Google Ad Manager Archives

Why Smart Publishers Choose Google AdX Managed Inventory Over a Managed Account (And Make More Money With Less Stress)

January 6, 2026

by Sonu App Monetization Google Ad Manager Web Monetization

Let’s be honest.
When a publisher hears “AdX Managed Account,” it sounds like the final upgrade.

Direct Google payments.
Payments between 21–25.
Full control to create ad units, set floors, build line items, and tweak targeting.

So they ask, again and again:
“Can you get me Managed Account approval?”

I get why. It feels like freedom.
But here’s the reality most publishers learn later, sometimes the hard way:

Control doesn’t automatically mean performance.

And in 2026, performance is the only thing that pays your bills.

That’s why smart publishers—especially those who think long-term—prefer AdX Managed Inventory.

Not because they enjoy giving up control.
Because they like what comes with it:
better yield, better stability, and less daily firefighting.

Why Publishers Ask for AdX Managed Account Approval

Publishers usually ask for AdX Managed Account for three reasons:

1) Direct Google Payments

They want money to land directly in their account.

2) On-Time Payments (21–25)

They like that cycle. It feels predictable.

3) Full Control

They believe:
“If it’s my account, I can optimize better.”

And yes, to be fair, these benefits are real.

But the bigger question is:
Will that control increase your revenue?

That’s where most people get surprised.

What a Managed Account Really Gives You

A Managed Account (MA) is basically:

Your own GAM / AdX setup
You can create:
- ad units
- line items
- key-values
- floors
- targeting rules
You control everything, end to end

So the mindset becomes:
“I can run my monetization like a pro.”

But monetization is not only “setting up ads.”
Monetization is a daily game of:

auction pressure
buyer demand changes
floor sensitivity
viewability shifts
inventory quality signals
policy protection and filtering
layout + user behavior patterns

Most publishers don’t have time to run that game daily.

They run content.
They run SEO.
They run product.
They run operations.

AdX optimization becomes a side task.
And side tasks usually create side results.

What AdX Managed Inventory Means (In Simple Terms)

AdX Managed Inventory (MI) means:

Your inventory is monetized through a setup managed by AdOps experts
The AdOps team:
- creates ad units properly
- sets line items correctly
- applies floors based on actual data
- keeps optimizing advertisers, formats, categories, and pricing options
You focus on:
- content
- traffic quality
- growth

MI is basically:
publisher focuses on building audience, AdOps focuses on extracting better yield from every impression.

That split is powerful.

The Truth About “Full Control” vs “Better Results”

Here’s the blunt truth:

Most revenue loss doesn’t happen because you had less control.
It happens because you didn’t know what to control.

A publisher can technically set floors.
But setting floors without deep analysis usually means one of these mistakes:

floor too high → fill drops
floor too low → bidders win cheap
wrong floor by geo/device → mixed results
blanket floor across all units → destroys weak inventory

Same with line items.
Same with targeting.
Same with ad unit structure.

Smart publishers don’t chase “more buttons to press.”
They chase “better outcomes.”

Why AdX Managed Inventory Often Outperforms a Managed Account

Let’s break down the performance side.
This is where MI usually wins.

AdX Managed Inventory Builds Better Ad Units From Day One

A lot of MA setups look like this:

one size, one ad unit
random placements
inconsistent naming
too many similar units
bad mapping
no real hierarchy

In MI, AdOps teams build ad units to increase yield:

multi-size formats
responsive mapping
cleaner structure for reporting and tuning
placements aligned with actual user scroll depth
ad unit-level decisions based on performance

It sounds small. It’s not.

Bad ad unit structure can quietly kill revenue for months.

AdX Managed Inventory Creates Line Items That Increase Auction Pressure

Auction pressure is what lifts eCPM.
Not “hope.”

MI setup focuses heavily on:

correct demand exposure
clean segmentation
better competition
controlling low-bid leakage with data-backed rules

In MA, publishers often:

create too many line items without logic
or run too few and lose control
or don’t maintain them at all

Line items are not “set once and forget.”
They require tuning.

AdX Managed Inventory Uses Data-Driven Floor Optimization

Publishers love to say:
“I will set floors myself.”

Okay. But based on what?

Smart floor optimization is not guesswork.
It’s based on:

historical eCPM distribution
win rates
response rate changes
geo + device breakdown
ad sizes and creative types
advertiser/brand behavior

In MI, teams can also tune floors on:

advertisers and brands
sensitive categories
creative types
ad sizes

This is where money hides.

And most publishers don’t even open these settings.
Or they open it once and never revisit.

AdX Managed Inventory Keeps Optimizing, Even When You’re Busy

Here’s a very real scenario:

A publisher does MA setup.
Revenue looks good for 2 months.
Then:

traffic changes
geo mix changes
buyers change budgets
new competitors enter
viewability shifts due to layout updates

Revenue drops.

Publisher says:
“AdX is not working.”

But it’s not AdX.
It’s lack of active optimization.

MI teams monitor and tune continuously.
It’s their job.

Publishers are busy.
MI is built for that reality.

AdX Managed Inventory Reduces Micromanagement (And That’s a Good Thing)

In MA, a publisher often becomes obsessed with:

daily RPM
daily floors
daily CTR
random experiments
copying “tips” from YouTube

Most of that is noise.

In MI, you get the benefit of:

structured optimization
fewer random changes
stability
cleaner growth

You don’t waste weeks testing things that don’t matter.

Comparison Table: AdX Managed Inventory vs Managed Account

Factor	AdX Managed Account (MA)	AdX Managed Inventory (MI)
Payments	Direct from Google	May be delayed due to invoice cycle
Control	Full control to publisher	Managed by AdOps experts
Ad unit setup	Publisher-driven	Expert-built and structured
Floors	Often manual/guesswork	Data-driven, continuously tuned
Line items	DIY	Optimized for auction pressure
Optimization frequency	Depends on publisher time	Ongoing, consistent
Best for	Publishers with in-house AdOps	Publishers who want performance

The Payment Question: Yes, MI Can Be Slightly Late

Let’s address it cleanly.

In MA:

Google pays directly
payment between 21–25
very smooth

In MI:

you may need to raise an invoice
payment can be delayed up to around 7-10 days
depends on process and cycle

So yes, MA wins in speed.

But smart publishers ask a different question:

Do I want faster payment… or higher payment?

If MI produces better yield, the small delay becomes a trade-off.

Most serious businesses accept that trade.

Because your goal isn’t “early.”
Your goal is “more.”

Myths vs Truths: AdX Managed Inventory vs Managed Account

Myth 1: Managed Account always earns more

Truth: MA can earn more only if you already have strong AdOps expertise and time to optimize.

Myth 2: Control means better optimization

Truth: Control without skill is just more chances to misconfigure.

Myth 3: MI is only for beginners

Truth: Many high-quality publishers use MI to keep operations stable and scalable.

Myth 4: MI reduces transparency

Truth: MI can still be transparent if reporting and communication is clean.

Myth 5: Payment timing is the only thing that matters

Truth: Over a year, better yield beats a few days of timing advantage.

Why Smart Publishers Choose AdX Managed Inventory Long-Term

Smart publishers care about:

stable revenue growth
fewer sudden drops
less operational burden
expert-level tuning
long-term sustainability

They don’t want to become part-time AdOps.

They want to build media properties, products, audiences.

So they pick MI.

How Monetiscope Helps Publishers With AdX Managed Inventory

At Monetiscope, we help publishers get better outcomes from AdX Managed Inventory by focusing on performance levers that actually matter:

expert-built ad units
line items optimized for auction pressure
data-driven floor optimization
continuous tuning by advertisers, brands, formats, categories, sizes
less micromanagement for publishers
focus on revenue growth and long-term yield

If you want help deciding MA vs MI for your site or app, you can reach out:

Email: support@monetiscope.com
WhatsApp: +91 9354200141
Teams ID: live:.cid.1d059701526ed0e3

FAQ:

What is AdX Managed Inventory?

AdX Managed Inventory means your inventory monetization is managed by an AdOps team that builds and optimizes the setup for better yield.

What is AdX Managed Account?

AdX Managed Account means you operate your own GAM/AdX setup and control ad units, line items, floors, and targeting yourself.

Why do publishers prefer Managed Account at first?

Because of direct Google payments, on-time payout windows, and full control.

Why does Managed Inventory often earn better?

Because experts optimize floors, line items, ad units, and demand tuning continuously using data.

Is payment delayed in Managed Inventory?

It can be slightly delayed due to invoicing and processing cycles, but the yield upside can compensate.

Does Managed Inventory mean I lose all control?

You lose day-to-day configuration control, but you gain performance-focused management.

Can I switch from MA to MI later?

Yes, many publishers start one way and switch when they want stronger optimization.

When is Managed Account a better option?

If you have an in-house AdOps person who can actively optimize and troubleshoot.

Does MI help with floors and pricing rules?

Yes. Floor tuning is one of the key advantages of MI when done with data and segmentation.

How can I know which option is best for my site?

Compare your goals: if you want performance and stability, MI usually fits better. If you want control and have expertise, MA can work.

Google Ad Manager’s New Interactive Reports Are a Game Changer (Here’s Why Publishers Are Quietly Switching)

December 15, 2025

by Sonu Google Ad Manager

Introduction: Reporting in Google Ad Manager Finally Caught Up With Reality

If you’ve been using Google Ad Manager for a while, you know the pain.

You want to check yesterday’s revenue.
Or see which ad unit lost fill.
Or understand why eCPM dropped in one country.

And suddenly you’re:

Creating a report
Waiting for it to process
Downloading a CSV
Opening Excel
Cleaning columns

It feels unnecessary. Because it is.

That’s exactly why New Interactive Reports in Google Ad Manager exist.

Google has quietly rebuilt reporting to be faster, visual, and decision-friendly. Not just something you export and forget.

Yet many publishers still don’t use it properly.

This article explains:

What Interactive Reports in Google Ad Manager actually are
How to generate them step-by-step
Why they’re easier than traditional reports
How saving and scheduling works
And how Monetiscope helps publishers turn reports into real revenue growth

Let’s break it down.

What Are New Interactive Reports in Google Ad Manager?

New Interactive Reports in Google Ad Manager are a modern reporting interface designed for live exploration of your monetization data.

Instead of building static reports, you can:

Instantly apply filters
Switch dimensions anytime
Drill down without re-running reports
See patterns visually

You’re no longer locked into one report structure.

Think of it like this:
Traditional reports are snapshots.
Interactive reports are conversations with your data.

Why Google Introduced Interactive Reports (The Real Reason)

Google didn’t add this feature for fun.

Publisher operations today are fast:

Floors change daily
Demand shifts hourly
Traffic spikes unexpectedly
Revenue leaks happen silently

Waiting for reports means reacting late.

So Google redesigned reporting around speed and interaction, not just historical accuracy.

This shift makes Interactive Reports Google Ad Manager essential for optimization teams.

How Interactive Reports Are Different From Traditional Reports

Here’s a clear comparison.

Interactive Reports vs Traditional Reports

Feature	Traditional Reports	Interactive Reports
Data access	Static	Live & flexible
Filters	Fixed at creation	Editable anytime
Speed	Slow	Instant
Visualization	Spreadsheet	Visual charts
Drill-down	New report required	One click
Use case	Accounting & audits	Daily optimization

This is why most AdX-focused publishers now rely on Interactive Reports for daily decisions.

