An ad tag is code publishers place on websites in order to sell ad space. It consists of two parts: 1) a URL and 2) a piece of HTML or JavaScript code. Working together, these two parts first request content (ads or other ad tags) from the URL and then instruct the browser how to display the content.
What is an ad tag?
An ad tag is a piece of code that is inserted into a website or app to display advertisements. When someone visits the website or app, the ad tag tells the ad server to serve up an ad, which is then displayed on the website or app. Ad tags can be used to display a variety of different types of ads, including banners, pop-ups, and video ads.
Who uses ad tags and why?
Ad tags are used by advertisers to reach specific audiences and to track the performance of their ad campaigns. Digital marketing advertisers use ad tags to display ads on websites and apps that have a relevant audience in the hopes of getting those users to take some desired action, such as clicking on the ad, making a purchase, or signing up for a newsletter..
Advertisers might use ad tags to display a variety of different types of ads, including banner ads, video ads, and rich media ads. They might also use ad tags to target specific audiences, such as users who have previously shown an interest in similar products or services.
Ad tags are also used by website and app owners to monetize their content. By inserting ad tags into their websites or apps, they can display ads and earn revenue from those ads.
Overall, ad tags are used by advertisers and website and app owners as a way to reach specific audiences and to track the performance of ad campaigns. They are an important tool in the world of digital advertising.
An example of an ad tag?
Below is an example of a simple JavaScript ad tag that could be used to display a banner ad on a website:
<script type=”text/javascript”>
var ad_tag = ‘<!– Beginning of tag –>\
<a href=”http://www.bigabid.com”>\
<img src=”http://www.bigabid.com/banner.jpg” alt=”Banner ad”>\
</a>\
<!– End of tag –>’;
document.write(ad_tag);
</script>
This ad tag is written in JavaScript and is inserted into the HTML code of a website. When someone visits the website, the ad tag tells the ad server to serve up a banner ad, which is then displayed on the website. The banner ad is a clickable image that, when clicked, takes the user to the website specified in the ad tag.
How do ad tags work?
- An advertiser creates an ad campaign and selects the type of ad they want to display (e.g., banner ad, video ad, etc.).
- The advertiser creates the ad and generates an ad tag for it. The ad tag is a piece of code that contains information about the ad, such as the ad’s size, location, and target audience.
- The advertiser places the ad tag on a website or app, either by inserting it into the HTML code of the website or app or by using a third-party ad server like Google AdSense.
- When someone visits the website or app, the ad tag tells the ad server to serve up the ad. The ad is then displayed on the website or app.
- The ad tag tracks the performance of the ad, collecting data on how many people saw the ad, how many clicked on it, and how many took some other desired action (such as making a purchase).
- The advertiser can use this data to analyze the effectiveness of their ad campaign and to make adjustments as needed.
Are there different types of ad tags?
There are several different types of ad tags that can be used to display ads on a website or app. Below are a few examples:
- JavaScript ad tags: These ad tags are written in JavaScript and are usually inserted into the HTML code of a website. They are often used to display banner ads and other types of display ads.
- Video ad tags: These ad tags are used to display video ads on a website or app. They can be used to serve pre-roll, mid-roll, or post-roll ads, and can be inserted into the code of a video player or into the HTML of a website.
- Rich media ad tags: These ad tags are used to display interactive multimedia ads on a website or app. They can be used to display ads with animation, audio, or other interactive elements.
- Third-party ad tags: These ad tags are provided by a third-party ad server, such as Google AdSense or DoubleClick, and are used to display ads on a website or app.
- Server-side ad tags: These ad tags are inserted into the code of a website or app on the server side, rather than on the client side. They are often used to serve personalized ads or to track the performance of ad campaigns.
