Today, we are going to write about a little unknown file called ads.txt, which is not required, but highly recommended by Google. You can make more revenue by using an Ads.Txt in your website root domain
This specific file is labeled ads.txt and it’s primary reason is to declare authorized seller and help you protect your brand from counterfeit inventory that is intentionally mislabeled as originating from a specific domain, app or video. But It can also help you receive more advertiser spend that might have otherwise gone toward counterfeit inventory. As a result, over time you will make more revenue by using an Ads.Txt in your website root domain
What is Ads.txt?
Authorized Digital Sellers, or ads.txt, is an IAB initiative to improve transparency in programmatic advertising. Publishers can create their own ads.txt files to identify who is authorized to sell their inventory. The files are publicly available and crawlable by buyers, third-party vendors, and exchanges.
Use of ads.txt is not mandatory, but is highly recommended. The ads.txt file can help you protect your brand from counterfeit inventory that is intentionally mislabelled as originating from a specific domain, app, or video. Declaring authorized sellers can help you receive more advertiser spend that might have otherwise gone toward counterfeit inventory.
Ads.txt is a small text file which can and in some cases even must be placed in the root of your website domain for legitimating certain ad networks on your website. The ads.txt file contains a list of allowed ad networks. As an example, for Google DFP and AdSense it’s looking like this:
[button url=”#” target=”_blank” color=”gray” size=”medium” border=”false” icon=”” btn_content=”google.com, pub-383599332971XXXX, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0″]
The only parameter which is unique and needs to be modified for your own website is the publisher id starting with pub-.
If you want to learn more about ads.txt, check out the official google documentation
- To get the publisher id in AdSense: Sign in to your AdSense account, then click Settings > Account information.
- Make sure that the publisher id does not contain the ca- part.For example: Such a publisher id is used in AdSense ad code:
Wrong:
[button url=”#” target=”_blank” color=”gray” size=”medium” border=”false” icon=”” btn_content=”ca-pub–383599332971XXXX”]
Correct:
[button url=”#” target=”_blank” color=”gray” size=”medium” border=”false” icon=”” btn_content=”pub–383599332971XXXX”]
- Now, create an ads.txt file in the root of your website. It must be available for crawlers from yourwebsite.com/ads.txt
- If there is already an ads.txt make sure to add the lines to the top of the file without deleting any other entry from it
- Save the file and upload it
- It can take up to 24h until google detects this change.
- As a result, over time you will make more revenue by using an Ads.Txt in your website root domain
- Take care: If you are using a wrong publisher id all ads will be deactivated and are not shown any longer.If you did this it will take up to 24h until your ads are back again. If they are not coming back you need to get in contact with the Google AdSense support!
[button url=”https://townpressmarketing.com/contact-us/” target=”_self” color=”gray” size=”large” border=”false” icon=”” btn_content=”Need help getting ads.txt implemented? Contact us.”]
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