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Setting up Prebid.js with Smart Ad Server

Introduction

This article describes the basic steps to set up Prebid.js with Smart Ad Server.

Comprehensive documentation is available in the article Holistic+ Setup in Smart AdServer’s Help Center. This documentation may be more up to date than the explanations below.

For some of the setup steps described below, you need to have a login to Smart AdServer’s UI.

How it works

  • You implement the Prebid.js header bidding wrapper as well as Smart AdServer’s ad tags on your website.
  • The header auction winner’s data (bidder name, CPM, currency) is passed with the ad call executed by Smart AdServer’s ad tag.
  • In Smart AdServer’s UI, you simply set up an RTB+ insertion in order to establish the competition between the header auction winner and Smart AdServer’s connected monetization partners (DSPs); there is no need to set up ultiple line items, price buckets, keyword targeting etc.
  • At the same time, Smart AdServer’s holistic yield algorithm will make sure your direct (guaranteed) campaigns meet their targets.
  • Finally, the impression is given to the highest bid: (1) Smart AdServer’s own RTB+ (2) a direct campaign or (3) the header auction winner.

Setup

Step 1 - Implement the wrapper

Proceed as follows:

  • Go to the Prebid.js download page.
  • Select the relevant Bidder Adapter(s), an Analytics Adapter (optional) and Module(s) (optional).
  • Download the code.
  • Consult the Bidders’ Params to get help for filling the parameters.
  • Make sure you specify the timeout; the timeout is the maximum time to wait until the Smart AdServer ad call is executed - even if some partners have not responded yet.
  • Implement the Prebid.js file on the site.

This step is also documented Smart AdServer setup documentation.

Step 2 - Implement Smart AdServer’s tag

Smart AdServer’s OneCall tagging is strongly recommended. With OneCall, you can set header bidding data per tagId. The tagId is the Id of the container (<div>), where the ad will be displayed. The tagId format is sas_<formatId>. e.g. sas_1234.

Make sure you use Smart AdServer’s new OneCall tagging, which uses POST requests with all the necessary information in the request body; simply check if you see the formats array in your tag. If you see formatId, you are still dealing with an old tag - in this case, get back to your service contact at Smart AdServer.

For samples of both the new and legacy OneCall as well as a full implementation example, read OneCall documentation.

Additional resources:

Step 3 - Setup in Smart AdServer’s UI

Things to keep in mind for the Setup in Smart AdServer’s UI:

  • In the RTB+ insertion, you must enable the checkbox “Activate Holistic yield mode” in the “General settings” section of the insertion.
  • RTB+ must be enabled and configured in the network global settings.
  • The Holistic+ feature must be enabled on the network.
  • You must use the official and Holistic RTB+ script templates in the insertions.

For more details, read setup instructions.

Step 4 - Get reporting

Read these articles to learn more about the available header bidding reporting:

  • Big Data Reports - provides full, in-depth reporting with header bidding related dimensions and metrics.