to just bypass it and use the ad networks’ passback area to create your waterfall. For example, here’s the passback (i.e. default) ad code care for sovrn (see image). Most ad networks have an area like this.

Thanks for getting back to me Bjork! This has been such an… um… adventure. 🙂 We use Adsense – Burst Media (our best currently) – Media.net – Sovrn – and we have an account with Rivit. I tried to figure out passback tags in DFP but always drew a blank and either I am not searching the correct terms in google or there just isn’t a lot out there when it comes to actual tutorials in how to set up passback tags. I appreciate any of your input. I know your time is very valuable.

Hey Joe. It’s different for every ad network. Which networks are you using right now?