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Banner ad zones

Applies to: Publishers

A banner zone shows one image, HTML or iframe ad of a fixed size in a spot on your page — a header, a sidebar, between paragraphs. It is the most widely supported format: almost every advertiser has banner creatives, so banner zones fill well.

Your network decides which ad zone types it offers. If you don't see Banner ads (or Fixed IM Banner) in the type list when you create a zone, it isn't switched on for your network.

What this is#

A banner ad zone reserves a rectangle of one size on your page, for example 300x250 or 728x90, and the ad server fills it with a banner of exactly that size. By default it sits inline in your layout. Where your network allows it, a banner zone can also be a floater: the same banner floating over the page in a corner or the centre, with an optional auto-close.

A Fixed IM Banner zone is a banner pinned to one corner of the screen in a messenger-style layout. Its size is set by your network, not by you.

When you'll use this#

  • You have a fixed spot in your layout and want reliable fill.
  • You want one placement per position (header, sidebar, in-article) so you can see what each one earns.
  • Choose a floater when you want the banner visible while the visitor scrolls; choose Fixed IM Banner for a corner banner in chat or messenger layouts.

Settings#

Open the zone (Ad Zones → New Ad Zone, or an existing zone) and pick the type. These are the banner-specific settings; the general ones (name, website, category, options) are covered in Ad Zones.

Setting What it does Default
Ad Size (Choose your ad size) The banner size the zone serves. Required. Chosen when you create the zone and shown read-only afterwards — create a new zone for another size. The first size in the list
Display Type Inline (in your layout) or Floater (over the page). Only shown when your network enables display types. Inline
Choose your ad zone (location) Where on the page the zone sits, from a list your network defines. Only shown when your network uses zone locations. —
Select "Forward" AdZone Sends traffic this zone can't fill on to another of your ad zones. Shown when editing, once you have other zones. None

When the display type is Floater, the Floater Settings card appears:

Setting What it does Default
Capping How often the floater may show to the same visitor: 1 minute up to 24 hours. Not set
Ad position Center, Top Left/Center/Right, Left/Right Middle or Bottom Left/Center/Right. Center
Close automatically Hide the floater after the number of seconds you enter. Off (15 seconds when switched on)
Top / Left / Right / Bottom margin (px) Distance from the screen edge; only the margins that apply to the chosen position are shown. 0

Fixed IM Banner#

Setting What it does Default
IM Position Bottom Left, Bottom Center, Bottom Right, Top Left or Top Right. Bottom Right

The size comes from your network's configuration; there is no size picker.

Getting the code#

Save the zone, open its Ad Zone Code tab and copy the code into your page where the banner should appear. See Getting Your Ad Code; for sites with many zones, the Ad Controller loads them all with one script.

Selling it#

Banner and Fixed IM Banner zones accept CPM, flat-rate (direct deal) and run-of-network (RON) campaigns, and can be used in Smart Zones to rotate other networks' codes.

Tips#

  • Use the common sizes (300x250, 728x90, 320x50 on mobile): they have the most campaigns.
  • One zone per position — a sidebar zone and an in-article zone earn very differently, and separate zones show you that.
  • Keep floaters capped; a floater on every pageview annoys visitors faster than an inline banner.

Troubleshooting#

Symptom Likely cause Fix
The zone shows nothing No campaign targets this size, country or device. Check Publisher Statistics for requests vs. impressions; consider Select "Forward" AdZone or a Smart Zone as backup.
I can't change the size Size is fixed after creation. Create a new zone with the size you need and swap the code.
No Display Type field Your network hasn't enabled display types. Ask your account manager.
The banner is cut off Your container is smaller than the zone size. Give the container the zone's width and height.