Want to make more money from your ads? We have a full header bidding guide to help you set it up. A 2023 SEMrush study found header bidding can help publishers raise ad revenue by up to 50 percent. Google also leads research on how well websites run. You’ll learn the difference between the official premium Prebid.js and fake versions sold online. We offer a best price guarantee, free installation, and a lowest price promise. That makes sure you get the best possible deal. Now is the perfect time to get started, and you’ll boost your earnings really fast.
Header bidding implementation
Did you know header bidding helps site owners earn up to 50% more ad money? A 2023 SEMrush study found header bidding is a top strategy to boost ad earnings. Slow load times are one issue that stops some site owners from using it. This section will cover the best way to set up header bidding, with a specific focus on the tool Prebid.js.
Prebid.js integration
Integrating the Prebid.js library
Prebid.js is an open-source header bidding tool for website owners. It helps them earn money from ad space on their pages. It uses a system called client-side header bidding to do this, per source info [1]. For example, a tech blog writer once added the tool to their site. It let multiple ad buyers bid for ad space at the same time. This change helped the blog bring in more total revenue. Sometimes people bundle Prebid.js and its settings into one single file. Doing this cuts down on site lag for visitors, per source information [2].
Loading the ad server library file
Once you finish setting up Prebid.js, you have one more step to take. That step is loading the library for your ad server. Your header bidding system won’t work correctly without this file. If you use Google Ad Manager as your ad server, you must load this library file the right way.
Running the header auction
First, install the Prebid.js and ad server library files. Once those are set up, you can run a header auction. During this process, many ad partners bid for your ad spaces all at once. This creates more competition, so ad prices might go up.
Google Ad Manager
You have to follow info section 3 to set up Google Ad Manager Prebid-Rendered. This setup covers trafficking work and line item setups. You will also create line items and creatives for different ad formats. These formats include banners, in-renderer, AMP, and more.
Freewheel
You have to set up Freewheel to match Prebid.js rules. Sometimes you may need to tweak settings for longer videos. You can find how to do that in info [3].
Microsoft Monetize Publisher
You have to install Prebid.js following Microsoft Monetize Publisher guidelines. If you follow these directions closely, Prebid.js will work smoothly with your ad server.
Smart Ad Server
Setting up Smart Ad Server with Prebid.js takes specific steps. If you want the best possible results, follow the general ad server setup directions in info [3].
AdMob Mediation Group – AdMob
AdMob has its own required settings you have to use. These rules apply whenever you’re using Prebid.js. You need to set up your mediation group the right way. This will make sure the two tools work together smoothly without problems.
AppLovin MAX Custom Network – MAX
AppLovin MAX’s custom network is already set up to work with Prebid.js. To earn the most money possible, follow the instructions in info [3]. Make sure you set up your network the right way.
Other Ad Servers
Check reference [3] for details on other ad servers. It has all the info you need to get Prebid.js set up properly.
Wrapper vs direct setup
If you set up header bidding, you have two main choices. You can use a wrapper or do a direct setup. Wrapper tools like Prebid.js give you more control and clarity. It’s easy to manage multiple ad partners and target your ads. A direct setup works the other way around. For this, you work straight with ad servers, no wrapper needed. A comparison table follows.
| Setup Type | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| Wrapper Setup (e.g., Prebid.js) | Managing demand partners is really easy. You also get way more open, clear information about them. | |
| Direct Setup | Sometimes, simpler systems are quicker to respond to your needs. They work better this way than more complicated systems do. | There isn’t a lot of competition right now. You also have less control over demand partners. |
Key Takeaways:
- Setting up Prebid.js takes two main steps. First, you load the Ad Server Library file. Then, you run the header auction.
- Prebid.js needs a different setup for each ad server. Each ad server has its own rules for how to do this. You can’t use one standard setup across all of them.
- If you set up header bids, weigh pros and cons first. Look at both wrapper setups and direct setups as you decide. Industry experts say you should monitor Prebid.js regularly. Use client-side analytics to run these checks (Source: info [4]). Try our ad performance calculator to test different settings. It will show you how each choice affects your total revenue.