How to Generate Interactive Reports in Google Ad Manager

Based on the current UI (as shown in your screenshot), here’s the real flow.

Step-by-Step: Generate Interactive Reports

Go to Reporting

Click Interactive Reports
Choose:
- “Create my own report”
- Or use suggested templates
Select your metrics:
- Revenue
- Impressions
- eCPM
- Fill rate
Add dimensions:
- Ad unit
- Country
- Device
- Demand source
Apply filters if needed
View results instantly

No processing delay.
No downloads.
No frustration.

This is the biggest shift in Google Ad Manager reporting in years.

Why Interactive Reports Are Easier Than Traditional Reports

Here’s the honest reason.

Interactive reports don’t force you to think ahead.

With traditional reports, you must decide:
“What if I need this breakdown later?”

With Interactive Reports:
You just click and explore.

They’re easier because:

You don’t rebuild reports
You don’t lose context
You don’t jump between tools
You notice trends visually

Once publishers use this daily, going back feels impossible.

Saving and Scheduling Interactive Reports

This is where confusion usually happens.

How Saving Works

After creating a report view
Click Save
Give it a clear name
Access it anytime under “My saved reports”

Saved reports keep:

Dimensions
Metrics
Filters

What About Scheduling?

Interactive reports themselves aren’t email-scheduled like old reports.

But:

Saved views load instantly
Monetiscope teams convert insights into action workflows
Traditional scheduled reports can still be used for finance

Most serious publishers now use:

Interactive Reports → Optimization
Scheduled Reports → Accounting

Where Interactive Reports Make the Biggest Impact

Here’s where publishers see instant value.

1. Revenue Monitoring

Quickly detect:

Sudden revenue drops
Geo-level anomalies
Demand fluctuations

2. Floor Price Decisions

Analyze:

eCPM vs fill trade-offs
Floor impact by country
Revenue leakage points

3. Demand Partner Performance

Understand:

Which buyers perform where
Time-based variations
Inventory quality signals

4. Ad Unit Optimization

Identify:

Low-performing placements
High-value hidden inventory
UX-damaging ad units

How Monetiscope Helps Publishers Use Interactive Reports Properly

Here’s the real problem most publishers face.

They can see data.
But they don’t know what action to take.

This is where Monetiscope adds value.

What Monetiscope Actually Does

Builds custom Interactive Report views
Identifies hidden revenue leaks
Maps KPIs to monetization actions
Optimizes AdX floors using report signals
Tracks fill, eCPM, and viewability trends
Turns reports into revenue strategy

We don’t just look at numbers.
We translate them into outcomes.

Many publishers see 20–30% revenue uplift simply by acting faster on Interactive Report insights.

Why Interactive Reports Matter for AdX Monetization

If you’re using:

Google AdX
Open Bidding
Programmatic demand

Then slow reporting costs real money.

New Interactive Reports in Google Ad Manager help you:

Protect eCPM
Balance fill vs revenue
Catch demand issues early
Scale without risk

This is no longer optional.
It’s part of modern ad operations.

Final Thoughts: This Is the New Standard for GAM Reporting

Google is sending a clear signal.

Reporting is moving:
From static → interactive
From delayed → instant
From reactive → proactive

Publishers who adapt early win quietly.
Others keep exporting CSVs and reacting late.

If you want to use Interactive Reports properly and turn insights into revenue, Monetiscope can help.

FAQs: Interactive Reports in Google Ad Manager

What are Interactive Reports in Google Ad Manager?

They are live, flexible reports for instant data analysis inside GAM.

Are Interactive Reports free?

Yes. They are included in Google Ad Manager.

Can Interactive Reports replace traditional reports?

No. They are best for optimization, not accounting.

Are Interactive Reports real-time?

They are near real-time based on Google data refresh.

Can I export Interactive Reports?

Yes, but most insights are used directly inside GAM.

Are Interactive Reports useful for AdX optimization?

Yes. They are ideal for floor, demand, and geo analysis.

Can I save Interactive Reports?

Yes. You can save custom report views.

Do Interactive Reports support multiple dimensions?

Yes. Country, device, ad unit, buyer, and more.

Does Monetiscope help with Interactive Reports?

Yes. Monetiscope helps publishers act on report insights.

Should publishers stop using traditional reports?

No. Use Interactive Reports for optimization and traditional reports for records.

How to Increase Ad Viewability Above 80% for Maximum Revenue

November 17, 2025

by Sonu Google Ad Manager Web Monetization

Ad viewability has become one of the most important metrics in digital advertising. Every publisher wants higher ad revenue. Yet many forget that revenue only grows when ads actually appear in front of users. Therefore, increasing ad viewability is not optional. It is necessary.

When your ad viewability crosses 80%, your revenue improves dramatically. Advertisers start trusting your site. Your CPM rates increase. Your fill rates also grow. Because of all these improvements, your total ad revenue reaches higher levels with the same traffic.

In this detailed guide, you will learn how to push your ad viewability above 80%. You will understand why viewability matters. You will also learn practical techniques that work on real websites. Each point includes clear explanations and implementation ideas.

Let’s begin.

What Is Ad Viewability and Why It Matters

Ad viewability tells you how many ads were actually seen by users. The Media Rating Council says an ad is “viewable” when at least 50% of its area stays visible for one second for display ads or two seconds for video ads.

Most publishers focus only on ad impressions. However, advertisers care more about viewable impressions. Ads that never appear on the screen waste money. Because of this problem, advertisers shift budgets toward sites with strong viewability.

When viewability improves, several things happen immediately:

Advertisers give you higher bids.
Your Google AdX score improves.
You attract more premium campaigns.
You reduce wasted inventory.
Your revenue per session increases.

Therefore, hitting 80% viewability must be your top goal.

How Viewability Impacts Your Total Revenue

Higher viewability increases revenue in many ways. When more ads load inside the user’s view, you earn more valid impressions. This simple change increases your total ad count per session. Because of this improvement, you also boost your overall eCPM.

Here is how viewability affects your revenue:

Higher eCPM: Advertisers pay more for viewable placements.
Better fill rate: Google prioritizes high-viewability traffic.
Premium campaigns: More agencies trust your site.
Better auction pressure: More bidders join the auction.
Fewer unsold impressions: Your inventory becomes more valuable.

Because of all these benefits, most publishers notice at least 20–40% revenue uplift after optimizing viewability.

Common Reasons Why Viewability Drops

Before improving viewability, you must understand why it drops. Most websites face these issues:

Poor ad placement

Many ads load below the fold. Users never scroll enough. As a result, those ads remain unseen.

Slow page speed

Heavy pages push ads down. Users bounce before ads load. This slows your revenue growth.

High CLS issues

Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) pushes ads around. Users skip content when layouts jump.

Too many ads

A cluttered page distracts users. They leave quickly. Your viewability falls sharply.

Lazy-loading errors

Wrong lazy-loading settings delay ad rendering. Users scroll past the ad before it loads.

Low-quality site layout

A confusing layout reduces scroll depth. This reduces chances of ads appearing.

Because of these issues, your overall ad viewability stays below 60%. Now let’s fix this step by step.

How to Increase Ad Viewability Above 80%

Below are powerful methods used by top publishers. These techniques bring consistent results.

Place Ads in High-Viewability Zones

Ad placement decides at least 50% of your viewability score. You must place ads where users naturally spend time.

Use these high-viewability positions:

Top of the page (but not the very top)
Just below the headline
Mid-content placements
Right sidebar sticky units
Sticky footer ads
In-content ads after every 2–3 paragraphs

Top publishers use a layout that matches user flow. When ads appear in the natural reading pattern, viewability rises immediately.

Use Sticky Ads for Higher Exposure

Sticky ads deliver massive improvements in viewability. They remain visible when users scroll. Because of this behavior, they generate more viewable impressions.

Most effective sticky placements:

Sticky sidebar ads
Sticky anchor footer ads
Sticky header ads (only when allowed)
Sticky video players

Sticky ads often show 80–95% viewability because they stay inside the viewport for a long time.

Improve Page Speed and Reduce Load Time

Slow websites kill viewability. Users leave before your ads load. Because of this problem, only a small number of impressions become viewable.

To increase speed, try these steps:

Compress all images.
Remove unnecessary scripts.
Use a lightweight theme.
Reduce CSS and JavaScript.
Enable browser caching.
Use lazy loading smartly.
Use CDN for faster delivery.

When your website loads within 3 seconds, viewability rises sharply.

Reduce CLS for Better User Experience

CLS issues occur when the layout shifts after rendering. Because of these shifts, ads jump down. Users scroll faster. Ads miss the viewable zone.

To fix CLS problems:

Reserve space for every ad slot.
Use defined ad sizes.
Avoid dynamic-size banners.
Pre-load ad containers.
Avoid reactive changes without stability.

When CLS drops, your pages feel stable. Users read more content. Your viewability goes up.

Reduce the Number of Ads

Many publishers think more ads mean more revenue. This belief is wrong. When you overload your pages with ads, users leave quickly. Because of this behavior, your viewability drops.

Instead, try fewer but better placements.

Use these guidelines:

Avoid stacking ads closely.
Avoid too many units in sidebar.
Avoid more than one ad above the fold.

A clean page always brings better viewability.

Increase Scroll Depth

If users scroll deeper, more ads load inside their view. Increasing scroll depth improves viewability quickly.

To increase scroll depth:

Write engaging content.
Use internal linking.
Add table of contents.
Break long paragraphs.
Add visuals and infographics.

Good content keeps users scrolling. This simple change increases your viewability naturally.

Use In-View Ad Refresh

Ad refresh increases revenue, but only when used smartly. Refresh ads only when they are in view. This method pushes viewability above 80%.

Do not refresh ads when they are out of view. This practice reduces your quality score.

Good ad networks already support viewability-based refresh. Use them.

Use Lazy Loading Properly

Lazy loading improves speed. However, bad settings can delay ad rendering. When ads appear too late, users scroll past them.

Use these rules:

Load ads only when they reach 50–100px before view.
Avoid lazy-loading above-the-fold units.
Test each setting on mobile and desktop.

Proper lazy loading brings higher viewability.

Improve Mobile Page Design

Most users now browse from mobile devices. Because of this trend, your mobile viewability matters the most.

Improve mobile layout by using:

Clean spacing
Simple navigation
Easy scroll flow
Sticky footer ads
Mid-content placements
Fast loading pages

When mobile experience improves, your viewability grows fast.

Use Advanced Ad Formats with High Viewability

Certain ad formats show higher viewability by default.

These include:

Anchor ads
Collapsible ads
Sticky sidebars
Video out-stream ads
Rewarded video ads
Native in-feed ads

These formats appear inside natural reading zones. Because of this behavior, they offer higher viewability.

Fix User Experience Issues

User experience decides how long visitors stay on your site. Better UX always leads to higher viewability.

Try these improvements:

Reduce pop-ups
Reduce intrusive banners
Improve navigation
Improve readability
Maintain consistent spacing
Avoid auto-play audio

When the experience feels smooth, users stay longer. Because of this behavior, more ads become viewable.

Use Heatmaps and Scroll Analytics

Heatmaps show you how users interact with your site. Tools like Hotjar or Microsoft Clarity help you understand user behavior. You can see where they stop, click, or bounce.

