GoogleAds_IMA Videos Ads on your page

GoogleAds_IMA Plugin for AVideo

The GoogleAds_IMA plugin provides seamless integration with the Google IMA SDK, allowing for compliance with VAST 3.0 and VPAID 2 JS standards. While the plugin name features 'GoogleAds', it's important to note that this plugin is not restricted to Google's services. You can use it with any ad server or company that adheres to the VAST standards.

Configuration and Usage

1. To use this plugin, you must first apply for an AdSense account or another VAST-compatible service, and follow their respective approval processes.

2. After approval, you'll receive a unique publisher ID that can be used to request live video ads. Remember to remove all instances of the adtest=on parameter to ensure proper operation.

3. Should you need more information about the Google AdSense process, you can refer to their tutorial here.

Utilization Beyond Google

This plugin works with any VAST-compatible company. If you're exploring alternatives, consider checking out this list of ad server companies.

User Customization

By enabling a particular option in this plugin, you can provide users with the ability to set their own VAST URLs. This is particularly useful for publishers as it allows them to use custom VAST URLs and align their advertising efforts more closely with their content.

Adding Multiple VAST URLs

The GoogleAds_IMA plugin allows you to add more than one VAST URL. To do this, simply separate each VAST URL with a semicolon (;). This feature provides flexibility in serving ads from multiple sources.

Example

https://example.com/vast1.xml;https://example.com/vast2.xml;https://example.com/vast3.xml

Advanced Customization Options

This plugin supports the use of macros, allowing for dynamic replacements in the ad provider's VAST URL. It's even possible to use PHP code in VMAP tags, providing greater flexibility and precision in how ads are served.

Also, you can use different ad tags (up to 10), which is particularly useful when you want to use the VMAP script for different apps. You can request the VMAP from the different tags using the API.

Customizable VAST URL Placeholders

The GoogleAds_IMA plugin offers the flexibility to dynamically replace specific placeholders within your VAST URLs, allowing you to tailor ad content and tracking data to your needs. These placeholders can be utilized to enhance the ad-serving experience on the AVideo platform.

Here are the available placeholders and their descriptions:

1. {ip}: Replaced with the viewer's IP address.
2. {ChannelName}: Substituted with the URL-encoded channel name.
3. {Category}: Replaced with the URL-encoded category name.
4. {content_page_url}: Replaced with the content page URL.
5. {cb}: Substituted with the cache buster value.
6. {video_duration}: Replaced with the video's duration.
7. {width}, [CONTENT-DISPLAY-WIDTH], {{WIDTH}}: Substituted with the content display width.
8. {height}, [CONTENT-DISPLAY-HEIGHT], {{HEIGHT}}: Replaced with the content display height.
9. {device_id}: Substituted with the device ID.

Additionally, you can use the following placeholders for further customization:

1. [VIDEO-TITLE-HERE]: Replaced with the clean title of the video.
2. [ADS-TRACKING-ID]: Substituted with the cache buster value (similar to {cb}).
3. [DEVICE-USER-AGENT]: Replaced with the URL-encoded user agent of the device.
4. [LIMIT-TRACKING]: Substituted with a value of 0.

In addition to the above placeholders, you can also use these placeholders for further customization:

1. {{ENCODED_URL}}: Replaced with the content page URL.
2. {{CACHEBUSTER}}: Substituted with the cache buster value (similar to {cb}).
3. {{DURATION}}: Replaced with the video's duration.

To use these placeholders, simply incorporate them within your VAST URL. The GoogleAds_IMA plugin will automatically replace these placeholders with their respective values, ensuring that your ad content and tracking parameters align seamlessly with your AVideo content.

By leveraging these placeholders, you can achieve greater flexibility and precision in how ads are served, enhancing the user experience and maximizing advertising revenue on the AVideo platform.

Troubleshooting

It's common to encounter issues where a VAST provider company promises video ads but fails to deliver them. This is typically an issue you need to address with your ad provider. However, to ensure that your GoogleAds_IMA plugin is configured correctly, you can use the following VAST tag for testing:

https://vast.forjesus.tv/vast.xml

This tag will always return an ad. If the plugin works with this tag, it means your configuration is correct. If you still cannot see any ads from your ad provider, it indicates a restriction or issue on their side.

Conclusion

By harnessing the GoogleAds_IMA plugin, you can enhance user experience, give more control to your publishers, and boost your advertising revenue on the AVideo platform.