An Introduction To VAST Tag and Its Significance

A VAST tag (Video Ad Serving Template) is a script that allows video players and ad exchange servers to communicate with each other in an effective way. Ad exchange servers generate these VAST tags.A VAST tag gives instructions to video players on how to retrieve an ad, when to render the ad (means after the content start, in mid of the content, and at end of the content), and the type of ad media (like video, images), along with the ad length, format, duration, tracking information, and pricing(pricing of the content when user see the ad). Using XML schema, VAST transfers metadata from the master video ad slot source in a format readable by humans and computers, making them an accessible tag type for video ads.When a video player understands VAST, it is able to play all third-party video ads that are mentioned in the ad exchange server also other ads, regardless of the publisher's ad server or ad network.

Challenges InPlaying Ads

• Not able to play multiple Ads: The playercannot play various ads while watching original content as it happens on Youtube.
• Time frame video ads: Maintaining time frame advertisements in a video player without using plugins is not possible. Also, these things should be managed from some ads exchange.

How To Createa VAST Tag?

1)Create a VAST Tag in Google Ad Manager

• Sign into Google Ad Manager using your Username and Password
• Click on Inventory >> Ad Units
• Locate the ads unit options and click on Tags
• Fill out the option for each section like Tag type, Tag Option, and Tag Results, clicking continue after each step
• Click on Copy Tag

2)Create a VAST Tag in Adbutler

• Do sign in with a username and password on the admin panel.
• Create a VAST campaign.
• Add media items to the campaign.
• Create a VAST zone where you want to display the advertisements.
• Assign the VAST campaign to the VAST zone.
• Copy the vast tag fromthe zone.

How To Use a VAST Tag To Play Ads On The Video Player (videojs)

1)Videojs player requires avideojs-vast-vpaid packageto play. Do the following steps.

• Do npm ivideojs-vast-vpaid --save for Angular, Reactjs.
• Use CDN of videojs-vast-vpaid for others.

2)Use the following code in Angular, and Reactjs.

videojs.vastClient({
adTagUrl: "ad exchange vast tag url"
});

3)Use the following code for others. Use this code directly in the video tag.

data-setup='{ "plugins": { "vastClient": { "adTagUrl": "ad exchange vast tag url"} } }'

Conclusion

VAST(Video ad serving template) tag is the well suitable and most appropriate way to display multiple ads within a time frame on a video player. It also gives options to manage to skip ads and know more information about particular ads.

We, at Oodles, provide complete enterprise software solutions to help enterprises sail through their routine operational challenges. Our end-to-end ERP application development services cater to the diverse industry-specific needs of our clients with a focus on solving complex business problems. Contact us at [email protected] for more detail.