Use these insights to:

Adjust ad positions
Remove low-performing placements
Improve user journey
Insert ads where users spend time

This data-driven approach brings strong viewability results.

Apply Header Bidding for Faster Ad Rendering

Header bidding speeds up ad delivery. It also increases competition. When ads load faster, more impressions become viewable.

Use lightweight header bidding wrappers like:

Prebid.js
Amazon TAM
Open Bidding with GAM

A fast auction always improves viewability.

Optimize for Google Core Web Vitals

Core Web Vitals impact user behavior directly. Better scores lead to lower bounce rates and deeper scrolls. Because of this improvement, your viewability score rises.

Focus on:

LCP
CLS
FID or INP

These metrics influence how users experience your website.

Avoid Heavy Ads

Large creative files slow your pages. Heavy ads reduce viewability. Use ad quality filters to block heavy ad formats.

Use these tips:

Block oversized creatives
Block auto-play video in standard display units
Allow only compressed HTML5 ads

Cleaner ad quality improves user experience and viewability.

Use Google Ad Manager’s Viewability Reports

Google Ad Manager offers detailed viewability insights. Use them to track:

Viewable impressions
Viewability by ad unit
Viewability by device
Viewability by format

Use this data to remove low-performing placements.

Fix Above-the-Fold Rendering Delays

Above-the-fold ads must load quickly. When they load late, users scroll past them. This issue reduces viewability instantly.

To fix it:

Preload the ad slot container
Avoid blocking scripts
Reduce CSS render time
Use asynchronous tags
Prioritize above-the-fold loading

Fast loading improves the first viewable impression rate.

Improve Ad Density Balance

Google recommends keeping ad density under 30% of visible content. High ad density makes users leave. When users leave early, viewability drops.

Reduce unnecessary placements. Align ads with reading flow.

Use Better Content Structure

Good content keeps users engaged. Engaged users scroll more. Because of this behavior, more ads load and become viewable.

Improve structure by using:

Short paragraphs
Bullet points
Proper headings
Images
Interactive blocks

Better structure builds natural flow and supports higher viewability.

How Publishers Usually Reach 80%+ Viewability

Publishers that achieve 80%+ viewability follow this pattern:

They place ads in the natural reading path.
They use sticky and high-performing formats.
They improve page design for both mobile and desktop.
They reduce unnecessary placements.
They use fast-loading pages.
They monitor viewability monthly.

This simple formula works for almost any content website.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is considered a good ad viewability rate?

Any rate above 70% is good. However, advertisers prefer sites with 80% or higher for premium campaigns.

Why does viewability affect my CPM?

Advertisers pay more when ads are seen. High viewability gives better performance. Because of this, CPM rises.

How can I improve mobile viewability fast?

Use sticky footer ads, reduce clutter, improve content spacing, and load ads faster on mobile.

Does lazy loading reduce viewability?

Lazy loading helps only when configured correctly. Wrong settings delay ad rendering and reduce viewability.

How many ads should I use on one page?

Use 5–7 ads for long content. Avoid too many ads above the fold. Balance is important.

Do sticky ads increase viewability?

Yes, sticky ads deliver very high viewability because they stay in the viewport during scrolling.

Can ad refresh increase my viewability?

Yes, but only when you use viewability-based refresh. Ignoring viewability reduces quality score.

Can page speed alone improve viewability?

Yes, faster loading pages reduce bounce rate. More users view the ads when pages load within 3 seconds.

Impact of AI-Generated Content on Ad Inventory & Policy in GAM

November 7, 2025

by Sonu Google Ad Manager Web Monetization

The rise of generative artificial intelligence is reshaping how publishers create content, how advertisers buy space—and how ad platforms enforce policy. When you use Google Ad Manager (GAM), you must now reckon with both opportunities and risks that AI-generated content brings. This article explores how AI-generated content affects inventory, revenue, quality, trust, and policy enforcement inside GAM. It also suggests how publishers and advertisers can adapt.

What is AI-Generated Content in the Context of Ad Inventory

First, we need clarity on what counts as AI-generated content (AIGC) inside a monetized property:

Content (text, image, video) that is fully or partially created by generative AI tools (LLMs, image-generators, video synth tools).
Metadata or user-facing descriptions produced by AI.
Creatives or ad-adjacent assets that are AI-generated.
Programmatic use where content is deployed at scale through automation.

Such content may appear in editorial, user-generated areas, or even in ad creatives. It may influence how many pages you have, how appealing they are, and how “safe” they look to ad platforms.

In Google Ad Manager, ad inventory is the supply of ad slots on your site/app. AI-generated content can change that supply both in quantity and in quality.

How AI-Generated Content Affects Ad Inventory

AI-Generated Content influences ad inventory in several ways. Below are major channels of impact:

1. Volume and Scale of Pages / Units

Publishers can generate more pages or items faster (e.g. product description pages, article stubs, localized language pages). That increases number of ad slots.
With more ad-slots available, total inventory volume rises. But that raises risk: some of that inventory might be low-quality or unengaging.
Ad fill-rates may initially look good (because slots exist), but effective impressions and viewability may drop if the content isn’t engaging or is considered irrelevant by users or platforms.

2. Viewability & Engagement Metrics

When content is AI-generated poorly (or too generic), user dwell time, scroll depth, or return visits may suffer. That in turn reduces metrics like viewability, engagement signals, session duration.
Google and advertisers look at such metrics to determine ad pricing, quality tiers, and demand. Low engagement lowers the attractiveness of that inventory.

3. Inventory Quality Labeling & Tiering

Ad platforms like GAM may implement “quality tiers” for inventory: premium vs non-premium, high-engagement vs low-engagement pages. AI-generated content with weak signals could fall into lower tiers.
Advertisers may choose audience segments or placements only in higher-quality tiers. That restricts demand for AI-only content.

4. Pricing & CPM (Cost Per Mille) Impact

If AI-generated content leads to lower user interest or higher bounce rates, advertisers bid less for that inventory. CPMs on those pages drop.
Also, advertiser confidence matters: if the inventory is flagged (implicitly or explicitly) as being AI-generated or low-trust, pricing pressure may appear.

5. Inventory Rejection / Blocking by Policy or Review

Pages that contain disallowed AI-generated creative (or violate policy) may get blocked by the review pipeline. That reduces usable slots.
Some inventory may be demonetized or manually reviewed before going live. That delay reduces fill and revenue.

6. Long-Term Brand Safety & Reputation

If advertisers perceive that your site/app has many pages with poor-quality or misleading AI-generated content, they may reduce bids, avoid your domain altogether, or demand stricter controls.
That harms your long-term revenue potential more than a one-off hit to fill-rate.

Policy Changes & Google Ad Manager Guidelines

AI-generated content doesn’t operate in a policy vacuum. Google has already introduced new or updated policy guidelines that affect how ad inventory tied to AI is managed. Key changes include:

Restriction on Using Creatives for ML Training

One recent update is reported at PPC Land: Google expanded Ad Manager partner guidelines in July 2025 to prohibit partners from using advertising creatives for training machine-learning models.

That means if you are a partner or publisher/inventory owner, you cannot repurpose the creatives passing through Ad Review Center for training your own AI systems.
This is significant because some publishers may have considered using ad creative as training data. That is no longer allowed under the updated guideline.
Non-compliance could result in policy enforcement, blocking or removal of inventory or losing partner status.

Brand / Deepfake / Synthetic Content Restrictions

Google Ads policy separately (outside just Ad Manager) restricts deepfake / synthetic content in ads, especially for sensitive verticals (politics, elections). Even if inventory is fine, the creative that runs in the ad slot must abide by synthetic content disclosure requirements.
Though this is more of an ads-side policy (rather than publisher content policy), it affects which advertisers you can serve, which creatives pass review, and thus indirectly affects demand for your inventory.

Quality & “Authentic Content” Expectations

Google’s “helpful content” policy and its focus on “people-first” content means that low-quality mass-AI content may risk being flagged or ranked lower in search or discovery channels.
Even though GAM is separate from Search ranking, the overall ecosystem’s aversion to low-quality AI-generated content can flow through to advertiser behavior and platform trust.

Review Center & Human Oversight

Inventory that is suspected of being generated automatically, or that triggers low quality thresholds, may require manual review. Publishers may need to mark or declare where automation is used.
If review delays increase, or manual moderation is needed, launch times slow and fill-rates drop in practice.

Transparency & Disclosure

Though not yet fully universal, there’s a trend in requiring disclosure if synthetic or AI-generated content is used—especially in sensitive categories (politics / social issues). That may soon extend to publisher content (not just ads).
If your content is AI-assisted, you may need to declare it, or show provenance, to satisfy policy or advertiser demands.

Monetization Risks and Controls

Given the policy backdrop and inventory impacts, what risks and what controls should publishers and account managers put in place?

Risk: Revenue Leakage

Inventory that fails quality thresholds may be marked as non-billable or restricted. That reduces revenue.
Advertisers might reduce spend, or avoid your placements.

Risk: Reputation & Demand Loss

Once advertisers detect weak inventory quality, they may withdraw or reduce participation in private deals, direct campaigns, or PMP (private marketplace) deals.
That loss may hit high-margin inventory first, leaving only low-paying open-exchange demand.

Risk: Legal / Ethical Exposure

If some AI-generated content unintentionally violates copyright, or includes mis-information (hallucinations), the publisher could face complaints or policy violations.
For example, synthetic images or text that misrepresent facts may lead to takedowns, or ads being disapproved when they run on those pages.

Control: Clear Labeling and Metadata

Publishers should maintain metadata tags that indicate whether content was AI-generated or human-reviewed. That helps internal review and reporting.
It may also support future compliance if Google introduces inventory-level metadata flags.

Control: Quality Monitoring & Thresholds

Set internal KPIs for bounce rate, session time, viewability for pages that are AI-generated. Compare with non-AI pages.
If performance lags, reduce ad density or disable ads on poorly performing AI-generated pages.

Control: Hybrid Human-AI Processes

Instead of fully automated content, use AI to assist but include human editing / review. That improves quality, reduces risk that content violates policy or appears low quality to users and to advertisers.
Human-reviewed AI content may command better advertiser trust.

Control: Segment Inventory Based on Trust

Create segments in GAM (e.g. labels or key-values) that segregate “AI-assisted / human-reviewed” inventory from “automatically-generated-only” inventory.
Offer higher-confidence inventory to premium demand partners; restrict lower-confidence inventory to open exchange with lower floor prices.

Control: Engage Advertisers & Partners Transparently

Inform your buyers about how content is generated, so they can evaluate risk. Some advertisers prefer to avoid AI-only content.
Negotiate floor prices, or request audits or sample review of pages.

Control: Ongoing Review & Audits

Regularly audit your AI-generated content for misinformation or policy compliance.
Remove or revise pages that under-perform or risk policy violation.

Strategic Response: How Publishers & Advertisers Should Adapt

To survive and thrive in the wake of AI-generated content’s impact on GAM inventory and policy, you must respond proactively. Here are some recommended strategies:

Strategy 1: Audit Your Content Inventory for AI Use

Start by mapping where you use AI tools to generate content.
Tag those pages by type, quality metric, and engagement performance.
Run A/B comparisons of AI vs non-AI content pages to assess ad performance differences.

