What is a fallback unit and how to set it?

When creating or editing a publisher ad slot, you have the option to add a fallback image and URL. What does this mean? If you opt for a fallback image and URL, they will be displayed when no matching ads are available for this slot. Otherwise the ad slot will be hidden automatically and it will not show on your website until your ad slot is matched to an available campaign.

Please note that when the fallback unit is displayed, it does not generate revenue or appear in any statistics - it's simply a placeholder until an actual ad becomes available to display.

There's 2 ways to add a fallback image and URL - either when creating an ad slot, or by editing an existing ad slot. In this tutorial we show you how to do both.

How to add a fallback image and URL while creating an ad slot

Step 1: Add the details needed for the ad unit description (title, website URL, type/size, advanced options) etc and click Continue:

Step 2: Click on the slider to use fallback unit 

Step 3: Define the target URL (where the fallback image will lead to, e.g. your blog etc). Then upload the image you'd like to show when there are no ads matching your slot. Please note: the image must match the ad slot dimensions (e.g. if you create an ad slot with size 300x250, the image dimensions must also be 300x250). Then click on Continue.

Step 4: Preview ad slot details incl. fallback unit and hit Save if you're happy or click Back if you want to make any changes!

How to add fallback when editing an ad slot

Step 1: In your Publisher dashboard, click on Ad Slots, then on View under Actions for the desired ad slot.

Step 2: Click on Update Fallback Data.

Step 3: Add the target URL and upload an image (in the same size as the ad slot, e.g. if the ad slot is 300x250, make sure that the image also has the same dimension).

Step 4: Preview and if you're happy with what you see, click Ok - and you're all set!