A while back a saw a post here talking about using DFP to pit multiple networks against each other. Seeing positive feedback from you guys I had given it a thought and started working on my DFP account setup.

Turns out that the learning curve is too steep for me at the time to get the setup done well enough. The plan was to use 4-6 different networks and create separate line items for each of them (US/INTL traffic + mobile/desktop).
In addition, I started looking into AdEx, which sounded good to me at that time.

Due to my demanding day job, I sometime struggle to find the time to get deep into our yield management, so I started looking for agencies. Found one, they reviewed our AdSense account at no cost, didn't find any major problems and told us that they could handle the DFP setup, get us into AdEx though their program (side note: my site is already qualified for BSA Unreserved), and handle all the incoming advertising requests we get now and then - somewhere between 1-3 per week. All that at a 10% management fee and monthly rolling contracts (all I'm allowed to say).

Coincidentally, around the same time Google reached out to me and offered account support and consultancy. I explained our very enthusiastic account manager, who happens to be a friend of a colleague of mine, the whole thing.

His advice was NOT to take the deal, learn how to set up DPF myself and forget about AdEx until the site reaches approx. 20MM monthly hits (around 1MM at the moment).

To give you some context, our top earner posts are very click heavy (panic posts), some hove lower CTR but more traffic. The idea was, for example, to use AdEx on the high-traffic-low-CTR posts, and the rest would get CPC-based ads.

What"s your opinion on the agency deal? Does it make sense to try AdEx on such a small site? Would really appreciate your input.