Strategy 2: Define Quality Thresholds & Remove Low-Performers

For pages with poor metrics, consider increasing editorial oversight or retiring them.
Adjust layout or ad density on lower-performing AI-generated pages.

Strategy 3: Build Mixed Inventory Models

Mix AI-assisted pages with traditional human-written ones.
Use machine-learning signals (or internal analytics) to route high-value demand to trusted inventory.

Strategy 4: Use Buyer Communication & Deal Structures

Offer private marketplace (PMP) deals with higher-trust inventory.
Negotiate deals with advertisers that require transparency about AI-generation.
Provide sample audits or representative pages to show that AI-generated content meets quality standards.

Strategy 5: Monitor Policy Updates Continuously

Stay updated on Google (and other ad networks) policy announcements (e.g. Ad Manager partner guidelines).
Subscribe to policy update feeds.
Adjust your systems or workflows to comply before policy enforcement deadlines.

Strategy 6: Invest in Human Review & Improvement

Even if you want scale, plan for periodic human review and content improvement loops.
Use AI to generate drafts, but refine via editors to reduce risk of error, misinformation, or low readability.

Strategy 7: Track Key Metrics & Adjust Pricing Floors

Monitor CPM by content type (AI-generated vs non-AI).
Adjust ad-unit price floors or targeting criteria in GAM based on performance data.
If AI pages underperform, lower density, reduce margins, or exclude them from high-value campaigns.

Strategy 8: Transparency & Branding

Consider disclosure statements where appropriate (e.g. “some content assisted by AI”).
Promote trust to advertisers by sharing your AI & human-reviewed workflows.

Looking Ahead

AI-generated content is not going away. On the contrary, it will get more capable, more integrated. That means:

Policy frameworks will evolve—Google (and other platforms) may introduce stricter metadata flags, labeling requirements, or automated quality scoring of inventory.
Advertisers and buyers will demand more transparency, auditability, and trust in their inventory sources.
Publishers who continue to rely only on automated content may suffer demand loss over time.
Those who build hybrid models, with human oversight, transparency, and performance tracking will likely benefit from scale and quality.
New tools may emerge to help publishers surface “AI-confidence” scores for each page or to pre-qualify inventory via automated review before applying ad tags.

In short, AI-driven content offers scale — but also risk. The winners will be those who manage both dimensions well.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Below are some common questions and answers about the impact of AI-Generated Content on Ad Inventory & Policy in GAM.

Does Google penalize AI-generated content in Ad Manager?

Not automatically. Google does not ban AI-generated content per se. But low-quality AI content can trigger review, reduced demand, or lower CPMs.

Can I use AI-generated content and still monetize through GAM?

Yes — provided the content meets quality, policy, and advertiser-trust standards. Best results come with AI + human editing.

Do I need to label or declare AI-generated content to Google?

Currently, there is no universal declaration requirement for all content. But disclosure or labeling is trending—especially in sensitive verticals, or where advertiser demands it. It’s wise to maintain metadata about AI usage.

Will policy updates block my existing ad inventory?

Possibly. If you rely on inventory segments that violate new policy (e.g. using creatives for ML training, or hosting poorly reviewed AI content), Google may require manual review, block that inventory, or impose lower fill-rates.

How should I measure whether AI-generated content hurts my revenue?

Compare metrics (CPM, fill-rate, viewability, click-through, session duration, bounce rate) for AI-generated pages vs other pages. Use A/B testing or segment analysis in GAM reports.

Are there types of AI-generated content that advertisers avoid?

Yes. Advertisers may avoid content that looks automated, mis-information prone, low quality, or in sensitive themes (politics, health, finance). They may also avoid pages without human-authored review.

What safeguards can I put in place today?

Use hybrid workflows (AI + human review), tag inventory by content-origin type, set stricter price floors on performance data, and review policy announcements regularly.

Does Google limit use of AI in creatives?

Yes—for certain uses. For example, new guidelines in Ad Manager prohibit using creatives from Ad Review Center for training machine-learning models.

Integrating Third-Party Ad Tech with GAM: Plugins, SSPs, DSPs & APIs

October 15, 2025

by Sonu Google Ad Manager

Google Ad Manager (GAM) often serves as the central hub in many publishers’ ad stacks. It acts both as an ad server and (in one guise) as a supply-side platform (SSP) via its connection to Google Ad Exchange (AdX). When you integrate external ad tech—plugins, third-party SSPs, DSPs, custom APIs—you bring more demand, flexibility, and control. But you also introduce complexity. In this article, I will walk you through how to integrate third-party ad tech into GAM, covering each category (plugins, SSPs, DSPs, APIs). I’ll also highlight pitfalls, best practices, and what to watch out for.

I aim to keep sentences relatively short (under ~20 words) and use an active, human tone. Let’s begin.

Overview: Why integrate external ad tech into GAM?

Before diving into mechanics, let’s frame why you might integrate third-party ad tech into GAM:

Increase competition and yield. By opening your inventory to more demand sources (SSPs, DSPs outside Google), you can push eCPMs higher.
Diversify risk. You reduce dependence on any single demand source (e.g. Google). If one fails or reduces bids, others can fill.
Enable custom demand relationships. Some advertisers or agencies want to connect via their own DSP or SSP, or via direct/private deals.
Access advanced features. External platforms might offer better data targeting, real-time bidding, identity resolution, or analytics.
Control and flexibility. You can decide priority, floor pricing, pacing, backfill logic, etc.

However, with these benefits come challenges: latency, discrepancies, troubleshooting complexity, and rule conflicts. Throughout this article, I’ll mention those trade-offs.

Integration via Plugins (Prebid, wrapper plugins, tag managers)

One of the more developer-friendly and modular ways to integrate third-party demand is via “plugins” or wrapper tools.

What is a plugin / wrapper in ad tech?

A plugin or wrapper generally means:

A JavaScript (or header script) layer on your page or app.
That layer orchestrates calls to multiple demand sources (SSPs, DSPs), collects their bids, and then forwards winning bids (or fallback) to GAM.
A wrapper handles coordination (timeouts, sorting, cache, dedup) and simplifies adding/removing partners.

A well-known example is Prebid.js (for web). Publishers inject Prebid, which gathers bids from configured bidders, then calls GAM’s ad slot after that auction.

Why use a plugin/wrapper with GAM?

You can decouple demand logic from GAM’s internal logic.
You can manage timeouts, synchronization, and bid coordination.
You can easily enable or disable a partner without changing GAM line items.
You can perform header bidding (client-side or server-side) and use GAM as a “last-look” receiver of the winning bid.

How to integrate a plugin with GAM—step by step

Here is a typical flow:

Select your wrapper
Say you use Prebid.js (for web) or Prebid Server (for server-side).
List bidders / demand partners
You configure which SSPs or DSPs (via adapters) you want to invite bids from. You include partner-specific parameters (endpoint URL, seat IDs, key values).
Define timeouts
You define how long your wrapper waits for bids (e.g. 150ms, 200ms). After that, you terminate the auction and pass the best bid to GAM (or fallback).
Auction and adjudicate
Your wrapper picks the highest valid bid, applies any reserve floors, etc.
Pass bid to GAM
You pass the winning bid’s price (and perhaps creative) to GAM via bidder passback. Often, GAM will have a “key-value” on the ad request (for example, hb_pb = 4.50) and map that to a line item in GAM. Or use dynamic allocation (GAM’s header bidding feature).
GAM serves final creative
GAM executes its own decisioning (e.g. direct campaigns, fallback, AdX) and then serves the final creative.
Reporting & reconciliation
You compare wrapper side logs / reporting with GAM logs to identify discrepancies, latency issues, or missing bids.

Pros & cons of using plugins/wrappers

Advantages:

Flexible. You can add or remove demand sources easily.
Transparent. You see bid-level data and can optimize partners.
Layered. The wrapper can manage timing, duplicate filtering, etc.
Safer. You don’t need to directly touch every line item or custom rule inside GAM.

Drawbacks / challenges:

Latency overhead: extra time to gather bids. If wrapper time is long, it delays ad delivery and hurts viewability.
Discrepancies: bids accepted by wrapper might not match what GAM records (due to timeouts, filtering, or race conditions).
Complex setup: mapping wrapper outputs to GAM line items or flows requires careful configuration.
Browser resource usage: many bidders in a wrapper can bloat page size or JS execution time.

Tips and best practices for plugin integration

Start with a small number of bidders; gradually scale.
Use efficient bidder adapters and filter low-quality sources.
Monitor latency closely; aim for sub-200ms end-to-end wrapper + GAM.
Use timeouts that balance yield vs speed.
Synchronize key-values exactly between wrapper and GAM line items.
Use consistent naming conventions and version control.
Always log raw bid data for debugging and reconciliation.
Test in staging environments before full deployment.

Integrating Supply-Side Platforms (SSPs) with GAM

SSPs are platforms publishers use to manage and optimize inventory sales to multiple demand sources (DSPs, ad exchanges). When integrating a third-party SSP with GAM, you can access external demand pools beyond Google’s ecosystem.

How SSPs relate to GAM

GAM already acts somewhat like an SSP because it connects your inventory to Google’s demand (via AdX). But many publishers prefer to layer additional, external SSPs (often via header bidding or direct server-to-server links) to increase competition. Those external SSPs bring more DSP demand to your inventory.

An SSP typically can connect to GAM in one of these ways:

Client-side / header bidding adapter — The SSP bidder is part of wrapper/plugins, which forwards winners to GAM.
Server-to-server (S2S) integration — The SSP forms a back-end auction and sends winning bid to GAM via secure call.
Direct deal or private marketplace (PMP) link — The SSP negotiates a deal outside GAM and then delivers via passback or API integration.
Third-party ad server insertion — The SSP may deliver creatives via VAST/VPAID tags, etc., placed via GAM line items or creative tags.

Technical steps to integrate SSPs with GAM

Negotiate access / seat
Ensure the SSP offers you a seat or partner ID and understand their required parameters (endpoint, currency, bid format, creatives supported).
Agree protocol
Usually OpenRTB (via server-to-server) or custom JSON/HTTP. Understand any custom fields or extensions the SSP uses.
Define deal rules / floors
Determine minimum acceptable bid (floor), targeting limits, creative size constraints, and brand safety filters.
Set up passback or forwarding
The SSP must pass bids to GAM in a form GAM recognizes. Often via key-values or dynamic allocation (GAM’s bid response interface).
Map targeting / keys
The SSP may offer targeting dimensions (e.g. audience, segments). You map those into GAM key-values (e.g. ssp_audience = X).
Implement creatives
Decide whether creatives will be served by GAM or by the SSP (creative tags). If SSP hosts creatives, GAM may simply call external VAST tags.
Latency and timeout
Define how long SSP has to respond, and what happens if it fails to respond.
Test and validate
Use staging or test network to simulate volume. Validate bid flows, ensure that GAM picks winners properly. Check logs, debug mismatches.
Monitor ongoing performance
Track fill rates, bid density, revenue attribution, and any lost bids due to timeouts or errors.

Example / case

A case study of Setupad shows how a publisher added multiple SSPs via header bidding into GAM, including 5 direct SSPs and 15 existing bidders. That increased bid competition and improved overall revenue.

