Browse the documentation

Pop, tabs and IM pop-up ad zones

Applies to: Publishers

What this is#

Three ad zone types that show the ad outside the normal page flow:

  • Pop: a click on your page opens the ad in a new window or tab (as a popup, tab-up, tab-under or popunder).
  • Tabs: an ad title shown as a link inside an element you choose, typically a tab or menu item in your own interface; a click opens the advertiser's page in a new tab.
  • IM pop-up: a small message-style ad that pops up in a bottom corner of the page, like a chat message.

Which formats you can create depends on your network: it decides which ad zone types are switched on, and each type also needs a permission on your account.

When to use it#

  • Pop earns the most per visit and needs no space on the page, but it interrupts. Use it with capping.
  • Tabs earns from clicks on a link that looks like part of your navigation.
  • IM pop-up catches attention without leaving the page.

Settings#

Pop (Pop Ad Settings):

Setting What it does Default
Display Type Popup, Tab Up, Tab Under or Popunder: how the ad opens. What each does in a browser is explained in Ad Controller. Popup
Refresh Rate How often one visitor can get a pop: every N Seconds, Minutes or Hours. No limit
Pops per window / Delay between pops More than one pop within one refresh window, spaced by the delay. Leave at 0 for one pop. 0
Trigger Method Which clicks open the pop: Anywhere on the page, Links only, Only on specific elements, Anywhere except specific elements or Links, except specific elements, with one CSS selector per line. Anywhere on the page
Country filter None, As Whitelist or As Blacklist plus the countries. None
Blocked browsers / Blocked device types Browsers and devices that never get the pop. None blocked
Optional Fire on possible Exit Opens the pop when the visitor looks like they're leaving, instead of on a click. Off
Full-page fallback zone Visitors on a blocked browser get a full-page ad from this zone instead of nothing. Only your own full-page zones are listed. None
Wait for engaged visitors on Chrome On Chrome, holds the pop back until the visitor has seen 3 pages and spent 3 minutes. Only works with Tab Under. Off

A change to Trigger Method changes the code: copy the code again, or pages running the old copy keep the old behaviour.

Tabs has no settings card; everything is in the code.

IM pop-up (IM Popup Settings):

Setting What it does Default
IM Position Bottom Left, Bottom Center or Bottom Right. Bottom Right
Reload Layer Shows a new ad every N seconds. Off, 15 seconds
Popunder when close is pressed Opens one of your pop zones when the visitor closes the message. None

Getting the code#

On the Ad Zone Code tab, put the Controller loader tag on the page once, then:

  • Pop: one script line, placed anywhere on the page. The Direct pop URL is an alternative for your own click handlers.
  • Tabs: a <div> inside your tab (or point display at an element that already exists in the tab) plus a script. The controller only fills the element; it doesn't build your tab strip.
  • IM pop-up: one script line.

Examples are in Ad Controller.

Selling it#

Pop, Tabs and IM pop-up zones can be filled by RON campaigns, CPM campaigns and flat-rate deals, as your network allows. A pop is counted as an impression when the ad opens.

Tips#

  • Set a Refresh Rate: an uncapped pop on every click is the fastest way to lose a visitor.
  • Avoid Tab Under on sites that live from Google traffic: Google treats it as deceptive.
  • Block a browser only together with a Full-page fallback zone, so those visits still earn.

Troubleshooting#

Symptom Likely cause Fix
Pop never opens Loader tag missing, refresh window not passed yet, or the browser blocks it. Check the loader tag, test in a fresh private window, and see Blocked browsers.
Popunder opens in front Current Chrome, Firefox and Safari don't let a page push a window behind itself. That's the browser; there's no reliable way around it.
Trigger change has no effect The page runs an older copy of the code. Copy the code from the Ad Zone Code tab again.
Tabs link doesn't appear The display id doesn't match an element on the page. Use the same id in the div and in display.