It always seemed to me that advertising networks simplify life: everything is automated, there is no need to search for advertisers, and the income is stable. But I've heard that working with direct advertisers can significantly increase profits and give you more control over your advertising materials. The question is, is it worth the effort? Maybe someone has already tried both approaches and can tell me where there is really more money and less headache? It would be very interesting to know how it works in real practice.