In that example, one SSP (Adform SSP) even became the highest bidder consistently, which pushed other bidders to raise their bids. That demonstrates how adding SSPs can boost the entire bidding ecosystem.

Challenges when integrating SSPs

SSPs may have varying bid latency or reliability.
Creative mismatches (formats, sizes) may lead to lost bids.
Reconciling metrics across GAM and SSP is nontrivial.
Managing versioning (API changes) requires upkeep.
Conflict of priority with existing direct campaigns in GAM.
Bandwidth and volume constraints (too many SSPs can overload).

Integrating Demand-Side Platforms (DSPs) with GAM

DSPs are the buyers’ side — they bid on inventory exposed through exchanges or SSPs. In the context of a publisher using GAM, “integrating a DSP” means allowing that DSP to bid on your inventory (via SSPs or direct deals) or accepting their bids through GAM-managed deals.

Modes in which DSPs connect with your GAM-controlled inventory

Indirect via SSP / exchange: The DSP bids via one or more SSPs that you have already integrated.
Programmatic Guaranteed (PG) / direct programmatic deals: You negotiate a guaranteed contract with a DSP and route those bids directly into GAM. Google supports DSPs as partners for Programmatic Guaranteed.
Preferred / private marketplace deals: You allow a DSP to access specific inventory or audience segments via a PMP that you configure in GAM.
API-level creative upload or direct insertion: In some rare cases, a DSP might upload creatives or deliver tags for use in GAM.

Key steps in enabling DSP demand via GAM

Select which DSPs to enable
Evaluate DSPs on reach, performance, targeting, reliability, and compliance.
Ensure the DSP meets Google’s requirements
For Programmatic Guaranteed, Google vets DSPs to ensure they can deliver reliably.
Configure deals / contracts in GAM
For direct programmatic deals, you set up proposals or agreements in GAM so that DSPs have access to inventory.
Match targeting and floors
Specify targeting (geography, ad sizes, segments) and minimum CPM floors.
Set open auction participation / fallback logic
Decide whether DSPs also compete with open demand or keep them exclusive.
Implement creative delivery
DSP may deliver the creative via a VAST or via GAM’s creative system.
Monitor delivery and pacing
Because DSPs might underdeliver, you need to monitor and ensure their campaigns meet expectations (SLA compliance).

DSP integration challenges

If DSP fails the SLA, you may have unfilled inventory.
Discrepancies in reporting or attribution.
Conflict with other bids or line items in GAM.
Complexity in forecasting and allocation across multiple DSPs.
Creative quality or format mismatch.

Example: DSP integration in GAM

Google’s documentation on DSPs for Programmatic Guaranteed shows how Google reviews DSPs before partnering, and how the publisher configures those DSPs for PG deals. That ensures guaranteed delivery and predictability.

In practice, a DSP might bid through one of your integrated SSPs (which in turn forwards to GAM). Or, in direct programmatic deals, the DSP will get inventory access in GAM’s interface and bid directly under the contract terms.

Direct APIs & Third-Party Integrations with GAM

Plugins, SSPs, and DSPs mostly function through standardized protocols (OpenRTB, JSON, HTTP). But sometimes you need deeper, custom, or proprietary integration via APIs. GAM provides an API (originally SOAP, now with a REST/API beta) for third-party services to interact with its inventory and configuration.

What kind of integrations people build via API?

Third-party ad tech platforms (e.g. analytics, yield management tools) that connect with GAM to fetch reports, automate rule changes, adjust floors, or target segments.
Creative platforms / ad builders that automatically push creatives into GAM.
Optimization engines that dynamically adjust line items or priorities based on performance.
Custom mediation layers that speak to other demand sources and coordinate with GAM via API.
Permissioned third-party services that can act “as a third party” accessing a client’s GAM account for services (for example, yield management services). Google’s “Third-Party Integration” guide covers how external parties access GAM APIs securely.

How to integrate via GAM APIs

Get access and credentials
Use Google’s developer access model. A third party must authenticate (service account or OAuth) and must be granted proper access by the GAM client.
Select which API endpoints you need
For example, you may call the CreativeService, OrderService, ReportService, etc.
Design workflows
- E.g. a yield optimization engine may pull performance data daily and adjust floor prices or priorities via API calls.
- A creative builder might upload creatives end-to-end into GAM without manual UI steps.
Error handling, versioning, and deprecation management
Google evolves its API; your integration must gracefully handle deprecated fields, new versions, and fallback logic.
Testing in sandbox or test network
Google supports test networks for third-party developers to validate before pushing to production.
Security, permissions, and audit
Use least privilege access, log API use, and secure credentials.

Use cases & benefits

You can automate many monotonous tasks (floors, targeting changes) at scale.
You can build custom dashboards or cross-account aggregation.
You can insert logic (e.g. floor adjustments based on yield, predictive pricing) that may not be possible directly in GAM.
You can streamline creative operations for high-volume workflows.

Risks & caveats

API changes can break your workflows. You must maintain your integration.
Rate limits or quotas may hamper bulk operations.
Conflicting changes (human UI vs API) can lead to inconsistency.
Misuse of API could corrupt inventory settings.

Putting It Together: An Integrated Stack Architecture

Understanding how plugins, SSPs, DSPs, and APIs interplay is vital to designing a full ad stack. Here’s how you might architect an integrated system with GAM at the center.

Sample architecture

Page-level wrapper (Prebid or custom)
Runs a client-side auction among multiple SSPs / bidders.
Server-side wrapper / mediation
To reduce browser load or include sources not supported client-side.
SSPs (client- or server-side)
These connect to many DSPs (via OpenRTB). They forward winning bids to the wrapper or directly to GAM.
GAM (ad server + marketplace)
Receives the winning bid (via passback or key-values), evaluates direct deals, and finally chooses what creative to serve.
DSPs
DSPs bid via SSPs or via direct programmatic deals through GAM.
API-driven optimization / yield tool
A third-party service or internal system calls GAM API to adjust floors, targeting, or analyze performance.
Reporting / reconciliation layer
Collect logs from wrapper, SSP, and GAM. Use them to reconcile, monitor discrepancies, and tune.

Flow example (user visits page)

Browser loads wrapper JS.
Wrapper sends bid requests to multiple SSPs / demand adapters.
SSPs return bids within the timeout.
Wrapper picks a top bid, passes its price and metadata to GAM via key-values.
GAM’s decisioning layer evaluates direct campaigns, AdX, fallback.
GAM issues final creative (could be tag from winning SSP).
After serving, all systems log the transaction.
Later, optimization engine analyzes logs and via API changes floor values or priorities.

Key principles for this architecture to work well

Single point of truth: ensure all demand and pricing logic funnels through a controlled pathway (the wrapper, GAM). Avoid bypasses that confuse metrics.
Latency control: total chain must deliver creative within acceptable latency (say <300 ms).
Consistent targeting: ensure the wrapper, SSPs, and GAM share the same targeting definitions.
Versioning discipline: you must manage versions of the wrapper, bidder adapters, API integration.
Fallback safety: if wrapper or SSP fails, have fallback campaigns in GAM to fill inventory.
Logging & monitoring: every bid, winner, and passback must be logged for reconciliation.
Graceful degradation: if a partner fails, the system should still function (perhaps with lesser yield).

Best Practices & Tips in Real-World Integration

Now that you’ve seen the component pieces, here are some concrete best practices from the trenches:

Start simple: integrate one plugin/SSP first, validate, then scale.
Use a staging or test GAM network before touching production.
Match naming conventions across systems (e.g. hb_bidder_name, hb_adid, hb_pb) to avoid mapping errors.
Keep timeouts short but forgiving (e.g. 150–200ms), and test various thresholds.
Monitor bid traffic and drop low-performing bidders.
Use logs to reconcile differences between wrapper concept and GAM deliveries.
Alert on mismatch thresholds (e.g. if >10 % of wrapper winners didn’t deliver).
Use non-blocking scripts and lazy loading to reduce initial page impact.
Segment your inventory (by size, ad type, geography) and manage floor pricing per segment.
Keep an eye on API deprecations and maintain your integrations actively.
Backup critical configurations and maintain rollback capability.
Use rate limiting or throttling in your optimization APIs.
Embrace iterative tuning: each demand partner should be audited periodically.

Challenges & Pitfalls (and How to Mitigate)

Here are some common obstacles you may face, along with mitigation strategies:

Challenge	Cause / Symptoms	Mitigation
High latency or timeouts	Too many bidders, slow responders	Limit bidder count, enforce timeout thresholds, gradually add partners
Discrepancies in metrics	Winner passed but not served; filtering	Reconcile logs across wrapper / SSP / GAM, add instrumentation
Creative size / format mismatch	Bid returns incompatible ad creative	Enforce strict ad size validation early; reject bids not matching your slots
Conflicting line items in GAM	Duplicate or higher-priority items override wrapper logic	Audit and rationalize line item priorities; de-duplicate
API version changes break flows	Using deprecated API endpoints	Monitor Google’s developer updates; build version fallback logic
Performance overhead on client	Large JS, many bidder calls	Move demand to server-side wrapper; lazy load less important slots
Under-delivery from DSPs / SSPs	DSP fails to meet agreement	Monitor delivery, reallocate if underperforming, enforce SLAs
Ad fraud / low-quality demand	Bad or low-quality SSPs / bidders	Vet partners, use ads.txt / sellers.json, apply filtering and block lists
Conflict in targeting or audience mapping	Different systems interpret segments differently	Maintain a unified mapping layer and keep definitions in sync

Future Trends & Things to Watch

As you integrate more third-party ad tech, you should stay aware of these evolving trends:

Server-side header bidding / OpenWrap: More of the auction logic moves off-browser to reduce latency.
Unified auction protocols: Google’s “Open Bidding” or “Exchange Bidding” are protocols to unify external bidders inside GAM.
Identity & privacy changes: The deprecation of third-party cookies means many ad tech integrations will rely on first-party identity and new signals.
Machine learning floor optimization: More systems will dynamically set floors or participation logic using ML.
Real-time adjustments via API: Automating targeting, pacing, and priority changes in real time using APIs.
Cross-platform orchestration: Integrating web, app, CTV demand flows via unified systems.
Transparency & auditability: More demand for transparent logs, audit trails, and reconciliation.

How Monetiscope Can Help with This

Integrating third-party ad tech with Google Ad Manager (GAM) can feel overwhelming—especially when you’re juggling multiple SSPs, DSPs, plugins, and APIs. That’s where Monetiscope comes in.

Monetiscope simplifies the entire monetization ecosystem for publishers across web, app, and CTV platforms. It’s designed to maximize your revenue while keeping your ad stack clean, fast, and policy-compliant.

Here’s how Monetiscope can help you integrate and scale seamlessly:

1. Seamless Third-Party Integrations

Monetiscope handles complex integrations with top SSPs, DSPs, and demand partners—ensuring smooth communication with GAM. Whether you’re using Open Bidding, Header Bidding, or custom APIs, Monetiscope’s tech team configures everything to run efficiently.

2. Optimized Header Bidding Setup

With deep expertise in Prebid and Open Bidding, Monetiscope helps you set up, optimize, and maintain your bidding wrappers. You’ll get faster auctions, improved ad latency, and better viewability—all without code headaches.

