How to implement app-ads.txt and ads.txt

Ads.txt and app-ads.txt are initiatives by the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) to improve transparency in the digital advertising ecosystem. They are text files hosted on a publisher’s domain and are used by advertisers to verify the authenticity of the inventory being sold through programmatic advertising.

Here are the steps to implement ads.txt and app-ads.txt:

1. Understand the Purpose:

• ads.txt for Websites:
  • ads.txt stands for Authorized Digital Sellers. It is a plain text file that lists the authorized sellers of a website’s ad inventory.
  • The file is placed at the root level of the website’s domain (e.g., https://example.com/ads.txt).
• app-ads.txt for Mobile Apps:
  • app-ads.txt is an extension of ads.txt for mobile apps.
  • It is used by app developers to declare the authorized digital sellers of their in-app ad inventory.
  • The file is placed in the root directory of the app developer’s website (e.g., https://example.com/app-ads.txt).

2. Create the Text File:

• Open a text editor and create a new text file.
• For ads.txt, include lines like:
  rustCopy code

  google.com, pub-0000000000000000, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0

• For app-ads.txt, include lines like:
  rustCopy code

  google.com, pub-0000000000000000, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0

  • Replace google.com with the domain of the advertising system.
  • Replace pub-0000000000000000 with the publisher ID assigned by the advertising system.
  • DIRECT indicates that the publisher has a direct relationship with the advertising system.
  • f08c47fec0942fa0 is the TAGID, an optional field for the Trustworthy Accountability Group (TAG) certification.

3. Host the File:

• Save the file with the appropriate name (ads.txt or app-ads.txt).
• Upload the file to the root directory of your website using FTP or your hosting provider’s file manager.

4. Verify the Implementation:

• For ads.txt, you can check if it’s implemented correctly by going to https://example.com/ads.txt.
• For app-ads.txt, use https://example.com/app-ads.txt.

5. Keep the File Updated:

• Regularly update the file with any changes to your authorized sellers.

6. Share with Ad Partners:

• Notify your advertising partners about the implementation, so they can use the information in the files to verify your inventory.

By implementing ads.txt and app-ads.txt, you help prevent the unauthorized selling of your ad inventory and contribute to a more transparent digital advertising ecosystem.