Prioritized rules

 

Prioritized rules allow you to filter through a feed up to eight times to find the closest rule match. 

Each rule filters one or more filterable columns. For example, you can create two rules, filtering (1) by offer ID and city or (2) by offer ID and state. When multiple filterable columns are filtered at the same time (e.g. A and B and C), this is considered a single rule. When multiple columns are filtered separately (e.g. A or B or C), these are considered three separate rules.

You can have up to eight rules, including the default rule. The default rule should be the lowest prioritized rule.

The components of a rule

Within the Studio UI, rules have several different components. Let's take a look at what makes up a rule:

•  Priority: Order the rules from 1-8 depending on the hierarchy in which they should apply.
•  Summary: This is auto-generated based on the filterable columns selected in the rule.
•  Rule name: The user can set an optional rule name.
•  Filter switches: Each filterable column has a YES/NO filter switch. Choosing Yes under "Auto-filter" will add the column in the current rule.
•  Filterable columns: These provide the foundation of the rule.
  • If the field type is "Custom value" or "Remarketing key", then there is also a text box for specifying the request key.
  • If the field type is "Boolean", then there are also True/False buttons for selecting the boolean value.
• Allow rows with empty values: Checking this box means that all values in that filterable column are eligible to be served, including blank cells. Typically, this box is left unchecked, with the exception of the default rule. 

Profile setup

1. In the Studio UI, complete the field type setup in Step 2: Manage Data. This step is important because only filterable field types will be eligible for use with prioritized rules (e.g. Campaign Manager 360 IDs are filterable; however, text is not).
2. Navigate to Step 3: Manage Rules.
3. In the "Type" drop-down, select Prioritized.
4. Click the Manage button to open the prioritized rules window.
5. Click New rule to begin creating the prioritized rules. 
6. In the "Auto-filter" column, change the filter switch to YES for each filterable column that should be included in the rule. Repeat for each rule.
7. Make sure the rules are in the correct, prioritized order by dragging and dropping the rules into place or changing the rule number. Repeat for each rule.

Preview dynamic ads using prioritized rules

Once you complete the profile setup and you've associated creatives to the profile, you can preview your ad in the Studio UI in Step 5: Preview. The dynamic preview takes prioritized rules into consideration.

Example: Preview prioritized rules

Suppose you have the following setup: Rule 1 filters on Hotel_id; Rule 2 filters on Destination_id; Rule 3 is a default. In Step 5: Preview in the Studio UI, there are parameter fields for both Hotel_id and Destination_id.

• If Hotel_id is blank and the value of Destination_id is 37, then the preview will show a creative for Destination_id = 37 because there was no input for Rule 1.
• If there were no matches for Hotel_id or Destination_id, then a default creative will show.
• If Hotel_id and Destination_id are both filled and both have rows with eligible content, then a creative for Rule 1, Hotel_id, will be displayed.

Default rows for prioritized rules

You don't have to create a default rule in your prioritized rules. However, it's good practice to set a default rule.

If you choose not include a default rule, make sure to include a default column in your feed. Select this column as the default in Step 2: Manage Data, and set at least 1 row in this column to TRUE. If you don't create a default content row, the Campaign Manager 360 default ad will serve whenever none of your prioritized rules are eligible to serve.

Keep in mind

• When you use a default column with prioritized rules, rows with the default column set to TRUE will be excluded from prioritized rule selection.
• If you set more than one default row to TRUE, one of these rows will be randomly selected when none of your prioritized rules match. 
• Default rules can only filter on the default column. You can't filter on any other columns.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I create a rule based on filterable columns from two different feeds?

No. Prioritized rules are configured at the feed level, so rules can only be created for filterable columns in the same feed. You cannot create rules based on filterable columns from different feeds.

I don't see my filterable column in the prioritized rules are of the Studio UI. What am I missing?

A filterable column must be checked as filterable in Step 2: Manage Data to be eligible for use with prioritized rules. Confirm that the column is checked as filterable in Step 2.

What does the "Allow rows with empty values" checkbox do?

Checking that box means that for that particular filterable column, an empty cell means that any value is eligible. This is typically used for the default rule. However, if you have a setup where multiple columns are getting filtered in one rule, it may make sense to check this box, because not every filtering column may contain a value.