Google Ad Manager, formerly known as DoubleClick for Publishers (DFP), is a powerful tool for publishers to manage their digital advertising inventory. However, setting it up correctly and ensuring its optimal performance can be challenging. This guide will walk you through the essential steps to test your Google Ad Manager setup effectively.
Preparing Your Testing Environment
Creating a Controlled Testing Space
Before diving into the testing process, it’s crucial to establish a controlled environment. You can start by setting up a testing environment with test data. Create separate test objects such as advertisers, ad units, orders, and line items to simulate real-world scenarios without affecting your live setup.
Verifying Ad Manager Configuration
Checking Network and Ad Unit Settings
Ensure that your publisher ad unit ID is correctly formatted as /NetworkCode/AdUnitCode. It’s important to note that the ad unit code may differ from the ad unit name. Additionally, review the targeting criteria of your line items, especially if you’re passing key values from your mobile app or website.
Testing Ad Delivery
Implementing and Monitoring Ad Requests
When testing ad delivery, pay close attention to the timing and placement of ad requests. For instance, requests should be made at appropriate intervals, such as after every few articles or between content feeds. If you’re using delayed impressions, ensure that requests are made as close to the ad view time as possible.
Analyzing Network Traffic
Utilizing Network Tracing Tools
Capture mobile session traffic using network trace tools to gain deeper insights into your ad delivery process. Look for request parameters in URLs containing doubleclick.net:80/pagead or doubleclick.net:80/gampad. Key parameters to verify include format for correct size requests, iu for the publisher ad unit ID, and cust_params for any custom key-value pairs.
Evaluating Ad Rendering
Assessing Creative Delivery and Performance
Test various creative types, including third-party creatives, expanding and rich media creatives, and out-of-page creatives. Ensure that these render correctly across different devices and screen sizes. For asynchronous GPT implementations, verify that creative code is compatible with friendly iframes.
Optimizing for Mobile
Tailoring Tests for Mobile Environments
When testing mobile apps, confirm that the app handles device orientation as desired and properly manages scenarios where no ads are available. Some publishers use deep linking to pass special debug information and key values for more thorough testing.
Leveraging Ad Manager Tools
Utilizing Built-in Debugging Features
Take advantage of Ad Manager’s built-in tools for testing and debugging. The Google publisher console is an invaluable resource for testing tag performance and troubleshooting errors. Additionally, use Chrome DevTools to monitor how Ad Manager tags interact with your site and identify any potential latency issues.
By following these comprehensive testing procedures, you can ensure that your Google Ad Manager setup is optimized for peak performance, maximizing your ad revenue while providing a seamless experience for your users.