3. Advanced Yield Optimization

Monetiscope doesn’t stop at integration. It continuously analyzes real-time data to adjust pricing rules, floor CPMs, and demand routing—helping you achieve up to 2X higher revenue from your existing traffic.

4. API Automation and Reporting

Monetiscope connects directly with GAM’s APIs to automate repetitive tasks like ad unit setup, deal creation, and report generation. This saves hours of manual work while maintaining complete transparency.

5. Access to Premium Demand

Through Monetiscope’s Google Ad Exchange (AdX) Managed Account, you can unlock premium global demand that competes directly with your existing partners—boosting competition and overall eCPMs.

6. Policy and Quality Assurance

Every integration is carefully monitored for compliance with Google policies. Monetiscope’s platform filters invalid traffic (IVT), ensures brand safety, and maintains a clean, compliant ad environment.

7. Dedicated Support and Insights

You don’t have to navigate integrations alone. Monetiscope provides 1:1 publisher support, in-depth revenue analysis, and actionable insights tailored to your monetization strategy.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

What is the difference between integrating an SSP vs integrating a DSP into GAM?

SSPs are on the supply side—they aggregate demand and bid on your inventory. When you integrate an SSP, you’re enabling external demand sources. DSPs are demand side—you let them bid (directly or via SSP). An SSP integration brings in many DSPs; DSP integration gives you specific buyer access (e.g. via PG or PMP).

Do I always need a wrapper / plugin to integrate third-party demand?

Not necessarily. You can do server-to-server integrations directly via GAM or external SSPs. But wrappers make it easier to manage multiple demand partners simultaneously, controlling synchronization, timeouts, and bid coordination.

How does latency affect integrations?

High latency means slower ad response and might lead to timeouts or lost bids. It disrupts user experience and degrades yield. So you must optimize bid flow timing (e.g. <200-300ms total). Always measure latency end-to-end and prune slow bidders.

Q4: What is the fallback if third-party demand fails to deliver a bid?

You should maintain fallback line items in GAM (e.g. direct campaigns, AdX, or backup bidders). That ensures your inventory does not go unfilled if wrapper or SSP fails to return a valid bid.

How do I reconcile differences between wrapper/SSP bids and GAM recorded delivery?

You maintain logs at each layer (wrapper, SSP, GAM). You compare winning bid IDs, key-values, timestamps, and delivery count. If discrepancies exceed a threshold (say 5–10 %), you investigate partner-specific issues or timeout drops.

What happens when a DSP fails to meet delivery in a Programmatic Guaranteed deal?

If the DSP fails its SLA, Google may exclude or re-evaluate its eligibility. You might also have to reassign that inventory or renegotiate terms. Monitor pacing and be ready to handle shortfalls.

How do API-based integrations benefit me compared to wrapper or SSP integrations?

API-based integrations let you automate workflows (floors, targeting, creative delivery), create custom dashboards, or build optimization logic. They allow deep, custom control beyond what UI allows. But you also bear integration maintenance.

How often should I review and prune low-performing demand partners?

You should review every few weeks or quarterly, depending on scale. Remove or scale down partners that consistently under-deliver, show high latency, or cause discrepancies.

Interactive Reports in GAM: How to Prepare Your Team for the 2026 Transition

October 13, 2025

by Sonu Google Ad Manager

In early 2026, Google Ad Manager (GAM) will fully retire its classic Reports tool from the web interface, and adopt Interactive Reports as the sole reporting interface.

This transition carries more than just a UI change. It demands that your team adapts workflows, rethinks reporting strategy, and masters new capabilities. In this article, I explain what Interactive Reports bring, why you should start preparing now, and step-by-step guidance to prepare your team for this transition.

What Are Interactive Reports & Why the Change?

What are Interactive Reports?

Interactive Reports is Google’s enhanced reporting solution built to replace the traditional Reports tool in GAM.

Key upgrades include:

Building and viewing reports on the same page without toggling between views.
AI-assisted report generation: you can prompt the system to suggest metrics/dimensions.
More powerful data exploration: filtering, pivoting, comparisons, hierarchical views, etc.
Inline scrolling of results instead of forced export for viewing.
Tools like flags, scheduling, sharing, and copy/export enhancements.

Why is Google doing this?

The shift aims to modernize the reporting experience, simplify workflows, and centralize enhancements in one tool. Also, Google is deprecating older report types, metrics, and dimensions to reduce complexity.

By 2026, users will no longer see the old Reports tool via the web UI. The depreciation timeline gives time for adaptation while allowing backward compatibility via certain APIs.

The Stakes: Why You Must Act Now

Avoid disruption
If your team relies heavily on saved or scheduled reports in the old system, not preparing will cause workflow breaks once the old tool is disabled.
Recreate or migrate reports
Google does not automatically migrate all existing saved/scheduled reports. You will need to re-build many of them in Interactive Reports.
Learn new capabilities & limitations
Some metrics/dimensions or report types in old reports may not map one-to-one. Understanding what’s available now vs. what’s deprecated is essential.
Train your team & adjust roles
Analysts, ad ops, and executives will need to interact differently with reports. That calls for training, new process design, and role clarity.
Update technical integrations
If you rely on programmatic or automated systems (via APIs) to fetch or generate reports, those flows may break or require updates. Interactive Reports has a new API (Beta) to replace parts of the old system. Google for Developers
Feedback window & influencing features
During the transition, Google continues to iterate and add metrics/dimensions. Your feedback can help shape what features make the cut.

Because of all the above, your team must treat this as a project, not just a small interface change.

Roadmap: Steps to Prepare Your Team

Here is a recommended roadmap you can follow (ideally starting at least 6–9 months ahead of full switch).

Phase	Timeframe	Activities	Deliverables / Outcomes
Exploration & Familiarization	Months 1–2	Give access, let your team poke around, compare with old reports	Teams submit first draft reports in new tool, raise questions
Inventory & Gap Analysis	Months 2–3	Audit all current saved, scheduled, and custom reports	Report matrix mapping old → new, list of gaps & deprecated items
Rebuild Core Reports	Months 3–5	Prioritize high-value reports, recreate in Interactive Reports	Core reports live, validated output matches old system
Training & Process Integration	Months 5–7	Conduct hands-on workshops, document procedures	Training sign-offs, process manuals updated
Technical Updates & API Migration	Months 6–8	Adapt scripts, scheduled pulls, dashboards to new API	API flows migrated, data pipelines verified
Parallel Runs & Validation	Months 8–10	Run old and new reports side by side, reconcile results	Clean reconciliation logs, confidence in new system
Go-Live & Cutover	Early 2026	Switch to Interactive Reports fully, retire old workflows	Full operations in new tool, decommission old reports
Post-Migration Monitoring & Feedback	Ongoing	Monitor data integrity, collect team feedback, iterate	Improvement backlog, feature requests sent to Google

Now let’s dive deeper into each step with tips to ensure success.

1. Exploration & Familiarization

Assign a small “pilot team” of power users (analysts, ops) to experiment first.
Encourage them to generate simple reports in the new system and compare results to the old tool.
Organize internal “show & tell” sessions where these early users present their discoveries, shortcuts, pain points.
Keep a running list of “missing features” or mismatches they observe.

2. Inventory & Gap Analysis

Create a master list of all saved and scheduled reports in the old system (report name, frequency, recipients, metrics/dimensions used).
For each, try to reconstruct the same logic in Interactive Reports. Note if it’s possible, or if there’s a limitation (e.g. a deprecated metric).
Classify reports into tiers: critical, important, nice-to-have. Focus first on critical ones.
Also catalog custom scripts or dashboards fed by the old API flows.

3. Rebuild Core Reports

Start with the most business-critical reports (executive summary, revenue, performance by channel, etc.).
Use filtering, pivoting, hierarchical views to replicate or improve on old reports.
For metrics or dimensions that no longer exist, identify substitutes or compute them externally.
Validate output: run old vs. new reports over overlapping periods to ensure numbers match (or understand divergence).
Flag any logic that cannot be replicated yet, and escalate internally or to Google (via feedback channels).

4. Training & Process Integration

Develop role-based training modules: e.g. for analysts, ad ops, business leads.
Use hands-on labs where participants rebuild real reports.
Record step-by-step guides / screenshots.
Create a “reporting playbook” documenting how to build, modify, share, flag, schedule reports in the new system.
Update internal processes that referenced the old system (e.g. “every Monday someone sends X report”) to use the new system flow.

5. Technical Updates & API Migration

If your stack currently uses the SOAP API or older report APIs, map those to the new Interactive Reports API (currently in Beta) Google for Developers
Build new scripts that call networks.reports.run, poll for completion, fetch rows, etc. Google for Developers
Test the new API flows thoroughly, including error handling, missing data, rate limits, pagination.
Update downstream dashboards, BI tools, or data warehouses that ingest report output.
Ensure authentication and permission scopes are correct for the new API access.

6. Parallel Runs & Validation

For some weeks (or months), run both the old and new workflows side by side.
Reconcile output differences, document root causes (e.g. rounding, missing metrics, dimension mismatches).
Use this phase to capture corner-cases, edge behaviors, and unexpected anomalies.
Let your team raise issues and iterate.

7. Go-Live & Cutover

Choose a “cutover weekend” if needed, or a low-impact date to fully switch off old reports.
Communicate clearly across stakeholders: what will change, which reports will look different, who owns which new reports.
Have “on-call” support ready for debugging or urgent issues post cutover.
Monitor critical reports in the new system immediately to ensure data is flowing properly.

8. Post-Migration Monitoring & Feedback

Within the first few months, hold regular feedback sessions with your team.
Document new feature requests or missing metrics and submit to Google through the “Feedback” button in the tool.
Track data quality metrics (are there mismatches, gaps, latency issues?).
Iterate on report improvements now that your team is comfortable in the system.
Stay updated on new releases from Google: they continue to add dimensions, metrics, and features.

Best Practices & Tips for a Smooth Transition

Here are additional tips and pitfalls to watch out for:

Start early — the more buffer time you have, the less stress during cutover.
Use a champion network — identify a few internal “reporting champions” who become SMEs in Interactive Reports and can support others.
Document everything — from step-by-step tutorials to edge-case behaviors.
Prioritize impact over perfection — it’s okay if some low-use reports lag behind; ensure core ones are rock solid.
Communicate often — keep your wider team, leadership, and stakeholders in the loop about changes and timelines.
Set expectations — be upfront about known limitations (e.g. missing metrics) and when they might be resolved.
Use feedback wisely — track feature requests, vote internally on priority, and push to Google if many users request the same metric.
Build regression tests — once core reports are rebuilt, set up automated checks (or manual scripts) that detect large divergences.
Keep legacy API where needed — during the transition, some clients or scripts may still require the old SOAP API (which continues to support classic Reports in certain contexts)
Leverage internal champions — users who quickly adopt and champion the new tool can help onboard others.
Expect and accept minor discrepancies — due to rounding, filtering, or metric definitions differences. Track and document them.
Monitor deprecated metrics/dimensions lists — Google periodically sunsets low-usage fields; keep abreast of what’s being removed.

