How to Integrate Advertisements into Shorts (Mobile Apps)

Introduction

Muvi One allows you to monetize your Shorts vertical video content by integrating video advertisements and interstitial ads into the Shorts mobile app. This lets you offer an ad-supported viewing experience alongside your existing monetization models and generate additional revenue.

You can configure different ad types through the Muvi One Dashboard and map them to your Shorts content based on your monetization requirements.

Types of Advertisements Supported in Shorts

Muvi One supports the following advertisement types for Shorts:

1. VAST Ads: Integrate third-party video advertisements using the Video Ad Serving Template (VAST) standard.

2. Ad Creatives: Create and manage your own video advertisements directly through the Muvi One Dashboard.

3. Interstitial Ads: Integrate Google AdMob interstitial ads to display full-screen advertisements within the Shorts mobile app experience.

Prerequisites

Before integrating advertisements into Shorts, ensure that you have completed the following prerequisites:

• Create a mobile app: You must have created an Android app, an iOS app, or both to use this feature.
• Configure advertisements: Set up the required ad types in the Muvi One Dashboard under VAST Ads, Ad Creatives, and/or Interstitial Ads. You do not need to configure all three options. You can choose a single ad type or combine any of the three options based on your monetization requirements.
• Use the Mobile Vertical Player: Ads in Shorts are supported only in the Mobile Vertical Player. Ensure that your Shorts content uses this player to display advertisements.

Adding VAST Tags to the Dashboard

First, integrate any VAST-compliant video ads into the Muvi One Dashboard and then configure those ads to any Shorts content. With VAST, you can integrate Ad Tags into your video streaming platform from almost any Ad Server (e.g., Google Ad Manager, OpenX, Broadstreet Ad Server, Magnite, etc.)

• To integrate the third-party ad server tags via VAST Tags, navigate to “Monetization”--> “Advertisements” in the Dashboard.
• Click on the "Ad Tags" tab.
• Click on "Add Ad Tag".
• In "Ad Type", select Video.
• In "Ad Format", select “VAST“ from the drop-down menu.
• Type the Ad Tag Name. 
• Paste the Ad Tag URL (that you obtained from any third-party Ad Server) in the corresponding fields.
• Click on "Save".
• You can preview the Ad by clicking on the "Preview" icon.

Adding Ad Creatives to the Dashboard

• Navigate to “Monetization”-->” Advertisements” in the Dashboard.
• Click on the “Ad Creatives” tab.
• Click on “Add Ad Creative”.
• In “Media Type”, select "Video” to create video ads from the drop-down menu.
• Type a “Name” for your Ad (e.g., Thumbs up, Pepsi, etc.).
• Type a “Click-through URL” (e.g., https://muvi.com). When the end-users click on the ad, they will be redirected to the URL.
• Select the “Skippable” option if you want the end-users to skip the ad after a time interval. For example, if you type 5 seconds, then the skip ad option will appear once the ad is played for 5 seconds. End users can skip the ad.
• Under “Primary Media”, click on “Add Media” to upload an MP4 video that you want to show as an ad.
• Click on “Save”.
• The ad will be created.
• Once the ad is created, you can preview it. Also, you can “Edit” or “Delete” the Ad Tag.
• Repeat the process to add multiple ads.

Adding Interstitial Ads to the Dashboard

• To integrate Interstitial Ads in the Dashboard, navigate to “Monetization”--> “Advertisements” in the Dashboard.
• Click on the “Display Ads” tab.
• Click on “Add Display Ad”.
• In the “Add Type”, select “Interstitial” from the drop-down.
• In the “Target Platform”, select the target platform where you want to integrate your ad (e.g., Android App, iOS App).
• In “Provider”, select “Google AdMob”.
• Paste the “App ID”. This is given by your provider. Changing this will reflect all ads mapped under this provider for this platform (i.e., Android/iOS).
• Type the “Ad Tag Name” (e.g., soft drinks ad, electronics ad, etc.)
• Type the “Ad Unit” name.
• Click on “Save”.
• The Interstitial ad will be added.
• You can repeat this process and add multiple ads for different platforms like Android and/or iOS.
• If required, you can “Edit” or “Delete” the ad.

Configuring VAST Ads in Shorts

VAST ads can be configured while creating the new shorts content or to an existing shorts content. Here we have shown how to configure ads for existing Shorts content.

• Navigate to “Content Management“-->“Content Library“  in the Dashboard.
• In the Content Library, click on the "Edit Icon" under the shorts content to which you want to integrate an ad.
• In the edit content page, click on the "Monetization" tab.
• Scroll down to "Advertisements".
• Click on the “Video Ads” tab.
• Under "Ad Categories", select "Ad Tags".
• Under "Ad Format", select "VAST".
• You can choose either*“Pre-roll, or *"Post-roll" option, or you can also choose both options.
• Click on "Add Pre-Roll Ad" to select the pre-roll option. The ad will be played from the beginning.
• Select the Tag Value from the drop-down and click on "Done".
• Click on "Post-Roll Ad". The ad will be played at the end of the video.
• Select the Tag Value from the drop-down and click on "Done".
• Click on “Save and Publish”.

Configuring Ad Creatives in Shorts

Ad creatives can be configured while creating new Shorts content or for existing Shorts content. Here we have shown how to configure ads for existing Shorts content.

• Navigate to “Content Management“-->“Content Library“ in the Dashboard.
• In the Content Library, click on the "Edit icon" under the content into which you want to integrate an ad.
• On the Edit Content page, click on the "Monetization" tab.
• Scroll down to "Advertisements".
• Click on the “Video Ads” tab.
• Under “Add Categories”, select "Ad Creative”.
• You can choose either*“Pre-roll”, or *"Post-roll" option, or you can also choose both options.
• Click on "Add Pre-Roll Ad" to select the pre-roll option. The ad will be played from the beginning.
• Select the Tag Value from the drop-down and click on "Done".
• Click on "Post-Roll Ad". The ad will be played at the end of the video.
• Select the Tag Value from the drop-down and click on "Done".
• Click on “Save and Publish”.

Configuring Interstitial Ads in Shorts

Interstitial ads can be configured while creating new Shorts content or for existing Shorts content. Here we have shown how to configure ads for existing Shorts content.

• Navigate to “Content Management“-->“Content Library“ in the Dashboard.
• In the Content Library, click on the "Edit icon" under the content into which you want to integrate an ad.
• In the Edit Content page, click on the "Monetization" tab.
• Scroll down to "Advertisements".
• Click on the “Display Ads” tab.
• Under “Ad Format”, “Interstitial” is selected by default.
• Under “Target Platform”, select the platform where you want to configure the ad (e.g., Android App, iOS App).
• You can choose either*“Pre-roll”* or *"Post-roll" option, or you can also choose both options.
• Click on "Add Pre-Roll Ad" to select the pre-roll option. The ad will be played from the beginning.
• Select the Tag Value from the drop-down and click on "Done".
• Click on "Post-Roll Ad". The ad will be played at the end of the video.
• Select the Tag Value from the drop-down and click on "Done".
• Click on “Save and Publish”.