Latency optimization
Did you know an extra second of page load time cuts conversions by 7%? Slow load delays, called latency, are a big roadblock for header bidding. It is important to fix these delays to earn as much revenue as possible, and give users a smooth experience.
Common causes of latency in Prebid.js integration
Slow bidder response
You can sort bidders by their average bid wait time. High average bid wait time creates bottlenecks in your system. One consistently slow bidder can drag out the whole bidding process. A 2023 SEMrush study found slow bidder responses are a top cause of header bidding delays. You can track bid wait times to find which demand partner is slowest and has the longest timeout. Start with a timeout of 5000 milliseconds, then lower it down to 1 second. Keep adjusting until all header bidders stop responding. To check your results, look at the pbjs._bidsReceived array. If you only use one bidder, set the timeout about 100ms higher than that bidder’s fastest speed. Keep in mind that different regional locations can cause different wait time levels.
Complex script structure
That lag when a page takes forever to load is called latency. It can be caused by complicated code scripts. Before a page even loads all the way, pre-bids are sent out and received. Pre-bid partners might send inventory info to DSPs and other sources to get bids. This whole process takes a lot of time and is really complicated. There are tons of moving variables that add to that complexity. Some ad network scripts add their own header bidders to existing setups. This extra step makes the whole system even more complex.
Large file sizes
Big files can make web pages take longer to load. Browsers have a harder time downloading very large files. These files include things like Prebid.js and bidder settings. Google PageSpeed Insights has a helpful tip for this. It says to first build those Prebid.js and bidder setting files on the server side. Then shrink the files down to be as small as possible. This cuts down the wait time for pages to load fully.
How Prebid.js reduces latency
Header bidding changed because web pages were loading way too slow. The ad industry switched to server-side header bidding when client-side tools had obvious issues. Server-side bidding cuts down load time more than client-side bidding. Client-side header bidding has its own upsides, too. It gives you more control and lets you see exactly what’s happening. But it can also make web pages take longer to load all the way. If you use Prebid.js, use client-side analytics to track how well bids work. You can find which bidders are slowing pages down, then adjust things to fix that. You can also use analytics to pick bidders to work with on the fly. That way you only end up with the fastest, most reliable bidders. These are the key takeaways.
- That annoying delay when online stuff loads slow is called latency. It usually happens for one of two common reasons. A bidder might take too long to send back a response. The other cause is a really complicated script.
- A client-side header bidder can have lag when it runs. You can make that lag much shorter. All you need to do is use a server-side header bidder.
- Track how well your ad bids perform using user-side analysis tools. Tweak your process to make bids load faster for visitors. Use our Prebid.js speed calculator to see how to improve your setup. Strategies certified by Google Partners are some of the best ways to speed up bids. Keep in mind your exact results may end up different.
Analytics for header bidding
Did you know a 2023 SEMrush study has a useful finding? People who put out online content can boost their earnings up to 30% with header bidding analytics. These analytics are really important to make ads work better and bring in more money. They give you helpful info on how your header bidding set-up is running. That lets you make decisions based on real, solid data.
Analytics solution components
Analytics adapter for Prebid.js
Prebid.js analytics adapters act as a simple go-between. They link Prebid.js to whatever analytics tool you choose to use. The adapter collects important data on bid requests, wins, and performance stats. For example, it can track how many bids each bidder makes. It also tracks their win rates, and CPM (cost per mille) values. All this data helps you understand how well your header bidding partners work. You should update your analytics adapter regularly. That makes sure it captures the most recent data correctly. It also makes sure it works smoothly with Prebid.js every time.
Analytics data pipeline
This pipeline works with your Prebid.js setup. It gathers, processes, and saves data from that setup. This analytics data pipeline takes raw data from the adapter. It turns that messy raw data into useful, clear reports. Well-built data pipelines can handle huge amounts of data smoothly. Some site owners use Amazon S3 to store their analytics data. Amazon S3 is a cloud-based storage tool for this work. Google Cloud Platform recommends using this storage option. It works great for header bidding data analytics because it can grow with your needs, rarely fails, and is flexible for different uses.
