Position targeting

 

Position targeting allows you to control where your ads will appear relative to other content, whether it’s text on a webpage or within a video stream.

At the insertion order level, you can select from the following position targeting options:

Position targeting

Each line item type includes options for position targeting specific to the inventory and formats for that line item. Display line items, for example, don’t include settings for video or audio.

Position on screen

Use this option to set targeting based on where an ad is located on a screen, such as above or below the fold.

Keep in mind that not all inventory is labeled as above or below the fold. If you select only above the fold and/or below the fold, the line item won't be able to serve if the ad position is unknown.

If you’d only like to serve ads that are prominently positioned on screen, you can exclude below the fold and unknown positions.

Position in content

Use this option to set targeting based on where an ad is located in relation to other content, such as in-banner or in-article for display and out-stream video or pre-roll for in-stream audio.

The options are different based on the type of inventory:

Display and video out-stream

  • In-article: Ads that appear between the paragraphs of pages.
  • In-feed: Ads that appear in a scrollable stream of content. A feed is typically editorial (e.g. a list of articles or news) or listings (e.g. a list of products or services).
  • Interstitial: Ads shown before or between content loads.
  • In-banner: Ads that display on the top and the sides of a page.
  • Unknown: Ads with an unknown position. Include this option for the largest reach for your line items.

Audio and video in-stream

  • Pre-roll: Ads that play before streaming content.
  • Mid-roll: Ads that play between the beginning and end of streaming content.
  • Post-roll: Ads ads that play at the end of video content.
  • Unknown: Available only for audio.

Native

  • In-article: Ads that appear between the paragraphs of pages. 
  • In-feed: Ads that appear in a scrollable stream of content. A feed is typically editorial (e.g. a list of articles or news) or listings (e.g. a list of products or services).
  • Peripheral: Ads that appear outside of core content on pages, such as the right- or left-hand side of the page. 
  • Recommendation: Ads that appear in sections for recommended content. 
  • Unknown: Ads with an unknown position. Include this option for the largest reach of your line items. 
When you include multiple options for position in content targeting, they aren’t additive. For example, if you select both pre-roll and in-article, you’d bid on impressions that are pre-roll or in-article, not pre-roll and in-article.

More information about in-stream video ads

In-stream video ads serve in external video players using video ad tags within the player. In-stream ads typically play once play is clicked in the player or on autoplay, depending on the player’s settings. In-stream ads can appear anywhere within a video, such as before content begins (pre-roll), between content at specific cue points (mid-roll), or after content ends (post-roll). Video content resumes once the ad ends. Sound may be on or off for this inventory, depending on the user's video playback settings. 

Other key features of in-stream ads:

  • Any video ad size can be used to serve in-stream video ads.
  • Both VAST and VPAID tags are supported. 
  • YouTube hosting is supported in both auction and reservations.
  • In-stream video ads on YouTube can be skippable or non-skippable.

More information about outstream video ads

Outstream video ads are non-skippable ads on mobile sites and applications that are not tied to content, and run independently of video players. Outstream video ads serve between, or in front of, content using traditional Google Publisher Tag (GPT) tags. Advertisers only pay for viewable impressions. 

Outstream video ads autoplay when 50% of the ad unit is in view and pause when the view is exited, unless the user has interacted with the video by pressing play or pause. A user must click or tap for sound, as sound is muted by default. Once the ad ends, the ad unit remains visible on the page, along with a replay button. 

Other key features of outstream ads:

  • Outstream video ads only serve in the main body of the page. They can’t serve in a sidebar, header, or footer.
  • Viewable, or billable, impressions are counted when at least 50% of the ad’s area is visible for at least 1 second for display ads or at least 2 seconds for video ads. 
  • Outstream video ads must be at least 256 pixels in both their longer and shorter dimensions, with the exception of 300 x 250 and 320 x 180 ads. 
  • The aspect ratio must be 4:3 or 16:9 for horizontal ads and 3:4 or 9:16 for vertical ads. If the required aspect ratio is not met, the ad won’t serve.
  • Only VAST tags can be used to serve outstream video ads. VPAID tags aren’t supported.
  • YouTube hosting isn’t supported in auction or reservations.

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