Ads.Txt FAQ
STN delivers brand-safe content that also generates revenue. We do this using the industry standard ads.txt to fight against fraud and misrepresented domains. Our FAQ provides answers to commonly asked questions about optimizing ads.txt.
- What is Ads.txt?
Ads.txt is a registry created by the International Advertising Bureau (IAB) showcasing all the companies they authorize to sell their inventory. It’s a simple text file that you put on your web server.
- Why do I need Ads.txt?
Including this text file in your web server allows buyers of digital advertising to ensure that your site is authorized and legitimate.
If you are a publisher, it’s more than likely that someone is trying to sell fake inventory on your site. This is no different than a scalper selling counterfeit tickets to the Superbowl. IAB has introduced ads.txt to act as a directory of real inventory for advertisers, just like the NFL has a list of authorized ticket retailers.
- Who is using this list?
The leading advertising buyers have already declared their intention to use ads.txt as a reference for legitimate ad impressions. These include Google, AppNexus and Centro. Several advertising agencies have also made it clear that they intend to ONLY buy ad inventory on publishers who use ads.txt.
Simply put, if you are not using ads.txt, eventually advertisers will stop buying your ad inventory.
- What do I need to do?
If you are already using ads.txt or are just getting started, you can get your Ads.txt entries from the Ads.txt tool in the STN Publisher’s Dashboard
Once you’ve got your Ads.txt entries, you’ll need to add them to your existing Ads.txt file if you have one or create a new Ads.txt file and add it to your website.
How you add the Ads.txt file to your site will vary from site to site, and host to host. If you’re not sure how to add or update your Ads.txt file, we recommend reaching out to your hosting provider or webmaster.