Monetize your video content by connecting video ads to Apps Creator via Google Ad Manger. It’s as simple as copying and pasting your URL ad tags in the Apps Creator dashboard under Monetization >> Ads >> Google Ad Manager.
Before you configure Ads in Apps Creator, you will need to configure Ads in Google Ad Manger and generate Ad Tag URLs. The information mentioned below will help you properly configure your Ad tags in Google Ad Manger.
Required Ad Tag Values
The bolded portion of the URL and macros below must be included in every ad tag.
https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?env=vp&gdfp_req=1&unviewed_position_start=1&output=vast&iu=/1234/video-demo&sz=400x300
- env=vp
- gdfp_req=1
- Unviewed_position_start=1
Required Variable Macros
The next three macros must be included in all ad tags, but the values are variable.
https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?env=vp&gdfp_req=1&unviewed_position_start=1&output=vast&iu=/1234/video-demo&sz=400x300
- output - Defines the type of ad request MAZ should expect. Accepted values include: Output=vast, Output=vmap, Output=xml_vast3, or Output=xml_vmap1
- iu - This is the ad unit created in Google Ad Manager. It uses the following format: /network_id/.../ad_unit
- sz - Defines the size of the master video ad slot. If there are multiple sizes, they should be separated by the '|' character, and should not include 'v' after the size (ensure you have sizes that suit aspect ratios per device and platform).
Automated Macros
Each of the following macros should NOT be included in your ad tag because Apps Creator will generate and insert them into ad requests, automatically.
- URL - Because these ad requests are coming from an app environment, this value will be the app bundle id of the respective platform.
- description_url - When Google ads run on a website, this URL will have a description of the specified video.
- Correlator - this random numeric value is shared by multiple requests in the same session and is used to implement competitive exclusions.
- An - This stands for app name. Apps Creator will automatically insert your app name here.
- Msid - Similar to URL, this value will be used to identify the environment where the ad is being displayed. The app bundlie id will be inserted for all platforms except Roku, which will always be passed as “ROKU_ADS_APP_ID”
- Vid (for content targeting) - This parameter specifies the content id of the video where the ad is being requested. You MUST define where in your MRSS feed Apps Creator is extracting this content id. More info on this below.
- rdid - A resettable device identifier, parameter for programmatic ads. For example, a Google AdID, an Apple IDFA, an Amazon AFAI, a Roku RIDA, or an Xbox MSAI.
- idtype - The type of device. Parameter for programmatic ads.
- is_lat - "Limit Ad Tracking" (LAT) enables users to opt-out and therefore restrict advertisers from targeting based on user behavior. It is a requirement of Google and Google Marketing Platform policies to ensure that user choices are accurately adhered to when data is passed on ad requests.
Optional Macros for Ad Targeting
The following macros are used for advanced content targeting options.
- cmsid - Your cmsid is a unique identifier for each content source in your Google Ad Manager account. It is typically a 4-digit number.
- vid - This video specific identifier must not be included in the ad tag. Instead, MAZ will extract this value from your MRSS feeds and send it to Google when making an ad request. Please follow the instructions for identifying the matching key in your MRSS feed. This should be done before adding MRSS feeds, if possible. If you have already added your MRSS feeds, notify the Customer Success team at success@mazsystems.com to reprocess your existing content.
- ad_rule - this macro identifies if there ad rules associated with the video and helps Google quickly respond with an ad. This macro will be automatically generated when creating an ad tag.
Unsupported Macros
The following macros are not currently supported.
- ciu_szs - Defines companion sizing
- cust_params - If you would like to include these ad specifications, hardcode them in the tag instead.
- hl - Refers to language ad selection
- nofb - Indicates video fallback ads
- pp - Differentiates video creative profiles
- ppid - Defines audience-based ad delivery controls
- tfcd - Requests child-directed treatment
Ad Targeting
Features like ad targeting and midrolls are only available to certain tiers in Google Ad Manager. To learn more about the features available for your account, see the features overview provided by Google. To enable advanced features, reach out to your Google Account Manager. Additionally, here are Google’s instructions for adding a new video content source, which is required for ad targeting.
Connect Google Ads to Apps Creator
Once you have your Google Ad Tag URLs ready, add them to Apps Creator to begin serving ads in your Videos.
Step 1: Login to Apps Creator and navigate to Monetization>>Ads>>Google Ad Manager.
Step 2: Add your Ad Tag URL for each platform under Choose Channels Box and save the form.
Additional Ad Settings
How to set Ad Frequency?
Under Channels section, you will find a Set Request Frequency section. Here you can mention when you want the ads to be requested via the apps. This is helpful when you don't want your app users to be greeted by an ad as soon as they play the first video. Configure when and how often you want to the ads to be requested from the Ad server.
How to schedule Ad breaks without VMAP?
You can play mid-roll ads in the videos at the pre-defined intervals by selecting any one of these options considering that the ad tag URL provided by you should be a simple VAST tag without any pre-rolls, mid-rolls or post-rolls.
- Make an ad call every X minutes - With this option, the mid-roll ads will play within the videos every X minutes (value should be greater than ZERO)
Example - If you set it to 5 minutes, then the mid-roll ad will play after every 5 minutes.
-
Make ad calls at cue points in your source - With this option, the ads will play at the defined cue points in your video and will be picked from the MRSS feed
(example - cuepoints, jwplayer:cuepoints, etc.)
Learn more about Cue Points / Ad-Timings here.
How to target ads?
If you're targeting your video ads using Google Ad Manager, enter the Vid parameter key. It may be called content_id or guid.
You can also target ads using Key Value pairs. Define your KVP tag in Apps Creator as defined in your MRSS feed.
Important Note:
With the release of iOS 14 and tvOS 14, Apple has introduced the AppTrackingTransparency framework. As per Apple's new guidelines, apps will need to request permission to track the user and access the device’s advertising identifier to display personalized ads.
Due to this, if your Zype app is already on the Apple App Store and you decide to turn on or turn off ads on the Apps Creator dashboard, an app update will be required for iOS/tvOS apps to comply with the new guidelines.
After enabling or disabling ads on the Apps Creator Dashboard, please write to us at submissions@mazsystems.com to request an app update for your iOS/tvOS app.