An Ad Item (also called a creative) is the actual ad that will be displayed within a campaign—such as an image banner, HTML5 creative, third-party ad tag, video (VAST), or native template. Ad Items are created under a Campaign and can be rotated, targeted, and tracked individually.

Types of Ad Items

AdButler supports several creative formats:

• Image Ads – Standard display formats like JPG, PNG, or GIF.
• HTML5 Ads – Interactive or animated creatives packaged as ZIP files.
• Third-Party Tags – Snippets of code (e.g., from Google Ad Manager or another ad server).
• Video Ads (VAST) – Video files or VAST tags for video placements.
• Native Ads – Template-driven content using AdButler’s native ad system.
• Email Ads – Static creatives designed for use in email campaigns.

Recommended Reading: Learn more about Ad Item Types here.

Steps to Create an Ad Item

1. From the left-hand navigation, click Advertisers, then select the advertiser.
2. Choose the Campaign where you want to add the ad item.
3. Click Ad Items in the campaign menu.
4. Click + Add Ad Item (top-right).
5. Fill in the following fields:
   • Name – A descriptive name for the creative (e.g., Summer Sale Banner 300x250).
   • Creative Type – Choose Image, HTML5, Third-Party Tag, Video, or Native.
   • Upload or Enter Code – Depending on the type:
     • Image/HTML5 – Upload the creative files.
     • Third-Party Tag – Paste the tag code snippet.
     • Video (VAST) – Upload the video file or paste the VAST tag URL.
   • Click-Through URL – The landing page for the ad.
   • (Optional) Backup Image – A fallback creative if the main ad fails to load.
6. Set Weighting if multiple ad items exist in the campaign (e.g., equal rotation vs. higher priority).
7. Click Save Ad Item.

Advanced Ad Item Settings

Each ad item can be configured with:

• Targeting Rules – Apply keyword targeting, geo-targeting, or data key filters.
• Scheduling – Override campaign-level start/end dates.
• Frequency Capping – Limit impressions per user.
• Custom Macros – Insert dynamic data (click macros, cache-busting tokens).

Recommended Reading: Explore Targeting and Scheduling Options for Ad Items.

Managing Ad Items

Once ad items are created, you can:

• Edit – Update creative files or URLs.
• Pause – Temporarily stop an ad item from serving.
• Duplicate – Clone an ad item for use in another campaign.
• View Stats – Track impressions, clicks, and other performance metrics.

Best Practices for Ad Items

• Optimize File Sizes – Keep images under 150KB and HTML5 packages optimized for fast loading.
• Use Standard Dimensions – Common sizes like 300x250, 728x90, and 160x600 are widely supported.
• Test All Creatives – Use AdButler’s live preview feature to ensure everything displays correctly.
• Rotate Multiple Ads – Add multiple ad items to a campaign for A/B testing and higher engagement.

Next up: Keyword Targeting and Data Keys, where we’ll show you how to deliver the right ad to the right audience using advanced targeting techniques.