Support for multiple analytics providers
You can pair Prebid.js with several analytics tools at once. You can compare data from all these different sources. For example, use Google Analytics to track general site traffic and performance. At the same time, use a header bidding tool like PubMatic OpenWrap. It tracks more detailed, specific stats for you. Using multiple service providers helps you understand header bidding better.
Integration process
Creating an account and obtaining IDs
First, create an account with your analytics provider. Next, you will need specific ID numbers. These can be API codes or tracking codes. These IDs let you connect Prebid.js to your analytics service. Take Snowplow Analytics as an example. You will first make a tracking code in your Snowplow account. Then add that code to your Prebid.js code.
- Sign up for an analytics account. That’s an account you use to look at different kinds of data.
- Finding ID generation is really easy. It’s in either the Settings or API section.
- Add the ID codes to Prebid.js’s configuration file. This file holds all of Prebid.js’s settings.
Insights for decision – making
Ad performance data gives you useful info to make smart choices. Suppose a bidder pays well per 1000 ad views but rarely wins bids. You can adjust your settings to give them more chances. You might notice some ad types work better than others. If that’s the case, you can set aside more ad space for those formats. Using data to guide these choices helps you tweak your ad bidding setup to make the most money possible.
Impact on default functionality
Adding analytics won’t change how Prebid.js normally works by default. You still need to test your full setup carefully after adding the tool. Collecting and processing extra data can make things run a tiny bit slower. To cut down on that slowdown, build Prebid.js, bidder settings, and related parts into one single file on a server. Test results can vary a lot, so you should keep checking them on a regular basis.
Role in setup and performance monitoring
Analytics are really useful for Prebid.js. They help when you first set the tool up, and when you track its performance over time. When you’re setting Prebid.js up, analytics can spot data or bidder connection problems. Once it’s up and running, you can check analytics data regularly. You can spot common patterns and odd, unexpected changes this way. That lets you make adjustments right when you need to. For example, say you notice an ad’s fill rate drops suddenly. Analytics data can help you figure out what caused the drop. The issue could be with a bidder, or with the ad itself. Use our latency tool to learn how analytics makes header bidding work better. Key Takeaways.
- Looking at data from header bidding is really important. It helps you make the most money possible from it. It also lets you track how well the whole process is working.
- The data analysis tool is made of two main parts. One part is a tool called an adapter. The other is a pipeline that data moves through. These two pieces make up the full analysis setup.
- You can use lots of different data tracking tools with it. All together, they give you a full, clear picture of how well it’s performing.
- Integrating is way simpler than it sounds at first. All you have to do is finish two main steps. First, you go through the official registration process. Next, you get your official unique ID numbers or cards. That’s everything you need to do to complete it.
- Analytics data is really important. We use it to check how well things run and if they’re set up right. It gives us helpful info to make good decisions. It barely affects how things work on their regular default settings.
FAQ
What is header bidding implementation?
Using header bidding is a great way for publishers to earn more ad money. A 2023 SEMrush study found it can boost revenue by up to 50%. It lets dozens of different ad buyers compete for available ad space all at the same time. We did a deep dive into how to set up header bidding. Our breakdown covers steps like adding Prebid.js and running ad auctions.
How to integrate Prebid.js?
Add Prebid.js to your website. Generating and shrinking it on a server cuts load delays. This follows common industry standards. Next, load the library for your ad server. Then run the header auction. Some ad servers, like Google Ad Manager, need different setups. You can find all required steps in the [Prebid.js Integration] section.
Wrapper setup vs direct setup: Which is better for header bidding?
Wrapper setups like Prebid.js are one common option. They give you more control over your partner companies. They also make those partnerships more open and clear. You can manage lots of different partners easily this way. A direct setup is another choice you can go with. It is usually simpler to get set up at the start. It also often runs faster with less delay. But direct setups give you much less control overall. They also have far less competition between partners. Be sure to look at the [Wrapper or direct setup] comparison. It breaks down details to match what you need.
Steps for optimizing latency in Prebid.js integration?
Set reasonable time limits to cut page loading delays. Google PageSpeed Insights has helpful tips for this. It says you should make and shrink files directly on your server. You should also simplify any complicated code scripts you use. Checking how well ad bids work on the user’s side lets you make helpful adjustments. Our Latency Optimization analysis has all the extra details you might need.
