> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.beyondwords.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Ads

BeyondWords lets you monetize your audio and video content by running direct and programmatic ads through the [BeyondWords player](/docs-and-guides/distribution/player/player-introduction). You can also manage ads via the [Ads API](/api-reference/ads/list).

* [**Direct ads**](#launch-direct-ads): Upload and manage your own ads for sponsorships, house ads, subscription messaging, and other directly sold campaigns
* [**Programmatic ads**](#launch-programmatic-ads): Serve ads automatically through VAST-compatible ad networks, such as Google Ad Manager

<Tip>
  Ads aren't the only way to include additional audio/video. You can also:

  * Upload an intro and/or outro to use in the [player](/docs-and-guides/distribution/player/player-introduction)
  * Insert media files into specific content items via the [Editor](/docs-and-guides/tools/editor)
</Tip>

## Launch direct ads

<Steps>
  <Step title="Start a new campaign">
    Go to **Monetization** in your [project dashboard](/docs-and-guides/get-started/projects), then click **+ Ad**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Upload your ad">
    Upload the audio or video file to use as your ad. We recommend that ads last between 10 and 15 seconds.

    * **Audio**: MP3 or WAV, max. 50MB
    * **Video**: MP4, max. 150MB
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter ad details">
    Enter the following ad details:

    * **Title**: The internal name of the ad. This is not shown to users.
    * **Placement**: Whether the ad should play pre-roll, mid-roll, or post-roll (before, in the middle of, or after the main content)
    * **Schedule (optional)**: When the campaign should start and end, based on your project's timezone. Leave blank to start immediately and continue until canceled.
    * **Companion URL (optional)**: A clickable link displayed during playback
    * **Companion image (optional)**: An image displayed during playback (large player only)
    * **Player branding (optional)**: The background, icon, and text colors to display in the audio player during playback, for light mode and/or dark mode. If not set, the default player settings will be used.
    * **Video player theme (optional)**: The background, icon, and text colors to display in the video player during playback. If not set, the default player settings will be used.

    <Info>
      If all placements are enabled, playback follows this order: Intro → Pre-roll ad → Main content → Mid-roll ad → Main content → Post-roll ad → Outro.

      Mid-roll ads are inserted between segments at approximately the halfway point of the main content.
    </Info>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Preview your ad">
    Use the player preview to see how the ad appears and plays within your latest content.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save changes">
    Click **Save changes**. The ad will appear in your monetization dashboard and play according to your settings.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Launch programmatic ads

<Steps>
  <Step title="Start a new campaign">
    Go to **Monetization** in your project dashboard, click **+ Ad**, then select the **VAST tag** tab.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter ad details">
    Enter the following ad details:

    * **Title**: The internal name of the ad. This is not shown to users.
    * **Tag URL**: The VAST tag URL provided by your ad network
    * **Placement**: Whether the ad should play pre-roll, mid-roll, or post-roll (before, during, or after the main content)
    * **Schedule (optional)**: When the campaign should start and end. Leave blank to start immediately and continue until canceled.

    <Info>
      If all placements are enabled, playback follows this order: Intro → Pre-roll ad → Main content → Mid-roll ad → Main content → Post-roll ad → Outro.

      Mid-roll ads are inserted between segments at approximately the halfway point of the main content.
    </Info>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save changes">
    Click **Save changes**. The ad will appear in your monetization dashboard and play according to your settings.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Manage ads

You can manage ads in the **Monetization** section of your [project dashboard](/docs-and-guides/get-started/projects).

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="View ad information">
    The table in the **Monetization** section of your project dashboard displays the following information for each ad:

    * **Title:** The name of the ad
    * **Type:** Direct or VAST
    * **Format:** Audio or video
    * **Status:** Whether the ad is running or paused
    * **Plays:** The number of times the ad was played. We count one play per session.
    * **Completion rate:** The percentage of ad plays that reached completion
    * **Duration:** The duration of the ad
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Disable an ad">
    To disable an ad across your entire project:

    1. Go to the **Monetization** section of your project dashboard
    2. Locate the ad in the table
    3. Switch the corresponding toggle off

    To disable an ad for a specific content item:

    1. Open the content item in the [Editor](/docs-and-guides/tools/editor)
    2. Go to the **Info** tab
    3. Scroll down to **Play ads** and switch the toggle off
    4. **Generate** or **Regenerate** your content