Potential Challenges & How to Mitigate Them

Challenge	Mitigation Strategy
Some reports rely on metrics that are deprecated	Find alternative metrics or compute externally
Users resist change due to habit	Schedule demos, training, and highlight benefits
API flows break or mis-align	Rigorously test, version backups, rollback plans
Inconsistencies between old and new outputs	Reconcile early, document differences, handle exceptions
Feature requests not implemented fast enough	Collect internal priority, escalate via Google feedback
Overwhelm of learning for many users	Phase rollouts, training cohorts, internal office hours

Sample Use Cases & Scenarios

To make this concrete, here are two example scenarios to illustrate how teams might use Interactive Reports differently (and better) than before.

Scenario 1: Executive Summary Report

Old system: Every Monday at 9 AM, someone would run a saved report, export CSV, format it (filtering columns, doing comparisons), then email to management.
New system:

Create an Interactive Report template with date comparison, relevant metrics, and filters.
Schedule it to run weekly.
Turn on a flag to highlight when performance drops below threshold.
Recipients receive email (if flagged) or view in the tool.
Management can click into the report and pivot/filter themselves if curious.

This reduces manual export, redesign, or formatting work.

Scenario 2: Cross-Dimension Analysis

Old system: To see performance by country × device type × ad format, the team would need to export and pivot in Excel or BI tools.
New system: Use hierarchical or pivot views in Interactive Reports to explore the intersections in-platform.
You can collapse/unfold levels without leaving the tool.
No need for constant back-and-forth between ad tool and external spreadsheets.

What’s Changing: Deprecated / Removed Items

To avoid surprises, here are some known changes:

The Analytics report type is deprecated; its dimensions/metrics move into the “Historical” report types in Interactive Reports.
Some metrics tied to obsolete or low-use features will not carry forward.
The Technical Ad Delivery report is being deprecated ahead of the full transition.
As new metrics and dimensions are being added only into Interactive Reports, you may see that support for older attributes gradually erodes in the legacy Reports tool.

Therefore, during your inventory and gap analysis, keep an eye out for metrics your team heavily relies on but may be missing downstream.

Measuring Success After Transition

After the cutover, you should monitor these indicators to ensure success:

Report accuracy — no large discrepancies between expected and actual data.
User adoption — number of users actively generating reports in the new tool vs. fallback to workarounds.
Support tickets / issues — how many issues or refunds arise due to reporting errors.
Speed & efficiency improvements — time saved in report generation, fewer manual exports or reconciliation.
Feedback & requests — how many feature requests are raised, how many are resolved.
Dashboard & integration stability — ensure downstream systems still operate with the new data pipeline.

Summary & Final Thoughts

Interactive Reports in GAM represent a meaningful, long-term upgrade in how publishers analyze ad performance. But this change also has risk: if your team doesn’t plan, the transition may disrupt business operations.

To smoothly shift:

Start early with exploration and pilot usage.
Inventory all existing reports and understand where gaps lie.
Rebuild core reports in the new system.
Train your team with role-based learning and documented guides.
Update technical systems and API integrations.
Run parallel testing to reconcile differences.
Execute a controlled cutover with appropriate support.
Monitor, iterate, and send feedback as needed.

With good preparation, your team can emerge stronger: leveraging better tools, smarter workflows, and deeper insights — rather than scrambling to catch up.

Let me know if you’d like a version tailored to your team’s size, or a condensed executive version.

FAQ

When exactly will the old Reports tool be removed in GAM?

Google has announced that the Reports tool in the web interface will be removed in “early 2026.”

Will my old saved or scheduled reports automatically migrate?

No. Google does not automatically migrate saved or scheduled reports. You will need to recreate many of them in Interactive Reports.

Can I still use the old reporting API (SOAP) after transition?

Yes, certain legacy APIs (like the SOAP API) continue to support classic Reports in specific contexts. But the new Interactive Reports API (Beta) is where future reporting features will be added.

What if a metric or dimension in my old report is missing in Interactive Reports?

You’ll need to identify alternative metrics, compute them externally, or request their addition via feedback. Some obsolete or low-use fields are being deprecated.

Is there an API for Interactive Reports?

Yes. A new API (currently in Beta) allows you to create, run, and fetch Interactive Reports programmatically. Google for Developers

How can my team give feedback to Google about missing features?

Inside the Interactive Reports UI, use the “Feedback” option (usually present in the top right). Google encourages users to submit dimension or metric requests.

Will I still be able to export, share, and schedule reports?

Yes. Interactive Reports supports export, sharing, copying, scheduling, and flags.

How will hierarchical vs flat views work in Interactive Reports?

You can choose between flat view (every dimension + metric in separate columns) or hierarchical view (nested, collapsible groups). Exports will default to flat.

How to Enable GDPR & CCPA Compliance in Google Ad Manager

September 30, 2025

by Sonu Google Ad Manager Web Monetization

Google Ad Manager (GAM) has become the backbone for many publishers who rely on ads to monetize their websites and apps. However, with strict privacy laws like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in the United States, compliance is not just an option—it’s a must. Non-compliance can lead to penalties, loss of user trust, and even restrictions from advertising partners.

In this detailed guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about enabling GDPR and CCPA compliance in Google Ad Manager. From understanding what these laws mean to step-by-step setup instructions, this article will cover it all in simple language.

Understanding GDPR and CCPA in the Context of Google Ad Manager

Before enabling compliance settings, you must clearly understand what GDPR and CCPA are. Both laws focus on user privacy but apply to different regions and user rights.

GDPR Explained

GDPR applies to users in the European Economic Area (EEA). It requires publishers to ask users for explicit consent before collecting their personal data. This includes cookies, device identifiers, and advertising data. The law emphasizes transparency, control, and the right to withdraw consent.

For publishers using Google Ad Manager, this means you cannot just serve personalized ads without user permission. You need a Consent Management Platform (CMP) that integrates with Google’s Transparency and Consent Framework (TCF).

CCPA Explained

CCPA, on the other hand, applies to California residents in the U.S. It gives users the right to opt out of the sale of their personal data. Unlike GDPR, consent is not required upfront. Instead, publishers must provide a clear “Do Not Sell My Personal Information” option.

Google treats certain types of ad personalization as a “sale” under CCPA. So, you need to configure GAM properly to respect user opt-outs.

How to Enable GDPR & CCPA Compliance in Google Ad Manager

Now that you know the basics, let’s get into the actual setup. Below are the key steps you should follow to make your Google Ad Manager account fully compliant.

1. Set Up a Consent Management Platform (CMP) for GDPR

The first step toward GDPR compliance is using a Consent Management Platform. A CMP helps you display consent banners, gather user permissions, and pass consent signals to Google.

Choose a Google-certified CMP: Always pick a CMP that is integrated with the IAB Europe TCF. This ensures compatibility with GAM.
Customize your consent banner: Make sure it matches your website design and provides clear options for users. Transparency builds trust.
Integrate with Google Ad Manager: Your CMP should pass the consent string to GAM. This allows Google to know whether it can serve personalized ads.
Test the integration: Use Google’s debugging tools or Chrome Developer Console to check if the consent string is being sent correctly.

Without a CMP, GAM may restrict ad serving in the EEA, which could hurt your revenue.

2. Configure GDPR Settings in Google Ad Manager

Once your CMP is live, you need to adjust GAM’s settings to ensure compliance.

Enable GDPR messages: Go to the “Privacy & Messaging” section in GAM and activate GDPR compliance.
Select Consent Source: Define whether you are using IAB TCF consent strings or custom consent signals.
Personalized vs. Non-Personalized Ads: Decide what type of ads should show if a user refuses consent. Non-personalized ads rely on contextual targeting and still allow monetization.
Geo-target GDPR settings: Apply GDPR rules only to traffic from the EEA. This avoids unnecessary interruptions for global users.

By carefully configuring these settings, you balance user privacy with consistent ad delivery.

3. Set Up a “Do Not Sell” Option for CCPA

For CCPA, the focus is on giving California users the right to opt out.

Add a “Do Not Sell” link: Place this link in your website footer or settings page. It should be visible and easy to access.
Enable CCPA in Google Ad Manager: Navigate to the Privacy & Messaging settings and turn on CCPA compliance.
Use Google’s “restricted data processing” mode: When a user opts out, GAM limits the use of personal data. Ads are still served, but targeting is broader.
Test opt-out flow: Check whether a user who opts out stops receiving personalized ads. This ensures that Google respects the signal.

Remember, CCPA applies to California residents, so use geo-targeting to avoid showing opt-out banners unnecessarily to global users.

4. Update Your Privacy Policy

Both GDPR and CCPA require publishers to maintain a clear and transparent Privacy Policy.

Explain what data is collected: Cookies, device IDs, location data, and browsing behavior.
Mention how data is used: For personalized ads, analytics, and third-party services.
List your partners: If you use GAM with other SSPs or ad networks, disclose them.
Add user rights information: Include GDPR rights (access, rectification, erasure) and CCPA rights (opt-out, deletion).
Keep it updated: Laws and Google policies evolve, so update your privacy policy regularly.

A strong privacy policy builds user trust and keeps your site legally safe.

5. Test Compliance Across Devices and Regions

After enabling GDPR and CCPA settings, testing is crucial.

Use Chrome Developer Tools: Check cookies and consent strings for GDPR.
Simulate different regions: Use VPNs or location simulators to test banners in Europe and California.
Mobile testing: Many users access your site via mobile, so ensure banners work well on smaller screens.
Check ad revenue impact: Compare performance of personalized vs. non-personalized ads.

Testing helps you identify and fix issues before they affect user experience or revenue.

6. Train Your Team and Update Processes

Compliance is not just a one-time setup. Your team must stay updated.

Educate editors and developers: Make sure they understand how GDPR and CCPA affect ad serving.
Create a compliance checklist: Include steps for new campaigns, partners, and site changes.
Monitor policy updates: Subscribe to Google’s policy updates to stay informed.
Audit your setup regularly: Run quarterly audits to ensure everything works smoothly.

This step ensures long-term compliance and avoids accidental violations.

7. Monitor Google Ad Manager Policy Updates

Google frequently updates its privacy and compliance rules.

Follow Google Ad Manager Help Center: New policies are announced there first.
Check the EU User Consent Policy: This outlines exactly what is required for GDPR compliance.
Review CCPA guidelines: Stay aligned with U.S. requirements.
Update CMP integrations: As the TCF evolves, update your CMP to match.

Being proactive with updates keeps you ahead of potential compliance risks.

8. Handle Consent for Other Regions (Beyond GDPR & CCPA)

Privacy laws are spreading globally. For example:

Brazil (LGPD): Similar to GDPR, requiring consent for personal data usage.
Canada (CPPA): Strengthens privacy requirements for publishers.
India (DPDP Act): Introduces user consent requirements for data handling.

By preparing your GAM account now, you can easily extend compliance settings for these new laws.

FAQs on Enabling GDPR & CCPA Compliance in Google Ad Manager

Do I really need a CMP for GDPR compliance?

Yes. A CMP helps collect and manage user consent transparently. Without it, Google may restrict ad serving in the EU.

Can I still earn revenue with non-personalized ads?

Yes. Non-personalized ads are contextual and may yield lower CPMs, but they keep revenue flowing while staying compliant.

What happens if I don’t enable CCPA compliance?

If you ignore CCPA, you risk legal penalties, user complaints, and possible restrictions from Google or advertisers.

How do I know if my site is GDPR compliant?

Test your CMP integration. Also, check if consent strings are correctly passed to Google Ad Manager and ads adjust accordingly.

