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Text ad zones

Applies to: Publishers

A text zone shows a small block of text ads: a headline, a line of description and a link, in rows and columns you choose. It is the lightest ad you can put on a page — no images, very little to load.

Your network decides which ad zone types it offers. If Text Ads isn't in the type list when you create a zone, it isn't switched on for your network.

What this is#

A text ad zone reserves a box of a set width and height and fills it with a grid of text ads. You style the box with your own font and colours so it reads like part of the page — for example a "sponsored links" list under an article or in a sidebar.

When you'll use this#

  • Your pages are text-heavy and images would feel out of place.
  • Bandwidth or page speed matters (forums, mobile-first sites).
  • You want a sponsored-links block in a spot too small for a banner.

Settings#

Open the zone (Ad Zones → New Ad Zone, or an existing zone), pick Text Ads, and the Text Ad Settings card appears:

Setting What it does Default
Total Columns Ads side by side. 1
Total Rows Ads stacked. Columns × rows is the number of ads shown. 1
Ad Width / Ad Height (px) Size of the whole block. 300 x 250
Font size Text size in pixels. 12
Font Family The typeface. Verdana
Background Color Block background. #ffffff
Text Block border color Border around the block. #000000
Title Color The ad headline. #000000
Text Color The description. #000000
Link Color The displayed URL. #006600

The general zone settings (name, website, category, options) are covered in Ad Zones.

Getting the code#

Save the zone, open its Ad Zone Code tab and paste the code where the block should appear. See Getting Your Ad Code, or load all your zones with one script through the Ad Controller.

Selling it#

Text zones accept CPM, flat-rate (direct deal) and run-of-network (RON) campaigns, and can be used in Smart Zones.

Tips#

  • Use your site's own font and link colour; text ads that look like your navigation get clicked, ones that look pasted in don't.
  • Two or three ads usually earn more per ad than a long list.
  • Size the block to the space you really have — text wraps, and a block that's too narrow cuts headlines.

Troubleshooting#

Symptom Likely cause Fix
Fewer ads than columns × rows Not enough text campaigns match the visitor. Normal at low traffic; reduce rows so the block isn't half empty.
Text overflows the box Width or height too small for the font size. Increase Ad Width / Ad Height or lower Font size.
Colours don't apply A colour isn't a valid hex value. Use full hex values like #333333.
The zone shows nothing No text campaigns target this country or device. Check requests vs. impressions in Publisher Statistics.