    You can re-enable an ad by switching the relevant toggle back on.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Edit an ad">
    To edit an ad:

    1. Go to the **Monetization** section of your project dashboard
    2. Click **••• → Edit** alongside the relevant ad
    3. Make your changes, then click **Save changes**
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Delete an ad">
    To delete an ad:

    1. Go to the **Monetization** section of your project dashboard
    2. Click **••• → Delete** alongside the ad
    3. Click **Delete** to confirm

    To delete multiple ads at once:

    1. Go to the **Monetization** section of your project dashboard
    2. Select ads using the checkboxes
    3. Click **Delete → Delete all**
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Ad analytics

Ad analytics are available for [direct ads](#launch-direct-ads) only. The metrics are updated every few minutes.

To view ad analytics, go to the **Monetization** section of your [project dashboard](/docs-and-guides/get-started/projects). The filters at the top of the page let you control the date range, content variant (articles or summaries), and device type shown in your analytics data.

At the top of the page, you'll see aggregated metrics for all ads in your project. To view metrics for a specific ad, scroll down to the table and select the graph icon alongside the relevant ad.

You can view the following metrics:

* **Plays:** The number of ad playback sessions where the audio or video ad started. We count one play per ad per player session, not every time a user pauses and resumes.
* **Completion rate:** The percentage of ad plays that reached completion
* **Completions:** The number of ad plays that reached completion
* **Click-through rate:** The percentage of ad plays that generated a companion URL click
* **Clicks:** The number of clicks on the companion URL. We count one click per companion URL per player session.

## Ad playback experience

During ad playback, the audio player displays:

* Play/pause controls
* "Ad" label
* Playback time remaining
* Playback bar (without seeking controls)
* Clickable companion link and arrow icon (optional)
* Ad title (optional, large player only)
* Companion image (optional, large player only)
* Default player colors, unless overridden by the ad settings

Here's an example with the standard player design:

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/beyondwords/OU83Gvobt0y91PD6/images/Ad-playback-in-the-standard-player.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=OU83Gvobt0y91PD6&q=85&s=39692a6906070f1136b02ee3da6fc02e" alt="Ad Playback In The Standard Player" width="941" height="120" data-path="images/Ad-playback-in-the-standard-player.png" />
</Frame>

The small player design:

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/beyondwords/OU83Gvobt0y91PD6/images/Ad-playback-in-the-small-player.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=OU83Gvobt0y91PD6&q=85&s=132d299a33f8e8cb441a7fbcbd3fdc60" alt="Ad Playback In The Small Player" width="433" height="106" data-path="images/Ad-playback-in-the-small-player.png" />
</Frame>

And the large player design:

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/beyondwords/OU83Gvobt0y91PD6/images/Ad-playback-in-large-player.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=OU83Gvobt0y91PD6&q=85&s=aa9a3e9977fc24074fa2b2f538c2eaea" alt="Ad Playback In Large Player" width="942" height="212" data-path="images/Ad-playback-in-large-player.png" />
</Frame>

## FAQs

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Can I run multiple ads?">
    You can run multiple ads at the same time, but only one ad can play per placement position. If multiple ads use the same placement (e.g., pre-roll), the player will select one ad to play for each request.

    Programmatic ads are prioritized over direct ads. Direct ads that have already played during the current listening session will not be replayed within the same session.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I enable ads for specific content items?">
    No, you can't enable ads for specific [content items](/docs-and-guides/content/content-items). However, you can:

    1. Disable ad playback for specific content items via the **Info** tab in the [Editor](/docs-and-guides/tools/editor)
    2. Manually insert ad creatives into individual content items via the Editor
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Are ads included in playlists?">
    Yes, ads are supported in [playlists](/docs-and-guides/distribution/playlists). Ads will play alongside each audio or video item according to their placement settings.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Are ads included in podcast feeds or downloads?">
    No, ads are only served through the BeyondWords player, so are not included in [podcast feeds](/docs-and-guides/distribution/podcast-feeds) or [downloaded files](/docs-and-guides/distribution/download).

    If you want ads to become part of the main content and so appear across all distribution channels, insert them through the [Editor](/docs-and-guides/tools/editor).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can users skip ads?">
    No, users cannot skip ads. Skip controls are hidden during ad playback, and the ad playback bar does not allow seeking.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>