Can one CMP handle both GDPR and CCPA?

Yes. Many CMPs offer dual compliance features. They can display GDPR banners in Europe and CCPA opt-out options in California.

Does CCPA apply only to California users?

Yes. However, some publishers apply CCPA features to all U.S. traffic to simplify compliance.

How often should I update my privacy policy?

At least every six months, or whenever new partners, features, or laws are introduced.

Will compliance affect my ad revenue?

Possibly. Personalized ads often bring higher CPMs. However, compliance protects you from penalties and builds long-term trust.

How to Fix Low Fill Rate Issues in Google Ad Manager

August 22, 2025

by Sonu Google Ad Manager Web Monetization

If you run ads through Google Ad Manager (GAM), you know that fill rate plays a crucial role in your revenue. A low fill rate means many of your ad requests are not getting filled with ads. This directly reduces your total impressions and overall earnings.

The good news is that low fill rate problems can be fixed with the right strategies. In this article, we will explore the reasons behind low fill rates and discuss proven solutions. By the end, you will have a step-by-step guide to improve your GAM performance and revenue.

What is Fill Rate in Google Ad Manager?

Fill rate shows how many ad requests receive an actual ad response. It is calculated using this formula:

Fill Rate (%) = (Ad Impressions ÷ Ad Requests) × 100

For example, if your website makes 100,000 ad requests but only 70,000 impressions are served, your fill rate is 70%.

Ideally, you want your fill rate close to 100%. However, it rarely reaches that level because many factors influence it.

Why Does Fill Rate Matter?

Fill rate matters because it directly affects your revenue. If advertisers are not filling your requests, you are missing opportunities to earn. A 10% drop in fill rate could mean thousands of lost impressions and significant revenue loss.

High fill rates mean:

Better revenue potential.
Improved advertiser trust.
More consistent performance across your inventory.

Low fill rates, on the other hand, signal mismatched demand, poor targeting, or setup issues.

Common Reasons for Low Fill Rate in GAM

Before fixing the issue, let’s understand why it happens. Here are the most common causes:

Geography mismatch – Advertisers may not target your audience location.
Ad unit setup errors – Wrong sizes, placements, or misconfigured tags.
Low demand in open auctions – Not enough advertisers bidding for your traffic.
Floor price too high – If you set CPM floors above what buyers want to pay.
Ad-blockers – Users with ad-block software reduce fill opportunities.
Policy violations – Restricted content can lead to fewer eligible ads.
Technical issues – Latency, slow page load, or tag misfiring.

Now, let’s go deeper into the fixes.

How to Fix Low Fill Rate Issues in Google Ad Manager

1. Review Your Inventory Setup

Start by checking if your ad units are set up correctly. Incorrect ad sizes or placements lead to low demand.

Use standard IAB sizes like 300×250, 728×90, 336×280, and 320×50.
Avoid too many custom sizes. Advertisers prefer standard dimensions.
Place ads in visible areas. Above-the-fold placements often get higher demand.

Pro Tip: Use Google Ad Manager’s ad unit reports to see which slots have low fill. Optimize those first.

2. Lower Your Floor Price (CPM Floors)

Setting floor prices too high can push buyers away. For instance, if your floor price is $3 but buyers are bidding at $2.50, you lose impressions.

Experiment with lower floors and monitor fill rate changes.
Use price priority or dynamic allocation instead of hard floors.
Allow Google Ad Exchange to optimize pricing automatically.

Remember: Lowering floors doesn’t always mean lower revenue. A higher fill rate often compensates for slightly lower CPMs.

3. Enable Multiple Demand Sources

Relying only on Google Ad Exchange reduces competition. Adding more demand partners ensures higher fill.

Connect with other SSPs (Supply-Side Platforms).
Implement header bidding to increase competition.
Use Open Bidding in Google Ad Manager to bring multiple partners inside.

When multiple buyers compete, fill rate improves and CPMs rise.

4. Optimize Targeting Settings

Sometimes your targeting is too narrow. For example, you may block too many categories or restrict geo-targeting.

Allow broader targeting options when possible.
Check blocked categories and consider unblocking non-sensitive ones.
Review your brand safety filters and adjust if they are too strict.

Example: If you block “Politics” and “Finance” categories, you might lose thousands of eligible ads. Revisit these filters carefully.

5. Improve Page Speed and Reduce Latency

Slow-loading pages harm fill rates because ads may not render before the user leaves.

Use lightweight ad tags.
Optimize images and scripts to improve site speed.
Consider lazy loading ads only when they come into view.
Use AMP pages for faster delivery on mobile.

Tip: Run Google PageSpeed Insights to test loading times and fix highlighted issues.

6. Monitor Geo and Device Targeting

Some advertisers don’t buy inventory in specific regions. If most of your traffic is from low-demand countries, fill rate drops.

Check which geographies have low demand.
Partner with networks that specialize in your traffic regions.
Optimize device targeting. Desktop, mobile, and CTV fill rates differ.

If you get traffic from tier-3 countries, focus on monetization partners who buy that audience.

7. Use Backfill Options (AdSense or House Ads)

If Ad Exchange cannot fill an impression, you can set up backfill options.

Enable AdSense as backfill in GAM.
Run house ads (your promotions or affiliate banners) when no ads are available.
This ensures no blank spaces on your site.

Even though backfill ads may pay lower, they are better than showing nothing.

8. Test Different Ad Formats

Advertisers prefer certain formats, and ignoring them reduces fill.

Try responsive display ads.
Add video ads if your site supports them.
Enable native ads for a smoother user experience.

Fact: Video ads generally attract higher demand and better fill rates compared to static banners.

9. Reduce Policy Violations

If your content violates Google policies, many advertisers avoid your site.

Keep your site free of adult, violent, or copyrighted material.
Avoid misleading placements like accidental clicks.
Use Google’s Policy Center in GAM to review issues.

Clean, policy-compliant sites always get better fill and higher-paying ads.

10. Analyze Reports Regularly

Improvement only happens when you measure performance.

Use GAM’s “Inventory Report” to track ad requests vs. impressions.
Monitor fill rate by geography, device, and ad unit.
Identify underperforming slots and fix them immediately.

Tip: Set automated alerts in GAM to notify you when fill rate drops below a set threshold.

11. Minimize Ad-Blocker Impact

Ad-blockers are a reality. Some users simply won’t see ads, which reduces fill.

Use ad-block recovery scripts that serve alternative content.
Offer subscription options for ad-free browsing.
Reduce intrusive ads to discourage users from installing blockers.

Though you can’t completely eliminate ad-blocker effects, you can minimize the loss.

12. Work with a Monetization Partner

If fixing everything feels overwhelming, consider partnering with a monetization company. These partners:

Provide access to premium demand sources.
Help optimize floor pricing and header bidding.
Offer dedicated support to resolve technical issues.

For small to mid-sized publishers, managed monetization can significantly boost fill rates and revenue.

Best Practices to Maintain a Healthy Fill Rate

Always keep multiple demand sources active.
Test floor prices regularly instead of setting them once.
Use ad refresh cautiously to increase impressions without hurting user experience.
Focus on user-friendly placements that attract advertisers.
Keep content updated, relevant, and policy-compliant.

Conclusion

A low fill rate in Google Ad Manager directly impacts your revenue. The reasons may range from high floors to poor inventory setup. However, the solutions are straightforward once you identify the root cause. By lowering floors, adding demand sources, optimizing targeting, and ensuring compliance, you can quickly improve fill rates.

Think of fill rate as a balance between demand and supply. When advertisers find your inventory attractive, fill rates naturally rise. Use the steps in this guide, monitor regularly, and stay flexible with your strategies.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is a good fill rate in Google Ad Manager?

A good fill rate is usually above 85–90%. However, the ideal number depends on your traffic geography, niche, and demand sources.

Why is my fill rate suddenly low?

Sudden drops can happen due to technical errors, policy violations, or seasonal advertiser demand changes. Always check reports for exact causes.

Does lowering floor price always improve fill rate?

Not always, but in most cases, yes. Lowering floors allows more buyers to bid. However, keep testing to find the sweet spot between CPM and fill.

How can I improve fill rate for tier-3 country traffic?

Work with ad networks or SSPs that specialize in tier-3 markets. Google alone may not give you high fill in these regions.

Can ad-blockers reduce my fill rate?

Yes. Ad-blockers prevent ads from loading, which reduces served impressions. Consider ad-block recovery tools or subscriptions.

Should I use backfill like AdSense in GAM?

Yes, using AdSense as a backfill ensures that unsold impressions are still monetized, even if at a lower CPM.

How often should I review my fill rate reports?

At least once a week. If you see big traffic or revenue fluctuations, review daily to identify problems early.

Do video ads improve fill rate?

Yes. Video ads usually have higher demand compared to display. If your site supports them, adding video ads can increase both fill and revenue.

Google Ad Manager Curation Setting Update in 2025

How Curation Settings in Ad Manager Can Transform Your Monetization Strategy: Update 2025

July 25, 2025

by admin Google Ad Manager

If you’re a publisher looking to squeeze more value from your ad inventory in 2025, you’ve gotta hear about this. Google Ad Manager just dropped some major updates to its curation settings features. And yeah, at first glance, it might seem like another techy dashboard thing. But if you care about better deals, higher CPMs, and giving buyers what they actually want—this one matters.

Let’s break it all down in a chill, no-jargon way.

What the Heck is Curation for Publishers Anyway?

Think of curation as letting trusted partners help shape your ad inventory into something buyers really want. You give them certain data (don’t worry, it’s permission-based), and they turn it into super-targeted packages that advertisers love.

It’s like letting a skilled chef prep your raw ingredients. They know what spices to add to get top-dollar.

What’s In It For You?

More competitive bidding
Better match rates
Optimized ad performance
Access to premium demand

And the best part? You stay in control of what you share.

What’s Changing in 2025?

Here’s what Google is doing with Curation Settings:

Old Setting	New Setting	What It Means
Share Secure Signals	Still available	Share hashed user IDs like Device ID & cookies.
Share Contextual Information	Removed	Rolled into the new setting.
Allow Inventory Curation	Renamed to “Allow Inventory Packaging”	Same function, just clearer naming.
Enable Data Sharing (New)	Controls all user/contextual sharing	Default depends on existing setup.

Key Date: All these changes go live on July 24, 2025.

Myth vs Truth: Clearing Up Confusion

Myth: Sharing data with curation partners means less control.

Truth: You decide who gets what. Plus, you can turn it off anytime.

Myth: Only big publishers benefit from curation.Truth: Even smaller sites see big wins with higher match rates and targeting.

Step 1: Share Data for Segment Targeting

Alright, this is where the magic starts.

Here’s how it works:

You send an ad request with signals.
Google passes the data to the curation partner.
They return a data segment ID.
A buyer has a deal targeting that segment.
Google sends the bid request to DSPs with that Deal ID.

You don’t even need to handle payments. Google takes care of that with the partner.

What You Can Share:

Secure Signals: Device ID, cookies, hashed identifiers.
Contextual Info: URL, App ID, geo-level, consent string, etc.

Both can help partners build more accurate segments.

How to Enable It:

Go to your Ad Manager account.
Click Inventory > Curation Settings.
For each partner, toggle Share Secure Signals and/or Enable Data Sharing.
Hit Save.